napoleon bonaparte, v3-第23节

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With　a　stronger　voice　than　that　which　sounded　his　praises；　I　would　say　to
you：　erase　from　your　minds　this　glory　of　the　legislator；　this　glory　of
the　warrior；　and　say　to　yourselves；　before　the　18th　Brumaire；　when　fatal
laws　were　promulgated；　and　when　the　destructive　principles　proclaimed
anew　were　already　dragging　along　men　and　things　with　a　rapidity　which　it
would　soon　have　been　impossible　to　arrestwho　appeared　suddenly　like　a
beneficent　star；　who　came　to　abrogate　these　laws；　who　filled　up　the　half…
open　abyss？　　You　have　survived；　each　one　of　you；　through　those
threatening　scenes；　you　live；　and　you　owe　it　to　him　whose　image　you　now
behold。　　You；　who　were　miserable　outlaws；　have　returned；　you　breathe
again　the　gentle　air　of　your　native　land；　you　embrace　your　children；　your
wives；　your　friends；　and　you　owe　it　to　this　great　man。　　I　speak　no　longer
of　his　glory；　I　no　longer　bear　witness　to　that；　but　I　invoke　humanity　on
the　one　side；　gratitude　on　the　other；　and　I　demand　of　you；　to　whom　do　you
owe　a　happiness　so　great　so　extraordinary；　so　unexpected？　　。　　。　　。　　And
you；　each　and　all；　reply　with　meto　the　great　man　whose　image　we
behold。〃

The　president　repeated　in　his　turn　a　similar　eulogium；　in　very　similar
terms；　and　few　persons　then　dreamed　of　thinking　these　praises
exaggerated；　though　their　opinions　have　perhaps　changed　since。

After　the　ceremony　the　Empress；　on　the　arm　of　the　president；　passed　into
the　hall　of　conference；　where　her　Majesty's　table　had　been　prepared　under
a　magnificent　dais　of　crimson　silk；　and　covers　for　nearly　three　hundred
guests　had　been　laid　by　the　caterer　Robert；　in　the　different　halls　of　the
palace。　　To　the　dinner　succeeded　a　brilliant　ball。　　The　most　remarkable
thing　in　this　fete　was　the　indescribable　luxury　of　flowers　and　shrubs；
which　must　doubtless　have　been　collected　at　great　expense；　owing　to　the
severity　of　the　winter。　　The　halls　of　Lucrece　and　of　La　Reunion；　in　which
the　dancing　quadrilles　were　formed；　resembled　an　immense　parterre　of
roses；　laurel；　lilac；　jonquils；　lilies；　and　jessamine。







End