misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写)-第32章
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ridicule the other？ Of this； at least； I am certain； that whatever excuse we
have for admiring the plots of those famous poems our children will have
for extolling that of the 〃Wellingtoniad。〃
I shall proceed to give a sketch of the narrative。 The subject is 〃The
Reign of the Hundred Days。〃
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
BOOK I。
The poem commences； in form； with a solemn proposition of the
subject。 Then the muse is invoked to give the poet accurate information
as to the causes of so terrible a commotion。 The answer to this question；
being； it is to be supposed； the joint production of the poet and the muse；
ascribes the event to circumstances which have hitherto eluded all the
research of political writers； namely； the influence of the god Mars； who；
we are told； had some forty years before usurped the conjugal rights of old
Carlo Buonaparte； and given birth to Napoleon。 By his incitement it was
that the emperor with his devoted companions was now on the sea；
returning to his ancient dominions。 The gods were at present； fortunately
for the adventurer； feasting with the Ethiopians； whose entertainments；
according to the ancient custom described by Homer； they annually
attended； with the same sort of condescending gluttony which now carries
the cabinet to Guildhall on the 9th of November。 Neptune was； in
consequence； absent； and unable to prevent the enemy of his favourite
island from crossing his element。 Boreas； however； who had his abode
on the banks of the Russian ocean； and who； like Thetis in the Iliad； was
not of sufficient quality to have an invitation to Ethiopia； resolves to
destroy the armament which brings war and danger to his beloved
Alexander。 He accordingly raises a storm which is most powerfully
described。 Napoleon bewails the inglorious fate for which he seems to
be reserved。 〃Oh！ thrice happy；〃 says he； 〃those who were frozen to
death at Krasnoi； or slaughtered at Leipsic。 Oh； Kutusoff； bravest of the
Russians； wherefore was I not permitted to fall by thy victorious sword？〃
He then offers a prayer to Aeolus； and vows to him a sacrifice of a black
ram。 In consequence； the god recalls his turbulent subject； the sea is
calmed； and the ship anchors in the port of Frejus。 Napoleon and
Bertrand； who is always called the faithful Bertrand； land to explore the
country； Mars meets them disguised as a lancer of the guard； wearing the
cross of the legion of honour。 He advises them to apply for necessaries
of all kinds to the governor； shows them the way； and disappears with a
strong smell of gunpowder。 Napoleon makes a pathetic speech； and
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
enters the governor's house。 Here he sees hanging up a fine print of the
battle of Austerlitz； himself in the foreground giving his orders。 This
puts him in high spirits； he advances and salutes the governor； who
receives him most loyally； gives him an entertainment； and； according to
the usage of all epic hosts； insists after dinner on a full narration of all that
has happened to him since the battle of Leipsic。
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
BOOK II。
Napoleon carries his narrative from the battle of Leipsic to his
abdication。 But； as we shall have a great quantity of fighting on our
hands； I think it best to omit the details。
BOOK III。 Napoleon describes his sojourn at Elba； and his return；
how he was driven by stress of weather to Sardinia； and fought with the
harpies there； how he was then carried southward to Sicily； where he
generously took on board an English sailor； whom a man…of…war had
unhappily left there； and who was in imminent danger of being devoured
by the Cyclops； how he landed in the bay of Naples； saw the Sibyl； and
descended to Tartarus； how he held a long and pathetic conversation with
Poniatowski； whom he found wandering unburied on the banks of Styx；
how he swore to give him a splendid funeral； how he had also an
affectionate interview with Desaix； how Moreau and Sir Ralph
Abercrombie fled at the sight of him。 He relates that he then re…
embarked； and met with nothing of importance till the commencement of
the storm with which the poem opens。
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
BOOK IV。
The scene changes to Paris。 Fame； in the garb of an express； brings
intelligence of the landing of Napoleon。 The king performs a sacrifice：
but the entrails are unfavourable； and the victim is without a heart。 He
prepares to encounter the invader。 A young captain of the guard；the son
of Maria Antoinette by Apollo；in the shape of a fiddler； rushes in to tell
him that Napoleon is approaching with a vast army。 The royal forces are
drawn out for battle。 Full catalogues are given of the regiments on both
sides； their colonels； lieutenant…colonels； and uniform。
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
BOOK V。
The king comes forward and defies Napoleon to single combat。
Napoleon accepts it。 Sacrifices are offered。 The ground is measured by
Ney and Macdonald。 The combatants advance。 Louis snaps his pistol
in vain。 The bullet of Napoleon； on the contrary； carries off the tip of the
king's ear。 Napoleon then rushes on him sword in hand。 But Louis
snatches up a stone； such as ten men of those degenerate days will be
unable to move； and hurls it at his antagonist。 Mars averts it。 Napoleon
then seizes Louis； and is about to strike a fatal blow； when Bacchus
intervenes； like Venus in the third book of the Iliad； bears off the king in a
thick cloud； and seats him in an hotel at Lille； with a bottle of Maraschino
and a basin of soup before him。 Both armies instantly proclaim
Napoleon emperor。
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
BOOK VI。
Neptune； returned from his Ethiopian revels； sees with rage the events
which have taken place in Europe。 He flies to the cave of Alecto； and
drags out the fiend； commanding her to excite universal hostility against
Napoleon。 The Fury repairs to Lord Castlereagh； and； as； when she
visited Turnus； she assumed the form of an old woman； she here appears
in the kindred shape of Mr Vansittart； and in an impassioned address
exhorts his lordship to war。 His lordship； like Turnus； treats this
unwonted monitor with great disrespect； tells him that he is an old doting
fool； and advises him to look after the ways and means； and leave
questions of peace and war to his betters。 The Fury then displays all her
terrors。 The neat powdered hair bristles up into snakes； the black
stockings appear clotted with blood； and； brandishing a torch； she
announces her name and mission。 Lord Castlereagh； seized with fury；
flies instantly to the Parliament； and recommends war with a torrent of
eloquent invective。 All the members instantly clamour for vengeance；
seize their arms which are hanging round the walls of the house； and rush
forth to prepare for instant hostilities。
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BOOK VII。
In this book intelligence arrives at London of the flight of the Duchess
d'Angouleme from France。 It is stated that this heroine； armed from head
to foot； defended Bordeaux against the adherents of Napoleon； and that
she fought hand to hand with Clausel； and beat him down with an
enormous stone。 Deserted by her followers； she at last； like Turnus；
plunged； armed as she was； into the Garonne； and swam to an English ship
which lay off the coast。 This intelligence yet more inflames the English to
war。
A yet bolder flight than any which has been mentioned follows。 The
Duke of Wellington goes to take leave of the duchess； and a scene passes
quite equal to the famous interview of Hector and Andromache。 Lord
Douro is frightened at his father's feather； but begs for his epaulette。
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
BOOK VIII。
Neptune； trembling for the event of the war； implores Venus； who； as
the offspring of his element； naturally venerates him； to procure from
Vulcan a deadly sword and a pair of unerring pistols for the Duke。 They
are accordingly made； and superbly decorated。 The sheath of the sword；
like the shield of Achilles； is carved； in exquisitely fine miniature； with
scenes from the common life of the period； a dance at Almack's a boxing
match at the Fives… court； a lord mayor's procession； and a man hanging。
All these are fully and elegantly described。 The Duke thus armed hastens
to Brussels。
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