第 10 节
作者:中国长城网      更新:2021-02-24 23:05      字数:9321
  taste; a woman who respects herself; should never wear anything six
  months old。  I will take the ear…rings and send them to de Villiers 'he
  was the count's jeweler' with orders to mount them as I wish。〃  The count
  was tenderly thanked for so delicate an attention; and put the girandoles
  in his pocket; with one or two necklaces which had also been his gift;
  and which did not appear to him sufficiently new in style; and the breach
  took place before any of these had been returned。
  Notwithstanding this; Mademoiselle believed herself well provided for
  with her furniture and her house; until one morning the true proprietor
  came to ask her wishes as to making a new lease。  She ran to examine her
  deed; which she had not yet thought to do; and found that it was simply a
  description of the property; at the end of which was a receipt for two
  years' rent。
  During our stay at Genoa the heat was insupportable; from this the
  Emperor suffered greatly; saying he had never experienced the like in
  Egypt; and undressed many times a day。  His bed was covered with a
  mosquito netting; for the insects were numerous and worrying。  The
  windows of the bedroom looked out upon a grand terrace on the margin of
  the sea; and from them could be seen the gulf and all the surrounding
  country。  The fetes given by the city were superb。  An immense number of
  vessels were fastened together; and filled with orange and citrontrees
  and shrubs; some covered with flowers; some with fruits; and all combined
  formed a most exquisite floating garden which their Majesties visited on
  a magnificent yacht。
  On his return to France; the Emperor made no halt between Turin and
  Fontainebleau。  He traveled incognito; in the name of the minister of the
  interior; and went at such speed that at each relay they were obliged to
  throw water on the wheels; but in spite of this his Majesty complained of
  the slowness of the postilions; and cried continually; 〃Hurry up!  hurry
  up!  we are hardly moving。〃  Many of the servants' carriages were; left
  in the rear; though mine experienced no delay; and I arrived at each
  relay at the same time as the Emperor。
  In ascending the steep hill of Tarare; the Emperor alighted from the
  carriage; as did also Berthier; who accompanied him; the carriages of the
  suite being some distance behind; as the drivers had stopped to breathe
  their horses。
  His Majesty saw; climbing the hill a few steps before him; an old;
  decrepit woman; who hobbled along with great difficulty。  As the Emperor
  approached her he inquired why; infirm as she was; and apparently so
  fatigued; she should attempt to travel so difficult a road。
  〃Sir;〃 replied she; 〃they tell me the Emperor is to pass along here; and
  I wish to see him before I die。〃  His Majesty; who liked to be amused;
  said to her; 〃Ah; but why trouble yourself about him?  He is a tyrant;
  like all the rest。〃  The good woman; indignant at this remark; angrily
  replied; 〃At least; Sir; he is our choice; and since we must have a
  master; it is at least right that we should choose him。〃  I was not an
  eye…witness of this incident; but I heard the Emperor himself relate it
  to Dr。 Corvisart; with some remarks upon the good sense of the masses;
  who; according to the opinion of his Majesty and his chief doctor; had
  generally formed very correct opinions。
  CHAPTER XXVII。
  His Majesty the Emperor passed the month of January; 1806; at Munich and
  Stuttgard; during which; in the first of these two capitals; the marriage
  of the vice…king and the Princess of Bavaria was celebrated。  On this
  occasion there was a succession of magnificent fetes; of which the
  Emperor was always the hero; and at which his hosts tried; by every
  variety of homage; to express to this great man the admiration with which
  his military genius inspired them。
  The vice…king and vice…queen had never met before their marriage; but
  were soon as much attached to each other as if they had been acquainted
  for years; for never were two persons more perfectly congenial。  No
  princess; and indeed no mother; could have manifested more affection and
  care for her children than the vice…queen; and she might well serve as a
  model for all women。  I have been told an incident concerning this
  admirable princess which I take pleasure in relating here。  One of her
  daughters; who was quite young; having spoken in a very harsh tone to her
  maid; her most serene highness the vice…queen was informed of it; and in
  order to give her daughter a lesson; forbade the servants to render the
  young princess any service; or to reply to any of her demands; from that
  time。  The child at once complained to her mother; who told her gravely
  that when any one received; like her; the care and attention of all
  around them; it was necessary to merit this; and to show her appreciation
  by consideration and an obliging politeness。  Then she required her to
  ask pardon of the 'femme de chambre'; and henceforward to speak to her
  politely; assuring her that by this means she would always obtain
  compliance with all reasonable and just requests she might make。
  The child obeyed; and the lesson was of such benefit to her that she
  became; if general report is to be believed; one of the most accomplished
  princesses of Europe。  The report of her perfections spread abroad even
  to the New World; which contended for her with the Old; and has been
  fortunate enough to obtain her。  She is at this time; I think; Empress of
  Brazil。
  His Majesty the King of Bavaria; Maximilian Joseph; then about fifty
  years of age; was very tall; with a noble and attractive physiognomy and
  fascinating manners。  Before the Revolution he had been colonel of an
  Alsatian regiment in the service of France; under the name of Prince
  Maximilian; or Prince Max as the soldiers called him; and stationed at
  Strasburg; where he left a reputation for elegance and chivalrous
  gallantry。  His subjects; his family; his servants; everybody; adored
  him。  He often took long walks through the city of Munich in the morning;
  went to the market; inquired the price of grain; entered the shops; spoke
  to every one; especially the children; whom he persuaded to go to school。
  This excellent prince did not fear to compromise his dignity by the
  simplicity of his manners; and he was right; for I do not think any one
  ever failed to show him respect; and the love which he inspired lessened
  in no wise the veneration which was felt for him。  Such was his devotion
  to the Emperor; that his kindly feelings extended even to the persons who
  by their functions approached nearest to his Majesty; and were in the
  best position to know his needs and wishes。  Thus (I do not relate it out
  of vanity; but in proof of what I have just said) his Majesty the King of
  Bavaria never came to see the Emperor; that he did not take my hand and
  inquire first after the health of his Imperial Majesty; then after my
  own; adding many things which plainly showed his attachment for the
  Emperor and his natural goodness。
  His Majesty the King of Bavaria is now in the tomb; like him who gave him
  a throne; but this tomb is still a royal tomb; and the loyal Bavarians
  can come to kneel and weep over it。  The Emperor; on the contrary
  'Constant wrote this before the return; in 1840; of the ashes of
  Napoleon to rest on 〃the banks of the Seine; amid the French people
  whom he loved so well;〃 where in a massive urn of porphyry; and
  beneath the gilded dome of the Invalides; in the most splendid tomb
  of the centuries; sleeps now the soldier of Lodi; Marengo;
  Austerlitz; Wagram; and Waterloo。TRANS。'
  The virtuous Maximilian was able to leave to a worthy son the scepter
  which he had received from him who perished an exile at St。 Helena。
  Prince Louis; the present King of Bavaria; and to…day perhaps the best
  king in Europe; was not so tall as his august father; neither was his
  face so handsome; and; unfortunately; he was afflicted with an extreme
  deafness; which made him raise his voice without knowing it; and in
  addition to this his utterance was impeded by a slight stammering。  This
  prince was grave and studious; and the Emperor recognized his merit; but
  did not rely upon his friendship。  This was not because he thought him
  wanting in loyalty; for the prince royal was above such suspicion; but
  the Emperor was aware that he belonged to a party which feared the
  subjection of Germany; and who suspected that the French; although they
  had so far attacked only Austria; had ideas of conquest over all the
  German powers。
  However; what I have just stated in regard to the prince royal relates
  only to the years subsequent to 1806; for I am certain that at that epoch
  his sentiments did not differ from those of the good Maximilian; who was;
  as I have said; full of gratitude to the Emperor。  Prince Louis came to
  Paris at the beginning of this year; and I saw him many times at the
  court theater in the box of the prince arch…chancellor; where they both
  slept in company and very profoundly。  This was also such a habit with
  Cambaceres; that when the Emperor asked for him; and was told that
  monseigneur was at the theater; he replied; 〃Very well; very well; he is
  taking his siesta;