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Napoleon's horse has let him tumble。 Fortunately； the animal has
simply foundered； 〃His Majesty's health was never better〃；＇139＇
nothing has happened to the rider； he gets up on his legs； and what
concerns him at this moment is not the sufferings of his broken…down
steed； but his own mishap； his reputation as a horseman is
compromised； the effect on the public； the hooting of the audience； is
what troubles him； the comedy of a perilous leap； announced with such
a flourish of trumpets and ending in such a disgraceful fall。 On
reaching Warsaw＇140＇ he says to himself； ten times over：
〃There is only a step from the sublime to the ridiculous。〃
The following year； at Dresden； he exposes still more foolishly；
openly； and nakedly his master passion； the motives which determine
him； the immensity and ferocity of his pitiless pride。
〃What do they want of me？〃 said he to M。 de Metternich。＇141＇ 〃 Do
they want me to dishonor myself？ Never！ I can die； but never will I
yield an inch of territory！ Your sovereigns； born to the throne； may
be beaten twenty times over and yet return to their capitals： I cannot
do this； because I am a parvenu soldier。 My domination will not
survive the day when I shall have ceased to be strong； and；
consequently； feared。〃
In effect； his despotism in France is founded on his European
omnipotence； if he does not remain master of the Continent；〃 he must
settle with the corps législatif。＇142＇ Rather than descend to an
inferior position； rather than be a constitutional monarch； controlled
by parliamentary chambers； he plays double or quits； and will risk
losing everything。
〃I have seen your soldiers；〃 says Metternich to him； 〃they are
children。 When this army of boys is gone； what will you do then？〃
At these words； which touch his heart； he grows pale； his features
contract； and his rage overcomes him； like a wounded man who has made
a false step and exposes himself； he says violently to Metternich：
〃You are not a soldier You do not know the impulses of a soldier's
breast！ I have grown up on the battle…field； and a man like me does
not give a damn for the lives of a million men！ 〃＇143＇
His imperial pipe…dreams has devoured many more。 Between 1804 and
1815 he has had slaughtered 1；700；000 Frenchmen； born within the
boundaries of ancient France；＇144＇ to which must be added； probably；
2；000；000 men born outside of these limits； and slain for him； under
the title of allies； or slain by him under the title of enemies。 All
that the poor； enthusiastic； and credulous Gauls have gained by
entrusting their public welfare to him is two invasions； all that he
bequeaths to them as a reward for their devotion； after this
prodigious waste of their blood and the blood of others； is a France
shorn of fifteen departments acquired by the republic； deprived of
Savoy； of the left bank of the Rhine and of Belgium； despoiled of the
northeast angle by which it completed its boundaries； fortified its
most vulnerable point； and； using the words of Vauban； 〃made its field
square；〃 separated from 4；000；000 new Frenchmen which it had
assimilated after twenty years of life in common； and； worse still；
thrown back within the frontiers of 1789； alone； diminished in the
midst of its aggrandized neighbors； suspected by all Europe； and
lastingly surrounded by a threatening circle of distrust and rancor。
Such is the political work of Napoleon； the work of egoism served by
genius。 In his European structure as in his French structure this
sovereign egoism has introduced a vice of construction。 This
fundamental vice is manifest at the outset in the European edifice；
and； at the expiration of fifteen years； it brings about a sudden
downfall： in the French edifice it is equally serious but not so
apparent； only at the end of half a century； or even a whole century；
is it to be made clearly visible； but its gradual and slow effects
will be equally pernicious and they are no less sure。
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Notes：
＇1＇ See my 〃Philosophy of Art〃 for texts and facts； Part II。； ch。 VI。
… Other analogies； which are too long for development here； may be
found； especially in all that concerns the imagination and love。 〃He
was disposed to accept the marvelous； presentiments； and even certain
mysterious communications between beings。 。 。 。 I have seen him
excited by the rustling of the wind； speak enthusiastically of the
roar of the sea； and sometimes inclined to believe in nocturnal
apparitions； in short； leaning to certain superstitions。〃 （Madame de
Rémusat； I。； 102； and III。； 164。） … Meneval （III。； 114） notes his
〃crossing himself involuntarily on the occurrence of some great
danger； on the discovery of some important fact。〃 During the
consulate； in the evening； in a circle of ladies； he sometimes
improvised and declaimed tragic 〃tales；〃 Italian fashion； quite worthy
of the story…tellers of the XVth and XVIth centuries。 （Bourrienne；
VI。； 387； gives one of his improvisations。 Cf。 Madame de Rémusat； I。；
102。） … As to love； his letters to Josephine during the Italian
campaign form one of the best examples of Italian passion and 〃in most
piquant contrast with the temperate and graceful elegance of his
predecessor M。 de Beauharnais。〃 （Madame de Rémusat； I。； 143）。 … His
other amours； simply physical； are too difficult to deal with； I have
gathered some details orally on this subject which are almost from
first hands and perfectly authentic。 It is sufficient to cite one
text already published： 〃According to Josephine； he had no moral
principle whatever； did he not seduce his sisters one after the other？
〃 … 〃I am not a man like other men； he said of himself； 〃and moral
laws and those of propriety do not apply to me。〃 （Madame de Rémusat；
I。； 204； 206。） … Note again （II。； 350） his proposals to Corvisart。 …
Such are everywhere the sentiments； customs； and morality of the great
Italian personages of about the year 1500。
＇2＇ De Pradt； 〃Histoire de l'ambassade dans le grand…duché de
Varsovie；〃 p。96。 〃with the Emperor； desire springs out of his
imagination； his idea becomes passion the moment it comes into his
head。〃
＇3＇ Bourrienne； II。； 298。 … De Ségur； I。； 426。
＇4＇ Bodin； 〃Recherches sur l'Anjou；〃 II。； 325。 … 〃 Souvenirs d'un
nonagénaire；〃 by Besnard。 … Sainte…Beuve； 〃Causeries du Lundi；〃
article on Volney。 … Miot de Melito； I。； 297。 He wanted to adopt
Louis's son； and make him King of Italy。 Louis refused； alleging that
this marked favor would give new life to the reports spread about at
one time in relation to this child。〃 Thereupon； Napoleon； exasperated；
〃seized Prince Louis by the waist and pushed him violently out of the
room。〃 … 〃 Mémorial；〃 Oct。10； 1816。 Napoleon relates that at the last
conference of Campo…Fermio； to put an end to the resistance of the
Austrian plenipotentiary； he suddenly arose； seized a set of porcelai