第 18 节
作者:中国长城网      更新:2021-02-24 23:05      字数:9322
  are well known。  Almost all the Prussian generals; at least the bravest
  among them; were there taken prisoners; or rendered unable to continue
  the campaign。
  The king and queen took flight; and did not halt till they had reached
  Koenigsberg。
  A few moments before the attack; the Queen of Prussia; mounted on a
  noble; graceful steed; had appeared in the midst of the soldiers; and;
  followed by the elite of the youth of Berlin; this royal Amazon had
  galloped down the front rank of the line of battle。  The numerous banners
  which her own hands had embroidered to encourage her troops; with those
  of the great Frederick; blackened by the smoke of many battles; were
  lowered at her approach; amid shouts of enthusiasm which rang through the
  entire ranks of the Prussian army。  The atmosphere was so clear; and the
  two armies so near each other; that the French could easily distinguish
  the costume of the queen。
  This striking costume was; in fact; one great cause of the danger she
  encountered in her flight。  Her head was covered with a helmet of
  polished steel; above which waved a magnificent plume; her cuirass
  glittered with gold and silver; while a tunic of silver cloth completed
  her costume and fell to her feet; which were shod in red boots with gold
  spurs。  This dress heightened the charms of the beautiful queen。
  When the Prussian army was put to flight; the queen was left alone with
  three or four young men of Berlin; who defended her until two hussars;
  who had covered themselves with glory during the battle; rushed at a
  gallop with drawn sabers on this little group; and they were instantly
  dispersed。  Frightened by this sudden onset; the horse which her Majesty
  rode fled with all the strength of his limbs; and well was it for the
  fugitive queen that he was swift as a stag; else the two hussars would
  infallibly have made her a prisoner; for more than once they pressed so
  close that she heard their rude speeches and coarse jests; which were of
  such a nature as to shock her ears。
  The queen; thus pursued; had arrived in sight of the gate of Weimar; when
  a strong detachment of Klein's dragoons were perceived coming at full
  speed; the chief having orders to capture the queen at any cost; but; the
  instant she entered the city; the gates swung to behind her; and the
  hussars and the detachment of dragoons returned disappointed to the
  battle…field。
  The particulars of this singular pursuit soon reached the Emperor's ears;
  and he summoned the hussars to his presence; and having in strong terms
  testified his disapproval of the improper jests that they had dared to
  make regarding the queen; at a time when her misfortunes should have
  increased the respect due both to her rank and her sex; the Emperor then
  performed the duty of rewarding these two brave fellows for the manner in
  which they had borne themselves on the field of battle。  Knowing that
  they had dons prodigies of valor; his Majesty gave them the cross; and
  ordered three hundred francs to be given each one as gratuity。
  The Emperor exercised his clemency toward the Duke of Weimar; who had
  commanded a Prussian division。  The day after the battle of Jena; his
  Majesty; having reached Weimar; lodged at the ducal palace; where he was
  received by the duchess regent; to whom he said; 〃Madame; I owe you
  something for having awaited me; and in appreciation of the confidence
  you have manifested in me; I pardon your husband。〃
  While we were in the army I slept in the Emperor's tent; either on a
  little rug; or on the bearskin which he used in his carriage; or when it
  happened that I could not make use of these articles; I tried to procure
  a bed…of straw; and remember one evening having rendered a great service
  to the King of Naples; by sharing with him the bundle of straw which was
  to have served as my bed。
  I here give a few details from which the reader can form an idea of the
  manner in which I passed the nights on the campaign。
  The Emperor slept on his little iron bedstead; and I slept where I could。
  Hardly did I fall asleep before the Emperor called me; 〃Constant。〃
  〃Sire。〃〃See who is on duty〃 (it was the aides…de…camp to whom he
  referred)。〃Sire; it。  is M。〃〃Tell him to come to me。〃  I then
  went out of the tent to summon the officer; and brought him back with me。
  On his entrance the Emperor said to him; 〃Report to such a corps;
  commanded by such a marshal; you will request him to send such a regiment
  to such a position; you will ascertain the position of the enemy; then
  you will return to report。〃  The aide…de…camp; having left on horseback
  to execute these orders; I lay down again; and the Emperor now seemed to
  be going to sleep; but; at the end of a few moments; I heard him call
  again; 〃Constant。〃 〃Sire。〃 〃Have the Prince de Neuchatel summoned。
  〃I sent for the prince; who came at once; and during the conversation I
  must remain at the door of the tent; until the prince wrote several
  orders and withdrew。  These interruptions took place many times during
  the night; and at last towards morning his Majesty slept; when I also had
  a few moments of repose。
  When aides…de…camp arrived; bringing any news to the Emperor; I awoke
  him; by shaking him gently。
  〃What is it?〃 said his Majesty; waking with a start; 〃what o'clock is it?
  Let him enter。〃  The aide…de…camp made his report; and if it was
  necessary; his Majesty rose immediately; and left the tent; his toilet
  never occupying much time。  If a battle was in contemplation the Emperor
  scanned the sky and the horizon carefully; and often remarked; 〃We are
  going to have a beautiful day。〃
  Breakfast was prepared and served in five minutes; and at the end of a
  quarter of an hour the cloth was removed。  The Prince de Neuchatel
  breakfasted and dined every day with his Majesty; and; in eight or ten
  minutes; the longest meal was over。  〃To horse;〃 then exclaimed the
  Emperor; and set out; accompanied by the Prince de Neuchatel; and an
  aide…de…camp or two; with Roustan; who always carried a silver flask of
  brandy; which; however; the Emperor rarely ever used。  His Majesty passed
  from one corps to the other; spoke to the officers and soldiers;
  questioned them; and saw with his own eyes all that it was possible to
  see。
  If a battle was on hand; dinner was forgotten; and the Emperor ate only
  after his return; but; if the engagement lasted too long; there was
  carried to him; without his ordering it; a crust of bread and a little
  wine。
  M。 Colin; chief of the culinary department; many times braved the cannon
  to carry a light repast to the Emperor。
  At the close of the combat; his Majesty never failed to visit the battle…
  field; where he had aid given the wounded; and encouraged them with
  cheering words。
  The Emperor sometimes returned overcome by fatigue; he then took a light
  repast; and lay down again to begin his interrupted sleep。
  It was remarkable; that; each time that unexpected circumstances forced
  the aides…de…camp to have the Emperor waked; he was as ready for work as
  he would have been at the beginning or in the middle of the day; and his
  awaking was as amiable as his manner was pleasant。  The report of an
  aide…de…camp being finished; Napoleon went to sleep again as easily as if
  his sleep had not been interrupted。
  During the three or four hours preceding an engagement; the Emperor spent
  most of the time with large maps spread out before him; the places on
  which he marked with pins with heads of different colored wax。
  I have already said that all the persons of the Emperor's household
  emulated each other in seeking the surest and promptest means of carrying
  out his wishes; and everywhere; whether in traveling or on the campaign;
  his table; his coffee; his bed; or even his bath could be prepared in
  five minutes。  How many times were we obliged to remove; in still less
  time; corpses of men and horses; to set up his Majesty's tent。
  In one of the campaigns beyond the Rhine we were delayed in a poor
  village; and; in order to prepare the Emperor's lodging; were obliged to
  use a peasant's hut; which had served as a field hospital; and we began
  preparations by carrying away the dismembered limbs; and washing up the
  stains of blood; this labor being finished; and everything almost in
  order; in less than…half an hour。
  The Emperor; sometimes slept a quarter or half an hour on the field of
  battle when he was fatigued; or wished to await more patiently the result
  of the orders he had given。
  While on the road to Potsdam; we were overtaken by a violent storm; which
  became so severe; and the rain so heavy; that we were obliged to stop and
  take refuge in a neighboring house on the road。  Well wrapped in his gray
  overcoat; and not thinking that he could be recognized; the Emperor was
  much surprised to see; as he entered the house; a young woman who seemed
  to tremble at his presence。  He ascertained that she was an Egyptian; who
  had retained for my master the religious veneration which all the Arabs
  bore him; and was the widow of an officer of the army of Egypt; whom
  chance had led to the same house in Saxony where he had been welcomed。
  The Emperor granted her a pension of twelve hundred francs; and took upon
  himself the educat