the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第39章
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his teeth at my ankles like a savage wolf。
Two days later I had rejoined the army at Smolensk； and was a part
once more of that dreary procession which tramped onward through the
snow； leaving a long weal of blood to show the path which it had taken。
Enough； my friends； I would not re…awaken the memory of those days
of misery and death。 They still come to haunt me in my dreams。 When
we halted at last in Warsaw we had left behind us our guns； our transport；
and three…fourths of our comrades。 But we did not leave behind us the
honour of Etienne Gerard。 They have said that I broke my parole。 Let
them beware how they say it to my face； for the story is as I tell it； and old
as I am my forefinger is not too weak to press a trigger when my honour is
in question。
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VII 。 How the Brigadier Bore
Himself at Waterloo
I。 THE STORY OF THE FOREST INN
Of all the great battles in which I had the honour of drawing my sword
for the Emperor and for France there was not one which was lost。 At
Waterloo； although； in a sense； I was present； I was unable to fight； and the
enemy was victorious。 It is not for me to say that there is a connection
between these two things。 You know me too well； my friends； to imagine
that I would make such a claim。 But it gives matter for thought； and
some have drawn flattering conclusions from it。
After all； it was only a matter of breaking a few English squares and
the day would have been our own。 If the Hussars of Conflans； with
Etienne Gerard to lead them； could not do this； then the best judges are
mistaken。
But let that pass。 The Fates had ordained that I should hold my hand
and that the Empire should fall。 But they had also ordained that this day
of gloom and sorrow should bring such honour to me as had never come
when I swept on the wings of victory from Boulogne to Vienna。
Never had I burned so brilliantly as at that supreme moment when the
darkness fell upon all around me。 You are aware that I was faithful to the
Emperor in his adversity； and that I refused to sell my sword and my
honour to the Bourbons。 Never again was I to feel my war horse
between my knees； never again to hear the kettledrums and silver trumpets
behind me as I rode in front of my little rascals。 But it comforts my heart；
my friends； and it brings the tears to my eyes； to think how great I was
upon that last day of my soldier life； and to remember that of all the
remarkable exploits which have won me the love of so many beautiful
women； and the respect of so many noble men； there was none which； in
splendour； in audacity； and in the great end which was attained； could
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compare with my famous ride upon the night of June 18th； 1815。 I am
aware that the story is often told at mess…tables and in barrack…rooms； so
that there are few in the army who have not heard it； but modesty has
sealed my lips； until now； my friends； in the privacy of these intimate
gatherings； I am inclined to lay the true facts before you。
In the first place； there is one thing which I can assure you。 In all his
career Napoleon never had so splendid an army as that with which he took
the field for that campaign。 In 1813 France was exhausted。 For every
veteran there were five childrenMarie Louises； as we called them； for the
Empress had busied herself in raising levies while the Emperor took the
field。 But it was very different in 1815。 The prisoners had all come
back the men from the snows of Russia； the men from the dungeons of
Spain； the men from the hulks in England。
These were the dangerous men； veterans of twenty battles； longing for
their old trade； and with hearts filled with hatred and revenge。 The ranks
were full of soldiers who wore two and three chevrons； every chevron
meaning five years' service。 And the spirit of these men was terrible。
They were raging； furious； fanatical； adoring the Emperor as a Mameluke
does his prophet； ready to fall upon their own bayonets if their blood could
serve him。 If you had seen these fierce old veterans going into battle；
with their flushed faces； their savage eyes； their furious yells； you would
wonder that anything could stand against them。 So high was the spirit of
France at that time that every other spirit would have quailed before it； but
these people； these English； had neither spirit nor soul； but only solid；
immovable beef； against which we broke ourselves in vain。 That was it；
my friends！ On the one side； poetry； gallantry； self… sacrificeall that is
beautiful and heroic。 On the other side； beef。 Our hopes； our ideals； our
dreamsall were shattered on that terrible beef of Old England。
You have read how the Emperor gathered his forces； and then how he
and I； with a hundred and thirty thousand veterans； hurried to the northern
frontier and fell upon the Prussians and the English。 On the 16th of June；
Ney held the English in play at Quatre…Bras while we beat the Prussians at
Ligny。 It is not for me to say how far I contributed to that victory； but it
is well known that the Hussars of Conflans covered themselves with glory。
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They fought well； these Prussians； and eight thousand of them were left
upon the field。 The Emperor thought that he had done with them； as he
sent Marshal Grouchy with thirty…two thousand men to follow them up
and to prevent their interfering with his plans。 Then with nearly eighty
thousand men； he turned upon these 〃Goddam〃 Englishmen。 How much
we had to avenge upon them； we Frenchmenthe guineas of Pitt； the hulks
of Portsmouth； the invasion of Wellington； the perfidious victories of
Nelson！ At last the day of punishment seemed to have arisen。
Wellington had with him sixty…seven thousand men； but many of them
were known to be Dutch and Belgian； who had no great desire to fight
against us。 Of good troops he had not fifty thousand。 Finding himself
in the presence of the Emperor in person with eighty thousand men； this
Englishman was so paralysed with fear that he could neither move himself
nor his army。 You have seen the rabbit when the snake approaches。 So
stood the English upon the ridge of Waterloo。 The night before； the
Emperor； who had lost an aide…de… camp at Ligny； ordered me to join his
staff； and I had left my Hussars to the charge of Major Victor。 I know not
which of us was the most grieved； they or I； that I should be called away
upon the eve of battle； but an order is an order； and a good soldier can but
shrug his shoulders and obey。 With the Emperor I rode across the front
of the enemy's position on the morning of the 18th； he looking at them
through his glass and pla
