The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 38

Meanwhile the month moves on to counter-deeds Vast as the vainest needs, And fiercely the predestined plot proceeds.

ACT SIXTH

SCENE I

THE FIELD OF AUSTERLITZ. THE FRENCH POSITION

[The night is the 1st of December following, and the eve of the battle. The view is from the elevated position of the Emperor's bivouac. The air cuts keen and the sky glistens with stars, but the lower levels are covered with a white fog stretching like a sea, from which the heights protrude as dusky rocks.

To the left are discernible high and wooded hills. In the front mid-distance the plateau of Pratzen outstands, declining suddenly on the right to a low flat country covered with marshes and pools now mostly obscured. On the plateau itself are seen innumerable and varying lights, marking the bivouac of the centre divisions of the Austro-Russian army. Close to the foreground the fires of the French are burning, surrounded by soldiery. The invisible presence of the countless thousand of ma.s.sed humanity that compose the two armies makes itself felt indefinably.

The tent of NAPOLEON rises nearest at hand, with sentinel and other military figures looming around, and saddled horses held by attendants. The accents of the Emperor are audible, through the canvas from inside, dictating a proclamation.]

VOICE OF NAPOLEON

"Soldiers, the hordes of Muscovy now face you, To mend the Austrian overthrow at Ulm!

But how so? Are not these the self-same bands You met and swept aside at Hollabrunn, And whose retreating forms, dismayed to flight, Your feet pursued along the trackways here?

"Our own position, ma.s.sed and menacing, Is rich in chance for opportune attack; For, say they march to cross and turn our right-- A course almost at their need--their stretching flank Will offer us, from points now prearranged---"

VOICE OF A MARSHAL

Shows it, your Majesty, the wariness That marks your usual far-eye policy, To openly announce your tactics thus Some twelve hours ere their form can actualize?

THE VOICE OF NAPOLEON

The zest such knowledge will impart to all Is worth the risk of leakages. [To Secretary]

Write on.

[Dictation resumed]

"Soldiers, your sections I myself shall lead; But ease your minds who would expostulate Against my undue rashness. If your zeal Sow hot confusion in the hostile files As your old manner is, and in our rush We mingle with our foes, I'll use fit care.

Nevertheless, should issues stand at pause But for a wink-while, that time you will eye Your Emperor the foremost in the shock, Taking his risk with every ranksman here.

For victory, men, must be no thing surmised, As that which may or may not beam on us, Like noontide sunshine on a dubious morn; It must be sure!--The honour and the fame Of France's gay and gallant infantry-- So dear, so cherished all the Empire through-- Binds us to compa.s.s it!

Maintain the ranks; Let none be thinned by impulse or excuse Of bearing back the wounded: and, in fine, Be every one in this conviction firm:-- That 'tis our sacred bond to overthrow These hirelings of a country not their own: Yea, England's hirelings, they!--a realm stiff-steeled In deathless hatred of our land and lives.

"The campaign closes with this victory; And we return to find our standards joined By vast young armies forming now in France.

Forthwith resistless, Peace establish we, Worthy of you, the nation, and of me!"

"NAPOLEON."

[To his Marshals]

So shall we prostrate these paid slaves of hers-- England's, I mean--the root of all the war.

VOICE OF MURAT

The further details sent of Trafalgar Are not a.s.suring.

VOICE OF LANNES

What may the details be?

VOICE OF NAPOLEON [moodily]

We learn that six-and-twenty ships of war, During the fight and after, struck their flags, And that the tigerish gale throughout the night Gave fearful finish to the English rage.

By luck their Nelson's gone, but gone withal Are twenty thousand prisoners, taken off To gnaw their finger-nails in British hulks.

Of our vast squadrons of the summer-time But rags and splintered remnants now remain.-- Thuswise Villeneuve, poor craven, quitted him!

And England puffed to yet more bombastry.

--Well, well; I can't be everywhere. No matter; A victory's brewing here as counterpoise!

These water-rats may paddle in their salt slush, And welcome. 'Tis not long they'll have the lead.

Ships can be wrecked by land!

ANOTHER VOICE

And how by land, Your Majesty, if one may query such?

VOICE OF NAPOLEON [sardonically]

I'll bid all states of Europe shut their ports To England's arrogant bottoms, slowly starve Her bloated revenues and monstrous trade, Till all her hulls lie sodden in their docks, And her grey island eyes in vain shall seek One jack of hers upon the ocean plains!

VOICE OF SOULT

A few more master-strokes, your Majesty, Must be dealt hereabout to compa.s.s such!

VOICE OF NAPOLEON

G.o.d, yes!--Even here Pitt's guineas are the foes: 'Tis all a duel 'twixt this Pitt and me; And, more than Russia's host, and Austria's flower, I everywhere to-night around me feel As from an unseen monster haunting nigh His country's hostile breath!--But come: to choke it By our to-morrow's feats, which now, in brief, I recapitulate.--First Soult will move To forward the grand project of the day: Namely: ascend in echelon, right to front, With Vandamme's men, and those of Saint Hilaire: Legrand's division somewhere further back-- Nearly whereat I place my finger here-- To be there reinforced by tirailleurs: Lannes to the left here, on the Olmutz road, Supported by Murat's whole cavalry.

While in reserve, here, are the grenadiers Of Oudinot, the corps of Bernadotte, Rivaud, Drouet, and the Imperial Guard.

MARSHAL'S VOICES

Even as we understood, Sire, and have ordered.

Nought lags but day, to light our victory!