Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History BookOpen Original Text gth, my prowess, my spirit are all yours; that my
soul is in your body; and that the day on which you change or cease to
live will be my death-day; that Nature, that Earth, is beautiful only
because you dwell therein. If you do not believe all this, if your
soul is not convinced, penetrated by it, you grieve me, you do not
love me--there is a magnetic fluid between people who love one
another--you know perfectly well that I could not brook a rival, much
less offer you one.[15] To tear out his heart and to see him would be
for me one and the same thing, and then if I were to carry my hands
against your sacred person--no, I should never dare to do it; but I
would quit a life in which the most virtuous of women had deceived
me.
But I am sure and proud of your love; misfortunes are the trials which
reveal to each mutually the whole force of our passion. A child as
charming as its mamma will soon see the daylight, and will pass many
years in your arms. Hapless me! I would be happy with one _day_. A
thousand kisses on your eyes, your lips, your tongue, your heart. Most
charming of thy sex, what is thy power over me? I am very sick of thy
sickness; I have still a burning fever! Do not keep the courier more
than six hours, and let him return at once to bring me the longed-for
letter of my Beloved.
Do you remember my dream, in which I was your boots, your dress, and
in which I made you come bodily into my heart? Why has not Nature
arranged matters in this way; she has much to do yet.
N. B.
_A la citoyenne Bonaparte, &c._
* * * * *
_June 18th.--Bonaparte enters Modena, and takes 50 cannon at
Urbino._
_June 19th.--Occupies Bologna, and takes 114 cannon._
_June 23rd.--Armistice with Rome. The Pope to pay 21 millions, 100
rare pictures, 200 MSS., and to close his ports to the English._
_June 24th._--Desaix, with part of Moreau's army, forces the
passage of the Rhine.
No. 8.
TO JOSEPHINE.
_Pistoia, Tuscany, June 26th._
For a month I have only received from my dear love two letters of
three lines each. Is she so busy, that writing to her dear love is not
then needful for her, nor, consequently, thinking about him? To live
without thinking of Josephine would be death and annihilation to your
husband. Your image gilds my fancies, and enlivens the black and
sombre picture of melancholy and grief. A day perhaps may come in
which I shall see you, for I doubt not you will be still at Paris, and
verily on that day I will show you my pockets stuffed with letters
that I have not sent you because they are too foolish (_bete_). Yes,
that's the word. Good heavens! tell me, you who know so well how to
make others love you without being in love yourself, do you know how
to cure me of love??? I will give a good price for that remedy.
You ought to have started on May 24th. Being good-natured, I waited
till June 1st, as if a pretty woman would give up her habits, her
friends, both Madame Tallien and a dinner with Barras, and the acting
of a new play, and Fortune; yes, Fortune, whom you love much more than
your husband, for whom you have only a little of the esteem, and a
share of that benevolence with which your heart abounds. Every day I
count up your misdeeds. I lash myself to fury in order to love you no
more. Bah, don't I love you the more? In fact, my peerless little
mother, I will tell you my secret. Set me at defiance, stay at Paris,
have lovers--let everybody know it--never write me a monosyllable!
then I shall love you ten times more for it; and it is not folly, a
delirious fever! and I shall not get the better of it. Oh! would to
heaven I could get better! but don't tell me you are ill, don't try to
justify yourself. Good heavens! you are pardoned. I love you to
distraction, and never will my poor heart cease to give all for love.
If you did not love me, my fate would be indeed grotesque. You have
not written me; you are ill, you do not come. But you have passed
Lyons; you will be at Turin on the 28th, at Milan on the 30th, where
you will wait for me. You will be in Italy, and I shall be still far
from you. Adieu, my well-beloved; a kiss on thy mouth, another on thy
heart.
We have made peace with Rome--who gives us money. To-morrow we shall
be at Leghorn, and as soon as I can in your arms, at your feet, on
your bosom.
_A la citoyenne Bonaparte, &c._
* * * * *
_June 27th.--Leghorn occupied by Murat and Vaubois._
_June 29th.--Surrender of citadel of Milan; 1600 prisoners and 150
cannon taken._
FOOTNOTES
[14] _Un millier de baise_ (sic).
[15] So Tennant (_t'en offrir un_): but Baron Feuillet de Conches, an
expert in Napoleonic graphology, renders the expression _t'en
souffrir un_.
SERIES B
(1796-97)
"Des 1796, lorsque, avec 30,000 hommes, il fait la conquete de l'Italie,
il est non-seulement grand general, mais profond politique."--_Des
Idees Napoleonniennes._
* * * * *
"Your Government has sent against me four armies without Generals, and
this time a General without an army."--_Napoleon to the Austrian
Plenipotentiaries, at Leoben._
SERIES B
(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 211-223.)
LETTER PAGE
No. 1. _Sortie from Mantua_ 211
No. 2. _Marmirolo_ 211
_Fortune_ 212
No. 3. _The village of Virgil_ 212
No. 4. _Achille_ 212
No. 5. _Will-o'-the-Wisp_ 213
No. 6. _The needs of the army_ 213-5
No. 7. _Brescia_ 215
No. 9. _I hope we shall get into Trent_ 216
No. 12. _One of these nights the doors will be burst open_ 216-8
No. 13. _Corsica is ours_ 218
No. 14. _Verona_ 219
No. 15. _Once more I breathe freely_ 220
No. 18. "_The 29th_" 220
No. 20. _General Brune_ 221
No. 21. _February 3rd_ 221
No. 24. _Perhaps I shall make peace with the Pope_ 222
No. 25. _The unlimited power you hold over me_ 222
No. 1.
_July 5th._--Archduke Charles defeated by Moreau at Radstadt.
_July 6th.--Sortie from Mantua: Austrians fairly successful._
TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.
_Roverbella, July 6, 1796._
I have beaten the enemy. Kilmaine will send you the copy of the
despatch. I am tired to death. Pray start at once for Verona. I need
you, for I think that I am going to be very ill.
I send you a thousand kisses. I am in bed.
BONAPARTE.
* * * * *
_July 9th.--Bonaparte asks Kellermann for reinforcements._
_July 14th._--Frankfort on the Main captured by Kleber.
_July 16th.--Sortie from Mantua: Austrians defeated._
No. 2.
_July 17th.--Attempted coup de main at Mantua: French unsuccessful._
TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.
_Marmirolo_, _July 17, 1796_, 9 P.M.
I got your letter, my beloved; it has filled my heart with joy. I am
grateful to you for the trouble you have taken to send me news; your
health should be better to-day--I am sure you are cured. I urge you
strongly to ride, which cannot fail to do you good.
Ever since I left you, I have been sad. I am only happy when by your
side. Ceaselessly I recall your kisses, your tears, your enchanting
jealousy; and the charms of the incomparable Josephine keep constantly
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