memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v6-第4章

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！


Bonaparte's　mother；　Madame　Beauharnais…Lavallette；　Hortense；　and　General
Rapp；　were　of　this　party。　　It　pleased　the　fancy　of　the　jocund　company　to
address　to　me　a　bulletin　of　the　pleasant　and　unpleasant　occurrences　of
the　journey。　　I　insert　this　letter　merely　as　a　proof　of　the　intimacy
which　existed　between　the　writers　and　myself。　　It　follows；　precisely　as　I
have　preserved　it；　with　the　exception　of　the　blots；　for　which　it　will　be
seen　they　apologised。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　AN　ACCOUNT　OF　THE　JOURNEY　TO　PLOMBIERES。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　To　the　Inhabitants　of　Malmaison。

The　whole　party　left　Malmaison　in　tears；　which　brought　on　such　dreadful
headaches　that　all　the　amiable　persons　were　quite　overcome　by　the　idea　of
the　journey。　　Madame　Bonaparte；　mere；　supported　the　fatigues　of　this
memorable　day　with　the　greatest　courage；　but　Madame　Bonaparte；
Consulesse；　did　not　show　any。　　The　two　young　ladies　who　sat　in　the
dormouse；　Mademoiselle　Hortense　and　Madame　Lavallette；　were　rival
candidates　for　a　bottle　of　Eau　de　Cologne；　and　every　now　and　then　the
amiable　M。　Rapp　made　the　carriage　stop　for　the　comfort　of　his　poor　little
sick　heart；　which　overflowed　with　bile：　in　fine；　he　was　obliged　to　take
to　bed　on　arriving　at　Epernay；　while　the　rest　of　the　amiable　party　tried
to　drown　their　sorrows　in　champagne。　　The　second　day　was　more　fortunate
on　the　score　of　health　and　spirits；　but　provisions　were　wanting；　and
great　were　the　sufferings　of　the　stomach。　　The　travellers　lived　on　the
hope　of　a　good　supper　at　Toul；　but　despair　was　at　its　height　when；
on　arriving　there；　they　found　only　a　wretched　inn；　and　nothing　in　it。
We　saw　some　odd…looking　folks　there；　which　indemnified　us　a　little　for
spinach　dressed　in　lamp…oil；　and　red　asparagus　fried　with　curdled　milk。
Who　would　not　have　been　amused　to　see　the　Malmaison　gourmands　seated　at　a
table　so　shockingly　served！

In　no　record　of　history　is　there　to　be　found　a　day　passed　in　distress　so
dreadful　as　that　on　which　we　arrived　at　Plombieres。　　On　departing　from
Toul　we　intended　to　breakfast　at　Nancy；　for　every　stomach　had　been　empty
for　two　days；　but　the　civil　and　military　authorities　came　out　to　meet　us；
and　prevented　us　from　executing　our　plan。　　We　continued　our　route；
wasting　away；　so　that　you　might；　see　us　growing　thinner　every　moment。
To　complete　our　misfortune；　the　dormouse；　which　seemed　to　have　taken　a
fancy　to　embark　on　the　Moselle　for　Metz；　barely　escaped　an　overturn。
But　at　Plombieres　we　have　been　well　compensated　for　this　unlucky　journey；
for　on　our　arrival　we　were　received　with　all　kinds　of　rejoicings。　　The
town　was　illuminated；　the　cannon　fired；　and　the　faces　of　handsome　women
at　all　the　windows　give　us　reason　to　hope　that　we　shall　bear　our　absence
from　Malmaison　with　the　less　regret。

With　the　exception　of　some　anecdotes；　which　we　reserve　for　chit…chat　on
our　return；　you　have　here　a　correct　account　of　our　journey；　which　we；　the
undersigned；　hereby　certify。

JOSEPHINE　BONAPARTE。
BEAUHARNAIS…LAPALLETTE。
HORTENSE　BEAUHARNAIS。
RAPP。
BONAPARTE；　mere。

The　company　ask　pardon　for　the　blots。
　　　　　　　　　　21st　Messidor。

It　is　requested　that　the　person　who　receives　this　journal　will　show　it　to
all　who　take　an　interest　in　the　fair　travellers。


This　journey　to　Plombieres　was　preceded　by　a　scene　which　I　should　abstain
from　describing　if　I　had　not　undertaken　to　relate　the　truth　respecting
the　family　of　the　First　Consul。　　Two　or　three　days　before　her　departure
Madame　Bonaparte　sent　for　me。　　I　obeyed　the　summons；　and　found　her　in
tears。　　〃What　a　man…what　a　man　is　that　Lucien！〃　　she　exclaimed　in　accents
of　grief。　　〃If　you　knew；　my　friend；　the　shameful　proposals　he　has　dared
to　make　to　me！　'You　are　going　to　the　waters；'　said　he；　'you　must　get　a
child　by　some　other　person　since　you　cannot　have　one　by　him。'　　Imagine
the　indignation　with　which　I　received　such　advice。　　'Well；'　he　continued；
'if　you　do　not　wish　it；　or　cannot　help　it；　Bonaparte　must　get　a　child　by
another　woman；　and　you　must　adopt　it；　for　it　is　necessary　to　secure　an
hereditary　successor。　　It　is　for　your　interest；　you　must　know　that。'
'What；　sir！'　　I　replied；　'do　you　imagine　the　nation　will　suffer　a　bastard
to　govern　it？　　Lucien！　　Lucien！　　you　would　ruin　your　brother！　　This　is
dreadful！　　Wretched　should　I　be；　were　any　one　to　suppose　me　capable　of
listening；　without　horror；　to　your　infamous　proposal！　　Your　ideas　are
poisonous；　your　language　horrible！''Well；　Madame；'　retorted　he；　'all　I
can　say　to　that　is；　that　I　am　really　sorry　for　you！'〃

The　amiable　Josephine　was　sobbing　whilst　she　described　this　scene　to　me；
and　I　was　not　insensible　to　the　indignation　which　she　felt。　　The　truth
is；　that　at　that　period　Lucien；　though　constantly　affecting　to　despise
power　for　himself；　was　incessantly　labouring　to　concentrate　it　in　the
hands　of　his　brother；　and　he　considered　three　things　necessary　to　the
success　of　his　views；　namely；　hereditary　succession；　divorce；　and　the
Imperial　Government。

Lucien　had　a　delightful　house　near　Neuilly。　　Some　days　before　the
deplorable　scene　which　I　have　related　he　invited　Bonaparte　and　all　the
inmates　at　Malmaison　to　witness　a　theatrical　representation。　　'Alzire'
was　the　piece　performed。　　Elise　played　Alzire；　and　Lucien；　Zamore。　　The
warmth　of　their　declarations；　the　energetic　expression　of　their　gestures；
the　too　faithful　nudity　of　costume；　disgusted　most　of　the　spectators；　and
Bonaparte　more　than　any　other。　　When　the　play　was　over　he　was　quite
indignant。　　〃It　is　a　scandal；〃　he　said　to　me　in　an　angry　tone；　〃I　ought
not　to　suffer　such　indecenciesI　will　give　Lucien　to　understand　that　I
will　have　no　more　of　it。〃　　When　his　brother　had　resumed　his　own　dress；
and　came　into　the　salon；　he　addressed　him　publicly；　and　gave　him　to
understand　that　he　must　for　the　future　desist　from　such　representations。
When　we　returned　to　Malmaison；　he　again　spoke　of　what　had　passed　with
dissatisfaction。　　〃What！〃　said　he；　〃when　I　am　endeavouring　to　restore
purity　of　manners；　my　brother　and　sister　must　needs　exhibit　themselves
upon　the　boards　almost　in　a　state　of　nudity！　　It　is　an　insult！〃

Lucien　had　a　strong　predilection　for　theatrical　exhibitions；　to　which　he
attached　great　importance。　　The　fact　is；　he　declaimed　in　a　superior
style；　and　might　have　competed　with　the　best　professional　actors。　　It　was
said　that　the　turban　of　Orosmane；　the　costume　of　America；　the　Roman　toga；
or　the　robe　of　the　high　priest　of　Jerusalem；　all　became　him　equally　well；
and　I　believe　that　this　was　the　exact　truth。　　Theatrical　representations
were　not　confined　to　Neuilly。　　We　had　our　theatre　and　our　company　of
actors　at　Malmaison；　but　there　everything　was　conducted　with　the　greatest
decorum；　and　now　that　I　have　got　behind　the　scenes；　I　will　not　quit　them
until　I　have　let　the　reader　into　the　secrets　of　our　drama。

By　the　direction　of　the　First　Consul　a　very　pretty　little　theatre　was
built　at　Malmaison。　　Our　usual　actors　were　Eugene　BEAUHARNAIS；　Hortense；
Madame　Murat；　Lauriston；　M。　Didelot；　one　of　the　prefects　of　the　Palace；
some　other　individuals　belonging　to　the　First　Consul's　household；　and
myself。　　Freed　from　the　cares　of　government；　which　we　confined　as　much　as
possible　to　the　Tuileries；　we　were　a　very　happy　colony　at　Malmaison；　and；
besides；　we　were　young；　and　what　is　there　to　which　youth　does　not　add
charms？　　The　pieces　which　the　First　Consul　most　liked　to　see　us　perform
were；　'Le　Barbier　de　Seville'　and　'Defiance　et　Malice'。　　In　Le　Barbier
Lauriston　played　the　part　of　Count　Almaviva；　Hortense；　Rosins；　Eugene；
Basil；　Didelot；　Figaro；　I；　Bartholo；　and　Isabey；　l'Aveille。　　Our　other
stock　pieces　were；　Projets　de　Mariage；　La　Gageltre；　the　Dapit　Anloureux；
in　which　I　played　the　part　of　the　valet；　and　L'Impromptu　de　Campagne；　in
which　I　enacted　the　Baron；　having　for　my　Baroness　the　young　and　handsome
Caroline　Murat。

Hortense's　acting　was　perfection；　Caroline　was　middling；　Eugene　played
very　well；　Lauriston　was　rather　heavy；　Didelot　passable；　and　I　may
venture　to　assert；　without　vanity；　that　I　was　not　quite　the　worst　of　the
company。　　If　we　were　not　good　actors　it　was　not　for　want　of　good
instruction　and　good　advice。　　Talma　and　Michot　came　to　direct　us；　and
made　us　rehearse　before　them；　sometimes　altogether　and　sometimes
separately。　　How　many　lessons　have　I　received　from　Michot　whilst　walking
in　the　beautiful　park　of　Malmaison！　　And　may　I　be　excused　for　saying；
that　I　now　experience　pleasure　in　looking　back　upon　these　trifles；　which
are　matters　of　importance　when　one　is　young；　and　which　contrasted　so
singularly　with　the　great　theatre　on　which　we　did　not　represent
fictitious　characters？　　We　had；　to　adopt　theatrical　language；　a　good
supply　of　property。　　Bonaparte　presented　each　of　us　with　a　collection　of
dramas　very　well　bound；　and；　as　the　patron　of　the　company；　he　provided　us
with　rich　and　elegant　dresses。

＇While　Bourrienne；　belonging　to　the　Malmaison　company；　considered
that　the　acting　at　Neuilly　was　indecent；　Lucien；　who　refused　to　act　at
Malmaison；　naturally　thought　the　Malmaison　troupe　was　dull。　　〃Hortense
and　Caroline　filled　the　principal　parts。　　They　were　very　commonplace。　　In
this　they　followed　the　unfortunate　Marie　Antoinette　and　her　companions。
Louis　XVI。；　　not　naturally　polite；　when　seeing　them　act；　had　said　that　it
was　royally　badly　acted〃　（see　Madame　Campan's　Life　of　Marie　Antoinette；
tome　i。　　p。　299）。　　〃The　First　Consul　said　of　his　troupe　that　it　was
sovereignly　badly　acted。　　。　　。　　Murat；　Lannes；　and　even　Caroline　ranted。
Elisa；　who；　having　been　educated　at　Saint　Cyr；　spoke　purely　and　without
accent；　refused　to　act。　　Janot　acted　well　the　drunken　parts；　and　even　the
others　he　undertook。　The　rest　were　decidedly　bad。　　Worse　than　bad
ridiculous〃　（Iung's　Lucien's；　tome　ii。　p。　256）。　　Rival　actors　are　not
fair　critics。　　Let　us　hear　Madame　Junot　（tome　ii。　　p。　103）。　　〃The
cleverest　of　our　company　was　M。　de　Bourrienne。　　He　played　the　more
dignified　characters　in　real　perfection；　and　his　talent　was　the　more
pleasing　as　it　was　not　the　result　of　study；　but　of　a　perfect
comprehension　of　his　part。〃　　And　she　goes　on　to　say　that　even　the　best
professional　actors　might　have　learnt　from　him　in　some　parts。　　The
audience　was　not　a　pleasant　one　to　face。　　It　was　the　First　Consul's　habit
to　invite　forty　persons　to　dinner；　and　a　hundred　and　fifty　for　the
evening；　and　consequently　to　hear；　criticise；　and　banter　us　without
mercy〃　（Memoirs　of　Duchesse　d'Abrantes；　tome　ii。　p。　108）。　＇

Bonaparte　took　great　pleasure　in　our　performances。　　He　liked　to　see　plays
acted　by　persons　with　whom　he　was　familiar。　　Sometimes　he　complimented　us
on　our　exertions。　　Although　I　was　as　much　amused　with　the　thing　as
others；　I　was　more　than　once　obliged　to　remind　him　that　my　occupations
left　me　but　little　time　to　learn　my　parts。　　Then　he　would　assume　his
coaxing　manner　and　say；　〃Come；　do　not　vex　me！　　You　have　such　a　memory！
You　know　that　it　amuses　me。　　You　see　that　these　performances　render
Malmaison　gay　and　animated；　Josephine　takes　much　pleasure　in　them。　　Rise
earlier　in　the　morning。In　fact；　I　sleep　too　much；　is　not　that　the
caf？Come；　Bourrienne；　do　oblige　me。　　You　make　me　laugh　so　heartily！
Do　not　deprive　me　of　this　pleasure。　　I　have　not　over　much　amusement；　as
you　we