louisa of prussia and her times-第127节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


MY　empire！　All　of　you；　instead　of　cursing　me；　should　joyfully　hail
my　coming　and　welcome　me　as　your　liberator　sent　by　Providence　to
raise　you　from　your　degradation　and　disgrace。　Just　look　around；　you
Germans；　and　see　what　sort　of　princes　and　governments　you　have　got。
Are　you　being　ruled　by　noble；　high…minded　sovereigns；　are　men　of
ability　and　character　at　the　head　of　your　governments？　I　only　behold
impotence；　infamy；　and　venality　everywhere　in　the　German　cabinets。
The　system　of　nepotism　is　everywhere　in　force；　offices　are　gifts　of
favor；　and　not　rewards　of　merit；　intrigues　and　corrupt　influences
succeed　in　placing　the　foremost　positions　of　the　state　into　the
hands　of　incapable　men；　and　great　minds；　if　there　be　any　at　all；　are
utterly　ignored。　The　result　of　this　system　is；　of　course；　that　men
cease　cultivating　their　minds；　and　that　the　virtues　and　talents
which　are　not　rewarded　with　a　just　tribute　of　glory；　lose　their
vigor　and　enthusiasm；　nay；　often　their　very　existence。　When　a　nation
sees　none　but　incapable　favorites　and　venal　intriguers　at　the　head
of　the　various　departments　of　its　administration　and　of　its　armies；
how　is　it　to　prosper　and　expand；　to　increase　its　wealth；　and　to　win
victories！　Woe　to　the　nation　which　allows　itself　to　be　governed　by
such　ministers；　and　to　be　defended　by　such　generals　as　I　have　found
everywhere　in　Germany！　As　the　man　of　Destiny；　I　have　come　to　devote
to　her　my　hand；　my　mouth；　and　my　heart　for　the　purpose　of　liberating
her　and　delivering　her　from　her　disgraceful　chains。〃　＇Footnote：
Ibid。；　p。　29。＇

〃And　to　load　her　with　even　more　disgraceful　ones；〃　exclaimed
Marianne；　her　eyes　naming　with　anger；　〃for　there　is　nothing　more
disgraceful　on　earth　than　a　nation　submitting　to　a　foreign　barbarian
and　humbly　kissing　the　feet　of　its　oppressor；　instead　of　expelling
him　by　the　majesty　of　its　wrath。　If　you；　a　modern　Attila；　go　on　with
your　murderous　sword；　Europe　is　ruined；　and　all　dignity　of　the
nations；　all　the　centres　of　scientific　eminence；　all　the　hopes　of
humanity　are　lost。　For　nations　can　only　perform　great　things；　and
create　great　things；　when　they　are　independent；　and　freedom　itself
is　of　no　use　to　them　if　they　must　receive　it　as　a　favor　at　the　hands
of　their　conqueror。〃

〃Earth　ought　to　have　but　one　ruler；　as　heaven　has　but　one　God；〃　said
Napoleon；　solemnly。　〃I　have　only　begun　my　task；　it　is　not　yet
accomplished。　Hitherto　I　have　subjected　only　France；　Italy；
Switzerland；　and　Holland　to　my　sceptre；　but　my　goal　is　even　more
sublime　than　that。　And　who　will　prevent　me　from　seizing　Westphalia；
the　Hanseatic　cities；　and　Rome；　and　from　annexing　the　Illyrian
provinces；　Etruria；　and　Portugal　to　France？　I　do　not　know　yet　where
to　fix　the　boundaries　of　my　empire。　Perhaps　it　will　have　no　other
boundaries　than　the　vast　space　of　the　two　hemispheres；　perhaps；　like
Americus　Vespucius　and　Columbus；　I　shall　obtain　the　glory　of
discovering　and　conquering　another　unknown　world！〃＇Footnote：
Napoleon's　own　words。　〃Le　Normand；　Memoires；〃　vol。　ii。；　p。　69。＇

〃And　if　you　should　discover　a　third　world；〃　exclaimed　Marianne；　〃God
may　decree；　perhaps；　that　in　this　new　world；　an　avenger　of　the　two
old　worlds　may　arise　and　tell　you　in　the　thundering　voice　of
Jehovah：　'Here　are　the　boundaries　of　your　empire！　So　far　and　no
farther！'〃

〃But　I　should　not　shrink　back；〃　said　Napoleon；　smiling；　〃but　advance
to　fight　for　my　good　right　with　the　avenger　sent　by　Providence；　for
I　was　also　sent　by　Providence；　I　am　a　chosen　son　of　Heaven；　and　if
there　is　a　misfortune　for　me；　it　is　that　I　have　come　too　late。　Men
are　too　enlightened　or　too　sober；　hence；　it　is　impossible　to
accomplish　great　things。〃

〃Ah；　you　say　so；〃　exclaimed　Marianne；　〃you；　whose　fate　is　so
brilliant　and　exalted？　You；　who　once　were　a　humble　officer　of
artillery；　and　now　are　seated　as　emperor　on　a　mighty　throne？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Napoleon；　in　a　low　voice；　as　if　to　himself；　〃I　admit；　my
career　was　brilliant　enough；I　have　pursued　a　splendid　path！　But
how　much　difference　there　is　between　me　and　the　heroes　of　antiquity！
How　much　more　fortunate　was　Alexander！　After　conquering　Asia；　he
declared　he　was　the　son　of　Jove；　and　the　whole　Orient　believed　it；
except　Olympias；　who　knew　very　well　what　to　think　of　it；　and　except
Aristotle；　and　a　few　other　pedants　of　Athens！　But　if　I；　who　have
made　more　conquests　and　won　greater　victories　than　Alexander；if　I
should　declare　to…day　I　were　the　son　of　God；　and　offer　Him　my
thanksgiving　under　this　title；　there　would　be　no　fishwoman　that
would　not　laugh　at　me。　The　nations　are　too　enlightened　and　too
sober；　it　is　impossible　to　accomplish　great　things。〃＇Footnote：
Napoleon's　own　words。Vide　〃Memoires　du　Marechal　Duc　de　Raguse；〃
vol。　ii。；　p。　243。＇　　〃There　will　be　a　day；　sire；　when　the　nations
will　rise　and　prove　to　you　that　they　are　able　to　accomplish　great
things！〃

〃And　on　that　day　they　will　trample　me　in　the　dust；　I　suppose？〃　asked
Napoleon；　with　an　almost　compassionate　smile。　〃Do　not　hope　too
sanguinely　for　this　day；　for　your　hopes　might　deceive　you。　I　have
spoken　so　freely　and　frankly　to　you；〃　he　continued；　rising；　〃because
I　knew　that；　by　speaking　to　you；　I　was　speaking；　through　you；　to　the
most　eminent；　high…minded；　and　patriotic　men　of　your　nation；　and
because　I　wished　to　be　comprehended　and　appreciated　by　them。　Go；
then；　and　repeat　my　words　to　themrepeat　them　to　those；　too；　who
believe　that　the　throne　which　I　have　erected　belongs　to　THEM；　and
that　the　tri…colored　flag　would　have　to　disappear　one　day　before　the
lilies。　Go；　madame；　and　tell　those　enthusiastic　Bourbons　the　lilies
were　so　dreadfully　steeped　in　the　misery　and　blood　of　France　that
nobody　would　recognize　them　there；　and　that　everybody　was　shrinking
back　from　their　cadaverous　smell　and　putridity。　Empires　and
dynasties；　like　flowers；　have　but　one　day　of　bloom；　the　day　of　the
Bourbons　is　past；　they　are　faded　and　stripped　of　their　leaves。　State
it　to　those　who　one　day　sent　you　CERTAINLY　to　me；　and　PERHAPS　again
to…day。　If　you　relate　to　them　to…day's　scene；　they　may　deplore；
perhaps；　that　fate　did　not　permit　you　to　become　a　Judith；　but　they
will　have　to　acknowledge　at　least　that　I　am　no　Holofernes。　For
although　the　most　beautiful　woman　of　my　enemies　came　to　my　couch　to
visit　me；　she　did　not　kill　me；　and　her　dagger　lies　at　my　feet！　I
shall　preserve　it　as　a　remembrancer；　and　Grand…marshal　Duroc；　M。　von
Brandt；　and　Constant；　my　valet　de　chambre；　who　are　waiting　for　you
in　the　anteroom；　will　believe　that　dagger　to　be　a　souvenir　of　your
love　and　of　a　delightful　hour　of　my　life。　We　will　not　undeceive
them！　Farewell；　madame！〃

He　gave　Marianne　no　time　to　answer　him；　but　took　the　silver　bell　and
rang　it　so　loudly　and　violently　that　Constant　appeared　in　evident
terror　in　the　door。

〃Constant；〃　said　the　emperor；　〃conduct　the　lady　to　her　carriage；　she
will　return　to　Vienna；　and　as　for　M。　von　Brandt；　tell　him　the
princess　had　allowed　me　to　be　her　paymaster；　and　to　pay　him　in　her
place　for　the　happy　minutes　of　our　interview。〃

〃Sire；〃　ejaculated　Marianne；　in　dismay；　〃you　will〃

〃Hush；〃　the　emperor　interrupted　her　proudly；　〃I　will　pay　my　tribute
to　Dame　Fortune！　Farewell；　madame；　remember　this　hour　sometimes！〃

He　waved　a　parting　salutation　to　her　with　his　hand；　and　then
disappeared　through　the　door　leading　to　his　bedroom。

Marianne　stared　at　him　until　he　was　gone；　as　though　she　had　just
seen　a　ghost　walking　before　her；　and　as　though　her　whole　soul　were
concentrated　in　this　look　with　which　she　gazed　after　him。

〃Madame；〃　said　Constant；　in　a　low　voice；　〃if　you　please！〃　And　he
approached　the　large　hall…door　which　he　opened。

Marianne　started　when　she　heard　his　words　as　if　she　were　awaking
from　a　dream；　she　left　the　room　silently；　and　without　deigning　to
glance　at　Constant；　and　followed　her　smiling　guide　through　the
halls。　In　the　first　anteroom　she　beheld　Grand…marshal　Duroc　and
several　generals；　who　looked　at　the　princess　with　threatening　and
sorrowful　glances。　Marianne　felt　these　glances　as　if　they　were
daggers　piercing　her　soul；　and　daggers　seemed　to　strike　her　ears
when　she　heard　Constant　say　to　Major　von　Brandt：　〃You　will　stay
here；　sir；　for　the　emperor　has　ordered　me　to　pay　you　here　for　the
hours　his　majesty　has　spent　with　the　princess。〃

By　a　violent　effort；　Marianne　succeeded　in　overcoming　her　emotions；
and　with　a　proudly　erect　head；　with　a　cold　and　immovable　face；　she
walked　on　across　the　anterooms　and　descended　the　staircase　until　she
reached　her　carriage。

Only　when　the　carriage　rolled　along　the　road　toward　Vienna　through
the　silent　night；　the　coachman；　notwithstanding　the　noise　of　the
wheels；　thought　he　heard　loud　lamentations；　which　seemed　to　proceed
from　the　interior　of　the　carriage。　But　he　must　have　certainly　been
mistaken；　for　when　the　carriage　stopped　in　the　courtyard　in　front　of
her　mansion；　and　the　footman　hastened　to　open　the　coach…door；　the
princess　alighted　as　proud　and　calm；　as　beautiful　and　radiant　as
ever；　and　ascended　the　staircase　coolly　and　slowly。　At　the　head　of
the　stairs　stood　Madame　Camilla；　muttering　a　few　words　with
trembling　lips　and　pale　cheeks。　Marianne　apparently　did　not　see　her
at　all；　and　walked　coldly　and　proudly　down　the　cor