友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
恐怖书库 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

burlesques-第111部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!



own arms。  The Princes of Mayo; Donegal; and Connemara; marched by

the side of their young and royal chieftain; the Prince of

Ballybunion; fourth son of Daniel the First; King of the Emerald

Isle。





* Were these in any way related to the chevaux…de…frise on which

the French cavalry were mounted?





Two hosts then; one under the Eagles; and surrounded by the

republican imperialists; the other under the antique French Lilies;

were marching on the French capital。  The Duke of Brittany; too;

confined in the lunatic asylum of Charenton; found means to issue a

protest against his captivity; which caused only derision in the

capital。  Such was the state of the empire; and such the clouds

that were gathering round the Sun of Orleans!





CHAPTER IV。



THE BATTLE OF RHEIMS。





It was not the first time that the King had had to undergo

misfortunes; and now; as then; he met them like a man。  The Prince

of Joinville was not successful in his campaign against the

Imperial Pretender: and that bravery which had put the British

fleet to flight; was found; as might be expected; insufficient

against the irresistible courage of native Frenchmen。  The Horse

Marines; not being on their own element; could not act with their

usual effect。  Accustomed to the tumult of the swelling seas; they

were easily unsaddled on terra firma and in the Champagne country。



It was literally in the Champagne country that the meeting between

the troops under Joinville and Prince Napoleon took place! for

both armies had reached Rheims; and a terrific battle was fought

underneath the walls。  For some time nothing could dislodge the

army of Joinville; entrenched in the champagne cellars of Messrs。

Ruinart; Moet; and others; but making too free with the fascinating

liquor; the army at length became entirely drunk: on which the

Imperialists; rushing into the cellars; had an easy victory over

them; and; this done; proceeded to intoxicate themselves likewise。



The Prince of Joinville; seeing the deroute of his troops; was

compelled with a few faithful followers to fly towards Paris; and

Prince Napoleon remained master of the field of battle。  It is

needless to recapitulate the bulletin which he published the day

after the occasion; so soon as he and his secretaries were in a

condition to write: eagles; pyramids; rainbows; the sun of

Austerlitz; &c。; figured in the proclamation; in close imitation of

his illustrious uncle。  But the great benefit of the action was

this: on arousing from their intoxication; the late soldiers of

Joinville kissed and embraced their comrades of the Imperial army;

and made common cause with them。



〃Soldiers!〃 said the Prince; on reviewing them the second day after

the action; 〃the Cock is a gallant bird; but he makes way for the

Eagle!  Your colors are not changed。  Ours floated on the walls of

Moscowyours on the ramparts of Constantine; both are glorious。

Soldiers of Joinville! we give you welcome; as we would welcome

your illustrious leader; who destroyed the fleets of Albion。  Let

him join us!  We will march together against that perfidious enemy。



〃But; Soldiers! intoxication dimmed the laurels of yesterday's

glorious day!  Let us drink no more of the fascinating liquors of

our native Champagne。  Let us remember Hannibal and Capua; and;

before we plunge into dissipation; that we have Rome still to

conquer!



〃Soldiers!  Seltzer…water is good after too much drink。  Wait

awhile; and your Emperor will lead you into a Seltzer…water

country。  Frenchmen! it lies BEYOND THE RHINE!〃



Deafening shouts of 〃Vive l'Empereur!〃 saluted this allusion of the

Prince; and the army knew that their natural boundary should be

restored to them。  The compliments to the gallantry of the Prince

of Joinville likewise won all hearts; and immensely advanced the

Prince's cause。  The Journal des Debats did not know which way to

turn。  In one paragraph it called the Emperor 〃a sanguinary tyrant;

murderer; and pickpocket;〃 in a second it owned he was 〃a

magnanimous rebel; and worthy of forgiveness;〃 and; after

proclaiming 〃the brilliant victory of the Prince of Joinville;〃

presently denominated it a 〃funeste journee。〃



The next day the Emperor; as we may now call him; was about to

march on Paris; when Messrs。 Ruinart and Moet were presented; and

requested to be paid for 300;000 bottles of wine。  〃Send three

hundred thousand more to the Tuileries;〃 said the Prince; sternly:

〃our soldiers will be thirsty when they reach Paris。〃  And taking

Moet with him as a hostage; and promising Ruinart that he would

have him shot unless he obeyed; with trumpets playing and eagles

glancing in the sun; the gallant Imperial army marched on their

triumphant way。





CHAPTER V。



THE BATTLE OF TOURS。





We have now to record the expedition of the Prince of Nemours

against his advancing cousin; Henry V。  His Royal Highness could

not march against the enemy with such a force as he would have

desired to bring against them; for his royal father; wisely

remembering the vast amount of property he had stowed away under

the Tuileries; refused to allow a single soldier to quit the forts

round the capital; which thus was defended by one hundred and

forty…four thousand guns (eighty…four…pounders); and four hundred

and thirty…two thousand men:little enough; when one considers

that there were but three men to a gun。  To provision this immense

army; and a population of double the amount within the walls; his

Majesty caused the country to be scoured for fifty miles round; and

left neither ox; nor ass; nor blade of grass。  When appealed to by

the inhabitants of the plundered district; the royal Philip

replied; with tears in his eyes; that his heart bled for themthat

they were his childrenthat every cow taken from the meanest

peasant was like a limb torn from his own body; but that duty must

be done; that the interests of the country demanded the sacrifice;

and that in fact; they might go to the deuce。  This the unfortunate

creatures certainly did。



The theatres went on as usual within the walls。  The Journal des

Debats stated every day that the pretenders were taken; the

Chambers satsuch as remainedand talked immensely about honor;

dignity; and the glorious revolution of July; and the King; as his

power was now pretty nigh absolute over them; thought this a good

opportunity to bring in a bill for doubling his children's

allowances all round。



Meanwhile the Duke of Nemours proceeded on his march; and as there

was nothing left within fifty miles of Paris wherewith to support

his famished troops; it may be imagined that he was forced to

ransack the next fifty miles in order to maintain them。  He did so。

But the troops were not such as they should have been; considering

the enemy with whom they had to engage。



The fact is; that most of the Duke's army consisted of the National

Guard; who; in a fit of enthusiasm; and at th
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 4 5
快捷操作: 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!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!