第 9 节
作者:开了      更新:2021-04-30 17:21      字数:9322
  a god descended on earth;a kind of comparison which the clergy; I
  thought; had reserved for their own use。  But; unfortunately; to please
  Madame de Stael it would have been necessary that her god had been
  Plutua; for behind her eulogies lay a claim for two millions; which M。
  Necker considered still due to him on account of his good and worthy
  services。  However; Bonaparte said on this occasion that whatever value
  he might set on the suffrage of Madame de Stael; he did not think fit to
  pay so dear for it with the money of the State。  The conversion of Madame
  de Stael's enthusiasm into hatred is well known; as are also the petty
  vexations; unworthy of himself; with which the Emperor harassed her in
  her retreat at Coppet。
  Lauriston had arrived at Paris; where he made but a short stay; some days
  before Caffarelli; who was sent on a mission to Rome to sound the Papal
  Court; and to induce the Holy Father to come to Paris to consecrate
  Bonaparte at his coronation。  I have already described the nature of
  Bonaparte's ideas on religion。  His notions on the subject seemed to
  amount to a sort of vague feeling rather than to any belief founded on
  reflection。  Nevertheless; he had a high opinion of the power of the
  Church; but not because he considered it dangerous to Governments;
  particularly to his own。  Napoleon never could have conceived how it was
  possible that a sovereign wearing a crown and a sword could have the
  meanness to kneel to a Pope; or to humble his sceptre before the keys of
  St。 Peter。  His spirit was too great to admit of such a thought。  On the
  contrary; he regarded the alliance between the Church and his power as a
  happy means of influencing the opinions of the people; and as an
  additional tie which was to attach them to a Government rendered
  legitimate by the solemn sanction of the Papal authority。  Bonaparte was
  not deceived。  In this; as well as in many other things; the perspicacity
  of his genius enabled him to comprehend all the importance of a
  consecration bestowed on him by the Pope; more especially as Louis
  XVIII。; without subjects; without territory; and wearing only an illusory
  crown; had not received that sacred unction by which the descendants of
  Hugh Capet become the eldest sons of the Church。
  As soon as the Emperor was informed of the success of Caffarelli's
  mission; and that the Pope; in compliance with his desire; was about to
  repair to Paris to confirm in his hands the sceptre of Charlemagne;
  nothing was thought of but preparations for that great event; which had
  been preceded by the recognition of Napoleon as Emperor of the French on
  the part of all the States of Europe; with the exception of England。
  On the conclusion of the Concordat Bonaparte said to me; 〃I shall let the
  Republican generals exclaim as much as they like against the Mass。  I
  know what I am about; I am working for posterity。〃  He was now gathering
  the fruits of his Concordat。  He ordered that the Pope should be
  everywhere treated in his journey through the French territory with the
  highest distinction; and he proceeded to Fontainebleau to receive his
  Holiness。  This afforded an opportunity for Bonaparte to re…establish the
  example of those journeys of the old Court; during which changes of
  ministers used formerly to be made。  The Palace of Fontainebleau; now
  become Imperial; like all the old royal chateaux; had been newly
  furnished with a luxury and taste corresponding to the progress of modern
  art。  The Emperor was proceeding on the road to Nemours when courtiers
  informed him of the approach of Pius VII。  Bonaparte's object was to
  avoid the ceremony which had been previously settled。  He had therefore
  made the pretext of going on a hunting…party; and was in the way as it
  were by chance when the Pope's carriage was arriving。  He alighted from
  horseback; and the Pope came out of his carriage。  Rapp was with the
  Emperor; and I think I yet hear him describing; in his original manner
  and with his German accent; this grand interview; upon which; however; he
  for his part looked with very little respect。  Rapp; in fact; was among
  the number of those who; notwithstanding his attachment to the Emperor;
  preserved independence of character; and he knew he had no reason to
  dissemble with me。  〃Fancy to yourself;〃 said he; 〃the amusing comedy
  that was played。〃  After the Emperor and the Pope had well embraced they
  went into the same carriage; and; in order that they might be upon a
  footing of equality; they were to enter at the same time by opposite
  doors。  All that was settled; but at breakfast the Emperor had calculated
  how he should manage; without appearing to assume anything; to get on the
  righthand side of the Pope; and everything turned out as he wished。  As
  to the Pope;〃 said Rapp; 〃I must own that I never saw a man with a finer
  countenance or more respectable appearance than Pius VII。〃
  After the conference between the Pope and the Emperor at Fontainebleau;
  Pius VII。 set off for Paris first。  On the road the same honours were
  paid to him as to the Emperor。  Apartments were prepared for him in the
  Pavilion de Flore in the Tuileries; and his bedchamber was arranged and
  furnished in the same manner as his chamber in the Palace of Monte…
  Cavallo; his usual residence in Rome。  The Pope's presence in Paris was
  so extraordinary a circumstance that it was scarcely believed; though it
  had some time before been talked of。  What; indeed; could be more
  singular than to see the Head of the Church in a capital where four years
  previously the altars had been overturned; and the few faithful who
  remained had been obliged to exercise their worship in secret!
  The Pope became the object of public respect and general curiosity。  I
  was exceedingly anxious to see him; and my wish was gratified on the day
  when he went to visit the Imperial printing office; then situated where
  the Bank of France now is。
  A pamphlet; dedicated to the Pope; containing the 〃Pater Noster;〃 in one
  hundred and fifty different languages; was struck off in the presence of
  his Holiness。  During this visit to the printing office an ill…bred young
  man kept his hat on in the Pope's presence。  Several persons; indignant
  at this indecorum; advanced to take off the young man's hat。  A little
  confusion arose; and the Pope; observing the cause of it; stepped up to
  the young man and said to him; in a tone of kindness truly patriarchal;
  〃Young man; uncover; that I may give thee my blessing。  An old man's
  blessing never yet harmed any one。〃  This little incident deeply affected
  all who witnessed it。  The countenance and figure of Pope Pius VII。
  commanded respect。  David's admirable portrait is a living likeness of
  him。
  The Pope's arrival at Paris produced a great sensation in London; greater
  indeed there than anywhere else; notwithstanding the separation of the
  English Church from the Church of Rome。  The English Ministry now spared
  no endeavours to influence public opinion by the circulation of libels
  against Bonaparte。  The Cabinet of London found a twofold advantage in
  encouraging this system; which not merely excited irritation against the
  powerful enemy of England; but diverted from the British Government the
  clamour which some of its measures were calculated to create。
  Bonaparte's indignation against England was roused to the utmost extreme;
  and in truth this indignation was in some degree a national feeling in
  France。
  Napoleon had heard of the success of Caffarelli's negotiations previous
  to his return to Paris; after his journey to the Rhine。  On arriving at
  St。 Cloud he lost no time in ordering the preparations for his
  coronation。  Everything aided the fulfilment of his wishes。  On 28th
  November the Pope arrived at Paris; and two days after; viz。 on the 1st
  of December; the Senate presented to the Emperor the votes of the people
  for the establishment of hereditary succession in his family: for as it
  was pretended that the assumption of the title of Emperor was no way
  prejudicial to the Republic; the question of hereditary succession only
  had been proposed for public sanction。  Sixty thousand registers had been
  opened in different parts of France;at the offices of the ministers;
  the prefects; the mayors of the communes; notaries; solicitors; etc。
  France at that time contained 108 departments; and there were 3;574;898
  voters。  Of these only 2569 voted against hereditary succession。
  Bonaparte ordered a list of the persons who had voted against the
  question to be sent to him; and he often consulted it。  They proved to be
  not Royalist; but for the most part staunch Republicans。  To my knowledge
  many Royalists abstained from voting at all; not wishing to commit
  themselves uselessly; and still less to give their suffrages to the
  author of the Duo d'Enghien's death。  For my part; I gave my vote in
  favour of hereditary succession in Bonaparte's family; my situation; as
  may well be imagined; did not allow me to do otherwise。
  Since the month of October the Legislative Body had been convoked to
  attend the Emperor's coronation。  Many deputies arrived; and with them a
  swarm of those presidents of cantons who occupied a conspicuous place in
  the annals of ridicule at the c