Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History BookOpen Original Text there. Go to the Tuileries; receive, and lead the
same life as you are accustomed to do when I am there; that is my
wish. Perhaps I shall not be long in rejoining you there; but it is
absolutely necessary for you to give up the idea of making a journey
of 750 miles at this time of the year, through the enemy's country,
and in the rear of the army. Believe that it costs me more than you to
put off for some weeks the pleasure of seeing you, but so events and
the success of my enterprise order it.
Adieu, my dear; be cheerful, and show character.
NAPOLEON.
No. 29.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Warsaw, January 8, 1807._
_My Dear_,--I received your letter of the 27th with those of M.
Napoleon and Hortense, which were enclosed with it. I had begged you
to return to Paris. The season is too inclement, the roads unsafe and
detestable; the distances too great for me to permit you to come
hither, where my affairs detain me. It would take you at least a month
to come. You would arrive ill; by that time it might perhaps be
necessary to start back again; it would therefore be folly. Your
residence at Mayence is too dull; Paris reclaims you; go there, it is
my wish. I am more vexed about it than you. I should have liked to
spend the long nights of this season with you, but we must obey
circumstances.
Adieu, dear.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
No. 30.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Warsaw, January 11, 1807._
Your letter of the 27th received, from which I note that you are
somewhat uneasy about military events. Everything is settled, as I
have told you, to my satisfaction; my affairs prosper. The distance is
too great for me to allow you to come so far at this time of year. I
am in splendid health, sometimes rather wearied by the length of the
nights.
Up to the present I have seen few people here.
Adieu, dear. I wish you to be cheerful, and to give a little life to
the capital. I would much like to be there.--Yours ever,
NAPOLEON.
I hope that the Queen has gone to the Hague with M. Napoleon.
No. 31.
_January 16th.--Capture of Brieg by the French._
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_January 16, 1807._
MY DEAR,--I have received your letter of the 5th of January; all that
you tell me of your unhappiness pains me. Why these tears, these
repinings? Have you then no longer any fortitude? I shall see you
soon. Never doubt my feelings; and if you wish to be still dearer to
me, show character and strength of mind. I am humiliated to think that
my wife can distrust my destinies.
Adieu, dear. I love you, I long to see you, and wish to learn that you
are content and happy.
NAPOLEON.
No. 32.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Warsaw, January 18, 1807._
I fear that you are greatly grieved at our separation and at your
return to Paris, which must last for some weeks longer. I insist on
your having more fortitude. I hear you are always weeping. Fie! how
unbecoming it is! Your letter of January 7th makes me unhappy. Be
worthy of me; assume more character. Cut a suitable figure at Paris;
and, above all, be contented.
I am very well, and I love you much; but, if you are always crying, I
shall think you without courage and without character. I do not love
cowards. An empress ought to have fortitude.
NAPOLEON.
No. 33.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Warsaw, January 19, 1807._
_My Dear_,--Your letter to hand. I have laughed at your fear of fire.
I am in despair at the tone of your letters and at what I hear. I
forbid you to weep, to be petulant and uneasy; I want you to be
cheerful, lovable, and happy.
NAPOLEON.
No. 34.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_Warsaw, January 23, 1807._
Your letter of January 15th to hand. It is impossible to allow women
to make such a journey as this--bad roads, miry and unsafe. Return to
Paris; be cheerful and content there. Perhaps even I shall soon be
there. I have laughed at what you say about your having taken a
husband to be with him. I thought, in my ignorance, that the wife was
made for the husband, the husband for his country, his family, and
glory. Pardon my ignorance; one is always learning from our fair
ladies.
Adieu, my dear. Think how much it costs me not to send for you. Say to
yourself, "It is a proof how precious I am to him."
NAPOLEON.
No. 35.
_January 25th.--Russians defeated at Mohrungen by Bernadotte._
TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.
_January 25, 1807._
I am very unhappy to see you are in pain. I hope that you are at
Paris; you will get better there. I share your griefs, and do not
groan. For I could not risk losing you by exposing you to fatigues and
dangers which befit neither your rank nor your sex.
I wish you never to receive T---- at Paris; he is a black sheep. You
would grieve me by doing otherwise.
Adieu, my dear. Love me, and be courageous.
NAPOLEON.
No. 36.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Warsaw, January 26, 1807, Noon._
_My Dear_,--I have received your letter. It pains me to see how you
are fretting yourself. The bridge of Mayence neither increases nor
decreases the distance which separates us. Remain, therefore, at
Paris. I should be vexed and uneasy to know that you were so miserable
and so isolated at Mayence. You must know that I ought, that I can,
consider only the success of my enterprise. If I could consult my
heart I should be with you, or you with me; for you would be most
unjust if you doubted my love and entire affection.
NAPOLEON.
No. 37.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Willemberg, February 1, 1807, Noon._
Your letter of the 11th, from Mayence, has made me laugh.
To-day, I am a hundred miles from Warsaw; the weather is cold, but
fine.
Adieu, dear; be happy, show character.
NAPOLEON.
No. 38.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_My Dear_,--Your letter of January 20th has given me pain; it is too
sad. That's the fault of not being a little more devout! You tell me
that your glory consists in your happiness. That is narrow-minded; one
should say, my glory consists in the happiness of others. It is not
conjugal; one should say, my glory consists in the happiness of my
husband. It is not maternal; one should say, my glory consists in the
happiness of my children. Now, since nations--your husband, your
children--can only be happy with a certain amount of glory, you must
not make little of it. Fie, Josephine! your heart is excellent and
your arguments weak. You feel acutely, but you don't argue as well.
That's sufficient quarrelling. I want you to be cheerful, happy in
your lot, and that you should obey, not with grumbling and tears, but
with gaiety of heart and a little more good temper.
Adieu, dear; I start to-night to examine my outposts.
NAPOLEON.
* * * * *
_February 5th.--Combats of Bergfriede, Waltersdorf, and Deppen;
Russians forced back._
_February 6th.--Combat of Hof. Murat victorious._
_February 8th.--Battle of Eylau; retreat of Russians._
No. 39.
TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.
_Eylau, February 9, 1807_, 3 A.M.
_My Dear_,--Yesterday there was a great battle; the victory has
remained with me, Previous Next |