Napoleon's Letters To Josephine Part 31

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, but I have lost many men. The loss of the enemy, which is still more considerable, does not console me. To conclude, I write you these two lines myself, although I am very tired, to tell you that I am well and that I love you.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.

No. 40.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.

_Eylau, February 9, 1807_, 6 P.M.

_My Dear_,--I write you a line in order that you may not be uneasy.

The enemy has lost the battle, 40 pieces of cannon, 10 flags, 12,000 prisoners; he has suffered frightfully. I have lost many: 1600 killed, 3000 or 4000 wounded.

Your cousin Tascher conducts himself well; I have summoned him near me with the t.i.tle of orderly officer.

Corbineau has been killed by a sh.e.l.l; I was singularly attached to that officer, who had much merit; I am very unhappy about him. My mounted guard has covered itself with glory. Dahlman is dangerously wounded.

Adieu, dear.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.

No. 41.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.

_Eylau, February 11, 1807_, 3 A.M.

_My Dear_,--I write you a line; you must have been very anxious. I have beaten the enemy in a fight to be remembered, but it has cost many brave lives. The bad weather that has set in forces me to take cantonments.

Do not afflict yourself, please; all this will soon be over, and the happiness of seeing you will make me promptly forget my fatigues.

Besides, I have never been in better health.

Young Tascher, of the 4th Regiment, has behaved well; he has had a rough time of it. I have summoned him near me; I have made him an orderly officer--there's an end to his troubles. This young man interests me.

Adieu, dear; a thousand kisses.

NAPOLEON.

No. 42.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.

_Preussich-Eylau, February 12, 1807._

I send you a letter from General Darmagnac. He is a very good soldier, who commanded the 32nd. He is much attached to me. If this Madame de Richmond be well off, and it is a good match, I shall see this marriage with pleasure. Make this known to both of them.

NAPOLEON.

No. 43.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.

_Eylau, February 14, 1807._

_My Dear_,--I am still at Eylau. This country is covered with dead and wounded. It is not the bright side of warfare; one suffers, and the mind is oppressed at the sight of so many victims. My health is good.

I have done as I wished, and driven back the enemy, while making his projects fail.

You are sure to be uneasy, and that thought troubles me. Nevertheless, calm yourself, my dear, and be cheerful.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.