the miscellaneous writings and speeches-1-第25章
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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 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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
BOOK IX。
The Duke is received at Brussels by the King of the Netherlands with great magnificence。 He is informed of the approach of the armies of all the confederate kings。 The poet； however； with a laudable zeal for the glory of his country； completely passes over the exploits of the Austrians in Italy； and the discussions of the congress。 England and France； Wellington and Napoleon； almost exclusively occupy his attention。 Several days are spent at Brussels in revelry。 The English heroes astonish their allies by exhibiting splendid games； similar to those which draw the flower of the British aristocracy to Newmarket and Moulsey Hurst； and which will be considered by our descendants with as much veneration as the Olympian and Isthmian contests by classical students of the present time。 In the combat of the cestus； Shaw； the lifeguardsman； vanquishes the Prince of Orange； and obtains a bull as a prize。 In the horse…race； the Duke of Wellington and Lord Uxbridge ride against each other； the Duke is victorious； and is rewarded with twelve opera…girls。 On the last day of the festivities； a splendid dance takes place； at which all the heroes attend。
BOOK X。
Mars； seeing the English army thus inactive； hastens to rouse Napoleon； who； conducted by Night and Silence； unexpectedly attacks the Prussians。 The slaughter is immense。 Napoleon kills many whose histories and families are happily particularised。 He slays Herman； the craniologist； who dwelt by the linden…shadowed Elbe； and measured with his eye the skulls of all who walked through the streets of Berlin。 Alas！ his own skull is now cleft by the Corsican sword。 Four pupils of the University of Jena advance together to encounter the Emperor； at four blows he destroys them all。 Blucher rushes to arrest the devastation； Napoleon strikes him to the ground； and is on the point of killing him； but Gneisenau； Ziethen； Bulow； and all the other heroes of the Prussian army； gather round him； and bear the venerable chief to a distance from the field。 The slaughter is continued till night。 In the meantime Neptune has despatched Fame to bear the intelligence to the Duke； who is dancing at Brussels。 The whole army is put in motion。 The Duke of Brunswick's horse speaks to admonish him of his danger； but in vain。
BOOK VI。
Picton； the Duke of Brunswick； and the Prince of Orange； engage Ney at Quatre Bras。 Ney kills the Duke of Brunswick； and strips him； sending his belt to Napoleon。 The English fall back on Waterloo。 Jupiter calls a council of the gods； and commands that none shall interfere on either side。 Mars and Neptune make very eloquent speeches。 The battle of Waterloo commences。 Napoleon kills Picton and Delancy。 Ney engages Ponsonby and kills him。 The Prince of Orange is wounded by Soult。 Lord Uxbridge flies to check the carnage。 He is severely wounded by Napoleon； and only saved by the assistance of Lord Hill。 In the meantime the Duke makes a tremendous carnage among the French。 He encounters General Duhesme and vanquishes him； but spares his life。 He kills Toubert； who kept the gaming…house in the Palais Royal； and Maronet； who loved to spend whole nights in drinking champagne。 Clerval； who had been hooted from the stage； and had then become a captain in the Imperial Guard； wished that he had still continued to face the more harmless enmity of the Parisian pit。 But Larrey； the son of Esculapius； whom his father had instructed in all the secrets of his art； and who was surgeon…general of the French army； embraced the knees of the destroyer； and conjured him not to give death to one whose office it was to give life。 The Duke raised him； and bade him live。
But we must hasten to the close。 Napoleon rushes to encounter Wellington。 Both armies stand in mute amaze。 The heroes fire their pistols； that of Napoleon misses； but that of Wellington； formed by the hand of Vulcan； and primed by the Cyclops； wounds the Emperor in the thigh。 He flies； and takes refuge among his troops。 The flight becomes promiscuous。 The arrival of the Prussians； from a motive of patriotism； the poet completely passes over。
BOOK XII。
Things are now hastening to the catastrophe。 Napoleon flies to London； and； seating himself on the hearth of the Regent； embraces the household gods and conjures him； by the venerable age of George III。； and by the opening perfections of the Princess Charlotte； to spare him。 The Prince is inclined to do so； when； looking on his breast； he sees there the belt of the Duke of Brunswick。 He instantly draws his sword； and is about to stab the destroyer of his kinsman。 Piety and hospitality； however； restrain his hand。 He takes a middle course； and condemns Napoleon to be exposed on a desert island。 The King of France re…enters Paris； and the poem concludes。
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ON MITFORD'S HISTORY
