第14章

CHAPTERXI

ABADGUIDETONAPOLEON；AGOODGUIDETOBULOW

ThepainfulsurpriseofNapoleoniswellknown。Grouchyhopedfor，Blucherarriving。Deathinsteadoflife。

Fatehastheseturns；thethroneoftheworldwasexpected；

itwasSaintHelenathatwasseen。

IfthelittleshepherdwhoservedasguidetoBulow，Blucher’slieutenant，hadadvisedhimtodebouchfromtheforestaboveFrischemont，insteadofbelowPlancenoit，theformofthenineteenthcenturymight，perhaps，havebeendifferent。NapoleonwouldhavewonthebattleofWaterloo。ByanyotherroutethanthatbelowPlancenoit，thePrussianarmywouldhavecomeoutuponaravineimpassableforartillery，andBulowwouldnothavearrived。

NowthePrussiangeneral，Muffling，declaresthatonehour’sdelay，andBlucherwouldnothavefoundWellingtononhisfeet。"Thebattlewaslost。"

ItwastimethatBulowshouldarrive，aswillbeseen。Hehad，moreover，beenverymuchdelayed。HehadbivouackedatDion—le—Mont，andhadsetoutatdaybreak；buttheroadswereimpassable，andhisdivisionsstuckfastinthemire。Therutswereuptothehubsofthecannons。Moreover，hehadbeenobligedtopasstheDyleonthenarrowbridgeofWavre；thestreetleadingtothebridgehadbeenfiredbytheFrench，sothecaissonsandammunition—wagonscouldnotpassbetweentworowsofburninghouses，andhadbeenobligedtowaituntiltheconflagrationwasextinguished。Itwasmid—daybeforeBulow’svanguardhadbeenabletoreachChapelle—Saint—Lambert。

Hadtheactionbeenbeguntwohoursearlier，itwouldhavebeenoveratfouro’clock，andBlucherwouldhavefallenonthebattlewonbyNapoleon。Sucharetheseimmenserisksproportionedtoaninfinitewhichwecannotcomprehend。

TheEmperorhadbeenthefirst，asearlyasmid—day，todescrywithhisfield—glass，ontheextremehorizon，somethingwhichhadattractedhisattention。Hehadsaid，"Iseeyonderacloud，whichseemstometobetroops。"ThenheaskedtheDucdeDalmatie，"Soult，whatdoyouseeinthedirectionofChapelle—Saint—Lambert？"

Themarshal，levellinghisglass，answered，"Fourorfivethousandmen，Sire；evidentlyGrouchy。"Butitremainedmotionlessinthemist。Alltheglassesofthestaffhadstudied"thecloud"

pointedoutbytheEmperor。Somesaid:"Itistrees。"Thetruthis，thattheclouddidnotmove。TheEmperordetachedDomon’sdivisionoflightcavalrytoreconnoitreinthatquarter。

Bulowhadnotmoved，infact。Hisvanguardwasveryfeeble，andcouldaccomplishnothing。Hewasobligedtowaitforthebodyofthearmycorps，andhehadreceivedorderstoconcentratehisforcesbeforeenteringintoline；butatfiveo’clock，perceivingWellington’speril，BlucherorderedBulowtoattack，andutteredtheseremarkablewords:"WemustgiveairtotheEnglisharmy。"

Alittlelater，thedivisionsofLosthin，Hiller，Hacke，andRysseldeployedbeforeLobau’scorps，thecavalryofPrinceWilliamofPrussiadebouchedfromtheforestofParis，Plancenoitwasinflames，andthePrussiancannon—ballsbegantorainevenupontheranksoftheguardinreservebehindNapoleon。

CHAPTERXII

THEGUARD

Everyoneknowstherest，——theirruptionofathirdarmy；thebattlebrokentopieces；eighty—sixmonthsoffirethunderingsimultaneously；

PirchthefirstcomingupwithBulow；Zieten’scavalryledbyBlucherinperson，theFrenchdrivenback；MarcognetsweptfromtheplateauofOhain；DuruttedislodgedfromPapelotte；

DonzelotandQuiotretreating；Lobaucaughtontheflank；afreshbattleprecipitatingitselfonourdismantledregimentsatnightfall；

thewholeEnglishlineresumingtheoffensiveandthrustforward；

thegiganticbreachmadeintheFrencharmy；theEnglishgrape—shotandthePrussiangrape—shotaidingeachother；theextermination；

disasterinfront；disasterontheflank；theGuardenteringthelineinthemidstofthisterriblecrumblingofallthings。

Consciousthattheywereabouttodie，theyshouted，"Vivel’Empereur！"

Historyrecordsnothingmoretouchingthanthatagonyburstingforthinacclamations。

Theskyhadbeenovercastalldaylong。Allofasudden，atthatverymoment，——itwaseighto’clockintheevening——thecloudsonthehorizonparted，andallowedthegrandandsinisterglowofthesettingsuntopassthrough，athwarttheelmsontheNivellesroad。

TheyhadseenitriseatAusterlitz。

EachbattalionoftheGuardwascommandedbyageneralforthisfinalcatastrophe。Friant，Michel，Roguet，Harlet，Mallet，PoretdeMorvan，werethere。WhenthetallcapsofthegrenadiersoftheGuard，withtheirlargeplaquesbearingtheeagleappeared，symmetrical，inline，tranquil，inthemidstofthatcombat，theenemyfeltarespectforFrance；theythoughttheybeheldtwentyvictoriesenteringthefieldofbattle，withwingsoutspread，andthosewhoweretheconquerors，believingthemselvestobevanquished，retreated；butWellingtonshouted，"Up，Guards，andaimstraight！"

TheredregimentofEnglishguards，lyingflatbehindthehedges，sprangup，acloudofgrape—shotriddledthetricoloredflagandwhistledroundoureagles；allhurledthemselvesforwards，andthefinalcarnagebegan。Inthedarkness，theImperialGuardfeltthearmylosinggroundaroundit，andinthevastshockoftheroutitheardthedesperateflightwhichhadtakentheplaceofthe"Vivel’Empereur！"and，withflightbehindit，itcontinuedtoadvance，morecrushed，losingmoremenateverystepthatittook。

Therewerenonewhohesitated，notimidmeninitsranks。

Thesoldierinthattroopwasasmuchofaheroasthegeneral。

Notamanwasmissinginthatsuicide。

Ney，bewildered，greatwithallthegrandeurofaccepteddeath，offeredhimselftoallblowsinthattempest。Hehadhisfifthhorsekilledunderhimthere。Perspiring，hiseyesaflame，foamingatthemouth，withuniformunbuttoned，oneofhisepauletshalfcutoffbyasword—strokefromahorseguard，hisplaquewiththegreateagledentedbyabullet；bleeding，bemired，magnificent，abrokenswordinhishand，hesaid，"ComeandseehowaMarshalofFrancediesonthefieldofbattle！"Butinvain；hedidnotdie。

Hewashaggardandangry。AtDrouetd’Erlonhehurledthisquestion，"Areyounotgoingtogetyourselfkilled？"Inthemidstofallthatartilleryengagedincrushingahandfulofmen，heshouted:

"Sothereisnothingforme！Oh！IshouldliketohavealltheseEnglishbulletsentermybowels！"Unhappyman，thouwertreservedforFrenchbullets！

CHAPTERXIII

THECATASTROPHE

TheroutbehindtheGuardwasmelancholy。

Thearmyyieldedsuddenlyonallsidesatonce，——Hougomont，LaHaie—Sainte，Papelotte，Plancenoit。Thecry"Treachery！"wasfollowedbyacryof"Saveyourselveswhocan！"Anarmywhichisdisbandingislikeathaw。Allyields，splits，cracks，floats，rolls，falls，jostles，hastens，isprecipitated。Thedisintegrationisunprecedented。Neyborrowsahorse，leapsuponit，andwithouthat，cravat，orsword，placeshimselfacrosstheBrusselsroad，stoppingbothEnglishandFrench。Hestrivestodetainthearmy，herecallsittoitsduty，heinsultsit，heclingstotherout。

Heisoverwhelmed。Thesoldiersflyfromhim，shouting，"LongliveMarshalNey！"TwoofDurutte’sregimentsgoandcomeinaffrightasthoughtossedbackandforthbetweentheswordsoftheUhlansandthefusilladeofthebrigadesofKempt，Best，Pack，andRylandt；

theworstofhand—to—handconflictsisthedefeat；friendskilleachotherinordertoescape；squadronsandbattalionsbreakanddisperseagainsteachother，likethetremendousfoamofbattle。Lobauatoneextremity，andReilleattheother，aredrawnintothetide。

InvaindoesNapoleonerectwallsfromwhatislefttohimofhisGuard；

invaindoesheexpendinalastefforthislastserviceablesquadrons。

QuiotretreatsbeforeVivian，KellermannbeforeVandeleur，LobaubeforeBulow，MorandbeforePirch，DomonandSubervicbeforePrinceWilliamofPrussia；Guyot，wholedtheEmperor’ssquadronstothecharge，fallsbeneaththefeetoftheEnglishdragoons。

Napoleongallopspastthelineoffugitives，harangues，urges，threatens，entreatsthem。Allthemouthswhichinthemorninghadshouted，"LonglivetheEmperor！"remaingaping；theyhardlyrecognizehim。

ThePrussiancavalry，newlyarrived，dashesforwards，flies，hews，slashes，kills，exterminates。Horseslashout，thecannonsflee；

thesoldiersoftheartillery—trainunharnessthecaissonsandusethehorsestomaketheirescape；transportsoverturned，withallfourwheelsintheair，clogtheroadandoccasionmassacres。

Menarecrushed，trampleddown，otherswalkoverthedeadandtheliving。Armsarelost。Adizzymultitudefillstheroads，thepaths，thebridges，theplains，thehills，thevalleys，thewoods，encumberedbythisinvasionoffortythousandmen。

Shoutsdespair，knapsacksandgunsflungamongtherye，passagesforcedatthepointofthesword，nomorecomrades，nomoreofficers，nomoregenerals，aninexpressibleterror。ZietenputtingFrancetotheswordatitsleisure。Lionsconvertedintogoats。Suchwastheflight。

AtGenappe，aneffortwasmadetowheelabout，topresentabattlefront，todrawupinline。Lobauralliedthreehundredmen。

Theentrancetothevillagewasbarricaded，butatthefirstvolleyofPrussiancanister，alltooktoflightagain，andLobauwastaken。

Thatvolleyofgrape—shotcanbeseento—dayimprintedontheancientgableofabrickbuildingontherightoftheroadatafewminutes’distancebeforeyouenterGenappe。ThePrussiansthrewthemselvesintoGenappe，furious，nodoubt，thattheywerenotmoreentirelytheconquerors。Thepursuitwasstupendous。

Blucherorderedextermination。RoguethadsetthelugubriousexampleofthreateningwithdeathanyFrenchgrenadierwhoshouldbringhimaPrussianprisoner。BlucheroutdidRoguet。Duhesme，thegeneraloftheYoungGuard，hemmedinatthedoorwayofaninnatGenappe，surrenderedhisswordtoahuzzarofdeath，whotooktheswordandslewtheprisoner。Thevictorywascompletedbytheassassinationofthevanquished。Letusinflictpunishment，sincewearehistory:

oldBlucherdisgracedhimself。Thisferocityputthefinishingtouchtothedisaster。ThedesperateroutetraversedGenappe，traversedQuatre—Bras，traversedGosselies，traversedFrasnes，traversedCharleroi，traversedThuin，andonlyhaltedatthefrontier。

Alas！andwho，then，wasfleeinginthatmanner？TheGrandArmy。

Thisvertigo，thisterror，thisdownfallintoruinoftheloftiestbraverywhicheverastoundedhistory，——isthatcauseless？

No。TheshadowofanenormousrightisprojectedathwartWaterloo。

Itisthedayofdestiny。Theforcewhichismightierthanmanproducedthatday。Hencetheterrifiedwrinkleofthosebrows；

henceallthosegreatsoulssurrenderingtheirswords。ThosewhohadconqueredEuropehavefallenproneontheearth，withnothinglefttosaynortodo，feelingthepresentshadowofaterriblepresence。

Hoceratinfatis。Thatdaytheperspectiveofthehumanraceunderwentachange。Waterlooisthehingeofthenineteenthcentury。

Thedisappearanceofthegreatmanwasnecessarytotheadventofthegreatcentury。Someone，apersontowhomonerepliesnot，tooktheresponsibilityonhimself。Thepanicofheroescanbeexplained。

InthebattleofWaterloothereissomethingmorethanacloud，thereissomethingofthemeteor。Godhaspassedby。

Atnightfall，inameadownearGenappe，BernardandBertrandseizedbytheskirtofhiscoatanddetainedaman，haggard，pensive，sinister，gloomy，who，draggedtothatpointbythecurrentoftherout，hadjustdismounted，hadpassedthebridleofhishorseoverhisarm，andwithwildeyewasreturningalonetoWaterloo。ItwasNapoleon，theimmensesomnambulistofthisdreamwhichhadcrumbled，essayingoncemoretoadvance。

CHAPTERXIV

THELASTSQUARE

SeveralsquaresoftheGuard，motionlessamidthisstreamofthedefeat，asrocksinrunningwater，heldtheirownuntilnight。

Nightcame，deathalso；theyawaitedthatdoubleshadow，and，invincible，allowedthemselvestobeenvelopedtherein。

Eachregiment，isolatedfromtherest，andhavingnobondwiththearmy，nowshatteredineverypart，diedalone。Theyhadtakenuppositionforthisfinalaction，someontheheightsofRossomme，othersontheplainofMont—Saint—Jean。There，abandoned，vanquished，terrible，thosegloomysquaresenduredtheirdeath—throesinformidablefashion。Ulm，Wagram，Jena，Friedland，diedwiththem。

Attwilight，towardsnineo’clockintheevening，oneofthemwasleftatthefootoftheplateauofMont—Saint—Jean。Inthatfatalvalley，atthefootofthatdeclivitywhichthecuirassiershadascended，nowinundatedbythemassesoftheEnglish，undertheconvergingfiresofthevictorioushostilecavalry，underafrightfuldensityofprojectiles，thissquarefoughton。ItwascommandedbyanobscureofficernamedCambronne。Ateachdischarge，thesquarediminishedandreplied。Itrepliedtothegrape—shotwithafusillade，continuallycontractingitsfourwalls。Thefugitivespausingbreathlessforamomentinthedistance，listenedinthedarknesstothatgloomyandever—decreasingthunder。

Whenthislegionhadbeenreducedtoahandful，whennothingwasleftoftheirflagbutarag，whentheirguns，thebulletsallgone，werenolongeranythingbutclubs，whentheheapofcorpseswaslargerthanthegroupofsurvivors，therereignedamongtheconquerors，aroundthosemendyingsosublimely，asortofsacredterror，andtheEnglishartillery，takingbreath，becamesilent。Thisfurnishedasortofrespite。Thesecombatantshadaroundthemsomethinginthenatureofaswarmofspectres，silhouettesofmenonhorseback，theblackprofilesofcannon，thewhiteskyviewedthroughwheelsandgun—carriages，thecolossaldeath’s—head，whichtheheroessawconstantlythroughthesmoke，inthedepthsofthebattle，advanceduponthemandgazedatthem。Throughtheshadesoftwilighttheycouldhearthepiecesbeingloaded；thematchesalllighted，liketheeyesoftigersatnight，formedacircleroundtheirheads；

allthelintstocksoftheEnglishbatteriesapproachedthecannons，andthen，withemotion，holdingthesuprememomentsuspendedabovethesemen，anEnglishgeneral，Colvilleaccordingtosome，Maitlandaccordingtoothers，shoutedtothem，"Surrender，braveFrenchmen！"

Cambronnereplied，"—————。"

{EDITOR’SCOMMENTARY:Anothereditionofthisbookhastheword"Merde！"inlieuofthe—————above。}

CHAPTERXV

CAMBRONNE

IfanyFrenchreaderobjecttohavinghissusceptibilitiesoffended，onewouldhavetorefrainfromrepeatinginhispresencewhatisperhapsthefinestreplythataFrenchmanevermade。ThiswouldenjoinusfromconsigningsomethingsublimetoHistory。

Atourownriskandperil，letusviolatethisinjunction。

Now，then，amongthosegiantstherewasoneTitan，——Cambronne。

Tomakethatreplyandthenperish，whatcouldbegrander？

Forbeingwillingtodieisthesameastodie；anditwasnotthisman’sfaultifhesurvivedafterhewasshot。

ThewinnerofthebattleofWaterloowasnotNapoleon，whowasputtoflight；norWellington，givingwayatfouro’clock，indespairatfive；norBlucher，whotooknopartintheengagement。

ThewinnerofWaterloowasCambronne。

Tothunderforthsuchareplyatthelightning—flashthatkillsyouistoconquer！

ThustoanswertheCatastrophe，thustospeaktoFate，togivethispedestaltothefuturelion，tohurlsuchachallengetothemidnightrainstorm，tothetreacherouswallofHougomont，tothesunkenroadofOhain，toGrouchy’sdelay，toBlucher’sarrival，tobeIronyitselfinthetomb，toactsoastostanduprightthoughfallen，todrownintwosyllablestheEuropeancoalition，toofferkingsprivieswhichtheCaesarsonceknew，tomakethelowestofwordsthemostloftybyentwiningwithitthegloryofFrance，insolentlytoendWaterloowithMardigras，tofinishLeonidaswithRabellais，tosetthecrownonthisvictorybyawordimpossibletospeak，tolosethefieldandpreservehistory，tohavethelaughonyoursideaftersuchacarnage，——thisisimmense！

Itwasaninsultsuchasathunder—cloudmighthurl！ItreachesthegrandeurofAEschylus！

Cambronne’sreplyproducestheeffectofaviolentbreak。

’Tislikethebreakingofaheartunderaweightofscorn。

’Tistheoverflowofagonyburstingforth。Whoconquered？

Wellington？No！HaditnotbeenforBlucher，hewaslost。

WasitBlucher？No！IfWellingtonhadnotbegun，Bluchercouldnothavefinished。ThisCambronne，thismanspendinghislasthour，thisunknownsoldier，thisinfinitesimalofwar，realizesthathereisafalsehood，afalsehoodinacatastrophe，andsodoublyagonizing；

andatthemomentwhenhisrageisburstingforthbecauseofit，heisofferedthismockery，——life！Howcouldherestrainhimself？

YonderareallthekingsofEurope，thegeneral’sflushedwithvictory，theJupiter’sdartingthunderbolts；theyhaveahundredthousandvictorioussoldiers，andbackofthehundredthousandamillion；

theircannonstandwithyawningmouths，thematchislighted；theygrinddownundertheirheelstheImperialguards，andthegrandarmy；

theyhavejustcrushedNapoleon，andonlyCambronneremains，——

onlythisearthwormislefttoprotest。Hewillprotest。Thenheseeksfortheappropriatewordasoneseeksforasword。Hismouthfroths，andthefrothistheword。Infaceofthismeanandmightyvictory，infaceofthisvictorywhichcountsnonevictorious，thisdesperatesoldierstandserect。Hegrantsitsoverwhelmingimmensity，butheestablishesitstriviality；andhedoesmorethanspituponit。

Bornedownbynumbers，bysuperiorforce，bybrutematter，hefindsinhissoulanexpression:"Excrement！"Werepeatit，——

tousethatword，todothus，toinventsuchanexpression，istobetheconqueror！

Thespiritofmightydaysatthatportentousmomentmadeitsdescentonthatunknownman。CambronneinventsthewordforWaterlooasRougetinventsthe"Marseillaise，"underthevisitationofabreathfromonhigh。Anemanationfromthedivinewhirlwindleapsforthandcomessweepingoverthesemen，andtheyshake，andoneofthemsingsthesongsupreme，andtheotheruttersthefrightfulcry。

ThischallengeoftitanicscornCambronnehurlsnotonlyatEuropeinthenameoftheEmpire，——thatwouldbeatrifle:hehurlsitatthepastinthenameoftheRevolution。Itisheard，andCambronneisrecognizedaspossessedbytheancientspiritoftheTitans。

Dantonseemstobespeaking！Kleberseemstobebellowing！

AtthatwordfromCambronne，theEnglishvoiceresponded，"Fire！"

Thebatteriesflamed，thehilltrembled，fromallthosebrazenmouthsbelchedalastterriblegushofgrape—shot；avastvolumeofsmoke，vaguelywhiteinthelightoftherisingmoon，rolledout，andwhenthesmokedispersed，therewasnolongeranythingthere。

Thatformidableremnanthadbeenannihilated；theGuardwasdead。

Thefourwallsofthelivingredoubtlayprone，andhardlywastherediscernible，hereandthere，evenaquiverinthebodies；

itwasthusthattheFrenchlegions，greaterthantheRomanlegions，expiredonMont—Saint—Jean，onthesoilwateredwithrainandblood，amidthegloomygrain，onthespotwherenowadaysJoseph，whodrivesthepost—wagonfromNivelles，passeswhistling，andcheerfullywhippinguphishorseatfouro’clockinthemorning。

CHAPTERXVI

QUOTLIBRASINDUCE？

ThebattleofWaterlooisanenigma。Itisasobscuretothosewhowonitastothosewholostit。ForNapoleonitwasapanic；[10]

Blucherseesnothinginitbutfire；Wellingtonunderstandsnothinginregardtoit。Lookatthereports。Thebulletinsareconfused，thecommentariesinvolved。Somestammer，otherslisp。

JominidividesthebattleofWaterloointofourmoments；Mufflingcutsitupintothreechanges；Charrasalone，thoughweholdanotherjudgmentthanhisonsomepoints，seizedwithhishaughtyglancethecharacteristicoutlinesofthatcatastropheofhumangeniusinconflictwithdivinechance。Alltheotherhistorianssufferfrombeingsomewhatdazzled，andinthisdazzledstatetheyfumbleabout。

Itwasadayoflightningbrilliancy；infact，acrumblingofthemilitarymonarchywhich，tothevaststupefactionofkings，drewallthekingdomsafterit——thefallofforce，thedefeatofwar。

[10]"Abattleterminated，adayfinished，falsemeasuresrepaired，greatersuccessesassuredforthemorrow，——allwaslostbyamomentofpanic，terror。"——Napoleon，DicteesdeSainteHelene。

Inthisevent，stampedwithsuperhumannecessity，thepartplayedbymenamountstonothing。

IfwetakeWaterloofromWellingtonandBlucher，dowetherebydepriveEnglandandGermanyofanything？No。NeitherthatillustriousEnglandnorthataugustGermanyenterintotheproblemofWaterloo。

ThankHeaven，nationsaregreat，independentlyofthelugubriousfeatsofthesword。NeitherEngland，norGermany，norFranceiscontainedinascabbard。AtthisepochwhenWaterlooisonlyaclashingofswords，aboveBlucher，GermanyhasSchiller；

aboveWellington，EnglandhasByron。Avastdawnofideasisthepeculiarityofourcentury，andinthatauroraEnglandandGermanyhaveamagnificentradiance。Theyaremajesticbecausetheythink。

Theelevationoflevelwhichtheycontributetocivilizationisintrinsicwiththem；itproceedsfromthemselvesandnotfromanaccident。

TheaggrandizementwhichtheyhavebroughttothenineteenthcenturyhasnotWaterlooasitssource。Itisonlybarbarouspeopleswhoundergorapidgrowthafteravictory。Thatisthetemporaryvanityoftorrentsswelledbyastorm。Civilizedpeople，especiallyinourday，areneitherelevatednorabasedbythegoodorbadfortuneofacaptain。Theirspecificgravityinthehumanspeciesresultsfromsomethingmorethanacombat。Theirhonor，thankGod！theirdignity，theirintelligence，theirgenius，arenotnumberswhichthosegamblers，heroesandconquerors，canputinthelotteryofbattles。Oftenabattleislostandprogressisconquered。

Thereislessgloryandmoreliberty。Thedrumholdsitspeace；

reasontakestheword。Itisagameinwhichhewholoseswins。

Letus，therefore，speakofWaterloocoldlyfrombothsides。

Letusrendertochancethatwhichisduetochance，andtoGodthatwhichisduetoGod。WhatisWaterloo？Avictory？No。Thewinningnumberinthelottery。

Thequine[11]wonbyEurope，paidbyFrance。

[11]Fivewinningnumbersinalottery。

Itwasnotworthwhiletoplacealionthere。

Waterloo，moreover，isthestrangestencounterinhistory。

NapoleonandWellington。Theyarenotenemies；theyareopposites。

NeverdidGod，whoisfondofantitheses，makeamorestrikingcontrast，amoreextraordinarycomparison。Ononeside，precision，foresight，geometry，prudence，anassuredretreat，reservesspared，withanobstinatecoolness，animperturbablemethod，strategy，whichtakesadvantageoftheground，tactics，whichpreservetheequilibriumofbattalions，carnage，executedaccordingtorule，warregulated，watchinhand，nothingvoluntarilylefttochance，theancientclassiccourage，absoluteregularity；ontheother，intuition，divination，militaryoddity，superhumaninstinct，aflamingglance，anindescribablesomethingwhichgazeslikeaneagle，andwhichstrikeslikethelightning，aprodigiousartindisdainfulimpetuosity，allthemysteriesofaprofoundsoul，associatedwithdestiny；thestream，theplain，theforest，thehill，summoned，andinamanner，forcedtoobey，thedespotgoingevensofarastotyrannizeoverthefieldofbattle；faithinastarmingledwithstrategicscience，elevatingbutperturbingit。

WellingtonwastheBaremeofwar；NapoleonwasitsMichaelAngelo；

andonthisoccasion，geniuswasvanquishedbycalculation。

Onbothsidessomeonewasawaited。Itwastheexactcalculatorwhosucceeded。NapoleonwaswaitingforGrouchy；hedidnotcome。

WellingtonexpectedBlucher；hecame。

Wellingtonisclassicwartakingitsrevenge。Bonaparte，athisdawning，hadencounteredhiminItaly，andbeatenhimsuperbly。

Theoldowlhadfledbeforetheyoungvulture。Theoldtacticshadbeennotonlystruckasbylightning，butdisgraced。WhowasthatCorsicanofsixandtwenty？Whatsignifiedthatsplendidignoramus，who，witheverythingagainsthim，nothinginhisfavor，withoutprovisions，withoutammunition，withoutcannon，withoutshoes，almostwithoutanarmy，withamerehandfulofmenagainstmasses，hurledhimselfonEuropecombined，andabsurdlywonvictoriesintheimpossible？Whencehadissuedthatfulminatingconvict，whoalmostwithouttakingbreath，andwiththesamesetofcombatantsinhand，pulverized，oneaftertheother，thefivearmiesoftheemperorofGermany，upsettingBeaulieuonAlvinzi，WurmseronBeaulieu，MelasonWurmser，MackonMelas？Whowasthisnoviceinwarwiththeeffronteryofaluminary？Theacademicalmilitaryschoolexcommunicatedhim，andasitlostitsfooting；hence，theimplacablerancoroftheoldCaesarismagainstthenew；oftheregularswordagainsttheflamingsword；andoftheexchequeragainstgenius。

Onthe18thofJune，1815，thatrancorhadthelastword。

andbeneathLodi，Montebello，Montenotte，Mantua，Arcola，itwrote:Waterloo。Atriumphofthemediocreswhichissweettothemajority。Destinyconsentedtothisirony。Inhisdecline，NapoleonfoundWurmser，theyounger，againinfrontofhim。

Infact，togetWurmser，itsufficedtoblanchthehairofWellington。

Waterlooisabattleofthefirstorder，wonbyacaptainofthesecond。

ThatwhichmustbeadmiredinthebattleofWaterloo，isEngland；

theEnglishfirmness，theEnglishresolution，theEnglishblood；

thesuperbthingaboutEnglandthere，nooffencetoher，washerself。

Itwasnothercaptain；itwasherarmy。

Wellington，oddlyungrateful，declaresinalettertoLordBathurst，thathisarmy，thearmywhichfoughtonthe18thofJune，1815，wasa"detestablearmy。"WhatdoesthatsombreinterminglingofbonesburiedbeneaththefurrowsofWaterloothinkofthat？

EnglandhasbeentoomodestinthematterofWellington。TomakeWellingtonsogreatistobelittleEngland。Wellingtonisnothingbutaherolikemanyanother。ThoseScotchGrays，thoseHorseGuards，thoseregimentsofMaitlandandofMitchell，thatinfantryofPackandKempt，thatcavalryofPonsonbyandSomerset，thoseHighlandersplayingthepibrochundertheshowerofgrape—shot，thosebattalionsofRylandt，thoseutterlyrawrecruits，whohardlyknewhowtohandleamusketholdingtheirownagainstEssling’sandRivoli’soldtroops，——thatiswhatwasgrand。Wellingtonwastenacious；

inthatlayhismerit，andwearenotseekingtolessenit:

buttheleastofhisfoot—soldiersandofhiscavalrywouldhavebeenassolidashe。TheironsoldierisworthasmuchastheIronDuke。

Asforus，allourglorificationgoestotheEnglishsoldier，totheEnglisharmy，totheEnglishpeople。Iftrophytherebe，itistoEnglandthatthetrophyisdue。ThecolumnofWaterloowouldbemorejust，if，insteadofthefigureofaman，itboreonhighthestatueofapeople。

ButthisgreatEnglandwillbeangryatwhatwearesayinghere。

Shestillcherishes，afterherown1688andour1789，thefeudalillusion。Shebelievesinheredityandhierarchy。

Thispeople，surpassedbynoneinpowerandglory，regardsitselfasanation，andnotasapeople。Andasapeople，itwillinglysubordinatesitselfandtakesalordforitshead。Asaworkman，itallowsitselftobedisdained；asasoldier，itallowsitselftobeflogged。

Itwillberemembered，thatatthebattleofInkermannasergeantwhohad，itappears，savedthearmy，couldnotbementionedbyLordPaglan，astheEnglishmilitaryhierarchydoesnotpermitanyherobelowthegradeofanofficertobementionedinthereports。

Thatwhichweadmireaboveall，inanencounterofthenatureofWaterloo，isthemarvellousclevernessofchance。Anocturnalrain，thewallofHougomont，thehollowroadofOhain，Grouchydeaftothecannon，Napoleon’sguidedeceivinghim，Bulow’sguideenlighteninghim，——

thewholeofthiscataclysmiswonderfullyconducted。

Onthewhole，letussayitplainly，itwasmoreofamassacrethanofabattleatWaterloo。

Ofallpitchedbattles，Waterlooistheonewhichhasthesmallestfrontforsuchanumberofcombatants。Napoleonthree—quartersofaleague；Wellington，halfaleague；seventy—twothousandcombatantsoneachside。Fromthisdensenessthecarnagearose。

Thefollowingcalculationhasbeenmade，andthefollowingproportionestablished:Lossofmen:atAusterlitz，French，fourteenpercent；Russians，thirtypercent；Austrians，forty—fourpercent。AtWagram，French，thirteenpercent；

Austrians，fourteen。AttheMoskowa，French，thirty—sevenpercent；

Russians，forty—four。AtBautzen，French，thirteenpercent；

RussiansandPrussians，fourteen。AtWaterloo，French，fifty—sixpercent；theAllies，thirty—one。TotalforWaterloo，forty—onepercent；onehundredandforty—fourthousandcombatants；sixtythousanddead。

To—daythefieldofWaterloohasthecalmwhichbelongstotheearth，theimpassivesupportofman，anditresemblesallplains。

Atnight，moreover，asortofvisionarymistarisesfromit；

andifatravellerstrollsthere，ifhelistens，ifhewatches，ifhedreamslikeVirgilinthefatalplainsofPhilippi，thehallucinationofthecatastrophetakespossessionofhim。Thefrightful18thofJunelivesagain；thefalsemonumentalhillockdisappears，thelionvanishesinair，thebattle—fieldresumesitsreality，linesofinfantryundulateovertheplain，furiousgallopstraversethehorizon；thefrighteneddreamerbeholdstheflashofsabres，thegleamofbayonets，theflareofbombs，thetremendousinterchangeofthunders；hehears，asitwere，thedeathrattleinthedepthsofatomb，thevagueclamorofthebattlephantom；thoseshadowsaregrenadiers，thoselightsarecuirassiers；thatskeletonNapoleon，thatotherskeletonisWellington；allthisnolongerexists，andyetitclashestogetherandcombatsstill；andtheravinesareempurpled，andthetreesquiver，andthereisfuryeveninthecloudsandintheshadows；allthoseterribleheights，Hougomont，Mont—Saint—Jean，Frischemont，Papelotte，Plancenoit，appearconfusedlycrownedwithwhirlwindsofspectresengagedinexterminatingeachother。

CHAPTERXVII

ISWATERLOOTOBECONSIDEREDGOOD？

ThereexistsaveryrespectableliberalschoolwhichdoesnothateWaterloo。Wedonotbelongtoit。

Tous，Waterlooisbutthestupefieddateofliberty。

Thatsuchaneagleshouldemergefromsuchaneggiscertainlyunexpected。

Ifoneplacesone’sselfattheculminatingpointofviewofthequestion，Waterlooisintentionallyacounter—revolutionaryvictory。ItisEuropeagainstFrance；itisPetersburg，Berlin，andViennaagainstParis；

itisthestatuquoagainsttheinitiative；itisthe14thofJuly，1789，attackedthroughthe20thofMarch，1815；itisthemonarchiesclearingthedecksinoppositiontotheindomitableFrenchrioting。

Thefinalextinctionofthatvastpeoplewhichhadbeenineruptionfortwenty—sixyears——suchwasthedream。ThesolidarityoftheBrunswicks，theNassaus，theRomanoffs，theHohenzollerns，theHapsburgswiththeBourbons。Waterloobearsdivinerightonitscrupper。Itistrue，thattheEmpirehavingbeendespotic，thekingdombythenaturalreactionofthings，wasforcedtobeliberal，andthataconstitutionalorderwastheunwillingresultofWaterloo，tothegreatregretoftheconquerors。Itisbecauserevolutioncannotbereallyconquered，andthatbeingprovidentialandabsolutelyfatal，itisalwayscroppingupafresh:beforeWaterloo，inBonaparteoverthrowingtheoldthrones；afterWaterloo，inLouisXVIII。

grantingandconformingtothecharter。BonaparteplacesapostiliononthethroneofNaples，andasergeantonthethroneofSweden，employinginequalitytodemonstrateequality；LouisXVIII。

atSaint—Ouencountersignsthedeclarationoftherightsofman。

Ifyouwishtogainanideaofwhatrevolutionis，callitProgress；

andifyouwishtoacquireanideaofthenatureofprogress，callitTo—morrow。To—morrowfulfilsitsworkirresistibly，anditisalreadyfulfillingitto—day。Italwaysreachesitsgoalstrangely。

ItemploysWellingtontomakeofFoy，whowasonlyasoldier，anorator。FoyfallsatHougomontandrisesagaininthetribune。

Thusdoesprogressproceed。Thereisnosuchthingasabadtoolforthatworkman。Itdoesnotbecomedisconcerted，butadjuststoitsdivineworkthemanwhohasbestriddentheAlps，andthegoodoldtotteringinvalidofFatherElysee。Itmakesuseofthegoutymanaswellasoftheconqueror；oftheconquerorwithout，ofthegoutymanwithin。Waterloo，bycuttingshortthedemolitionofEuropeanthronesbythesword，hadnoothereffectthantocausetherevolutionaryworktobecontinuedinanotherdirection。

Theslashershavefinished；itwastheturnofthethinkers。

ThecenturythatWaterloowasintendedtoarresthaspursueditsmarch。

Thatsinistervictorywasvanquishedbyliberty。

Inshort，andincontestably，thatwhichtriumphedatWaterloo；

thatwhichsmiledinWellington’srear；thatwhichbroughthimallthemarshals’staffsofEurope，including，itissaid，thestaffofamarshalofFrance；thatwhichjoyouslytrundledthebarrowsfullofbonestoerecttheknollofthelion；thatwhichtriumphantlyinscribedonthatpedestalthedate"June18，1815"；thatwhichencouragedBlucher，asheputtheflyingarmytothesword；thatwhich，fromtheheightsoftheplateauofMont—Saint—Jean，hoveredoverFranceasoveritsprey，wasthecounter—revolution。Itwasthecounter—revolutionwhichmurmuredthatinfamousword"dismemberment。"

OnarrivinginParis，itbeheldthecratercloseathand；itfeltthoseasheswhichscorcheditsfeet，anditchangeditsmind；

itreturnedtothestammerofacharter。

LetusbeholdinWaterlooonlythatwhichisinWaterloo。

Ofintentionallibertythereisnone。Thecounter—revolutionwasinvoluntarilyliberal，inthesamemanneras，byacorrespondingphenomenon，Napoleonwasinvoluntarilyrevolutionary。Onthe18thofJune，1815，themountedRobespierrewashurledfromhissaddle。

CHAPTERXVIII

ARECRUDESCENCEOFDIVINERIGHT

Endofthedictatorship。AwholeEuropeansystemcrumbledaway。

TheEmpiresankintoagloomwhichresembledthatoftheRomanworldasitexpired。Againwebeholdtheabyss，asinthedaysofthebarbarians；onlythebarbarismof1815，whichmustbecalledbyitspetnameofthecounter—revolution，wasnotlongbreathed，soonfelltopanting，andhaltedshort。TheEmpirewasbewept，——

letusacknowledgethefact，——andbeweptbyheroiceyes。

Ifgloryliesintheswordconvertedintoasceptre，theEmpirehadbeengloryinperson。Ithaddiffusedovertheearthallthelightwhichtyrannycangiveasombrelight。Wewillsaymore；

anobscurelight。Comparedtothetruedaylight，itisnight。

Thisdisappearanceofnightproducestheeffectofaneclipse。

LouisXVIII。re—enteredParis。Thecirclingdancesofthe8thofJulyeffacedtheenthusiasmsofthe20thofMarch。TheCorsicanbecametheantithesisoftheBearnese。TheflagonthedomeoftheTuilerieswaswhite。Theexilereigned。Hartwell’spinetabletookitsplaceinfrontofthefleur—de—lys—strewnthroneofLouisXIV。

BouvinesandFontenoywerementionedasthoughtheyhadtakenplaceontheprecedingday，Austerlitzhavingbecomeantiquated。

Thealtarandthethronefraternizedmajestically。OneofthemostundisputedformsofthehealthofsocietyinthenineteenthcenturywasestablishedoverFrance，andoverthecontinent。

Europeadoptedthewhitecockade。Trestaillonwascelebrated。

Thedevicenonpluribusimparre—appearedonthestoneraysrepresentingasunuponthefrontofthebarracksontheQuaid’Orsay。

WheretherehadbeenanImperialGuard，therewasnowaredhouse。

TheArcduCarrousel，allladenwithbadlybornevictories，thrownoutofitselementamongthesenovelties，alittleashamed，itmaybe，ofMarengoandArcola，extricateditselffromitspredicamentwiththestatueoftheDucd’Angouleme。ThecemeteryoftheMadeleine，aterriblepauper’sgravein1793，wascoveredwithjasperandmarble，sincethebonesofLouisXVI。andMarieAntoinettelayinthatdust。

InthemoatofVincennesasepulchralshaftsprangfromtheearth，recallingthefactthattheDucd’EnghienhadperishedintheverymonthwhenNapoleonwascrowned。PopePiusVII。，whohadperformedthecoronationverynearthisdeath，tranquillybestowedhisblessingonthefallashehadbestoweditontheelevation。

AtSchoenbrunntherewasalittleshadow，agedfour，whomitwasseditioustocalltheKingofRome。Andthesethingstookplace，andthekingsresumedtheirthrones，andthemasterofEuropewasputinacage，andtheoldregimebecamethenewregime，andalltheshadowsandallthelightoftheearthchangedplace，because，ontheafternoonofacertainsummer’sday，ashepherdsaidtoaPrussianintheforest，"Gothisway，andnotthat！"

This1815wasasortoflugubriousApril。Ancientunhealthyandpoisonousrealitieswerecoveredwithnewappearances。

Aliewedded1789；therightdivinewasmaskedunderacharter；

fictionsbecameconstitutional；prejudices，superstitionsandmentalreservations，withArticle14intheheart，werevarnishedoverwithliberalism。Itwastheserpent’schangeofskin。

ManhadbeenrenderedbothgreaterandsmallerbyNapoleon。

Underthisreignofsplendidmatter，theidealhadreceivedthestrangenameofideology！Itisagraveimprudenceinagreatmantoturnthefutureintoderision。Thepopulace，however，thatfoodforcannonwhichissofondofthecannoneer，soughthimwithitsglance。Whereishe？Whatishedoing？"Napoleonisdead，"

saidapasser—bytoaveteranofMarengoandWaterloo。"Hedead！"

criedthesoldier；"youdon’tknowhim。"Imaginationdistrustedthisman，evenwhenoverthrown。ThedepthsofEuropewerefullofdarknessafterWaterloo。SomethingenormousremainedlongemptythroughNapoleon’sdisappearance。

Thekingsplacedthemselvesinthisvoid。AncientEuropeprofitedbyittoundertakereforms。TherewasaHolyAlliance；

Belle—Alliance，BeautifulAlliance，thefatalfieldofWaterloohadsaidinadvance。

InpresenceandinfaceofthatantiqueEuropereconstructed，thefeaturesofanewFranceweresketchedout。Thefuture，whichtheEmperorhadrallied，madeitsentry。Onitsbrowitborethestar，Liberty。Theglowingeyesofallyounggenerationswereturnedonit。Singularfact！peoplewere，atoneandthesametime，inlovewiththefuture，Liberty，andthepast，Napoleon。Defeathadrenderedthevanquishedgreater。BonapartefallenseemedmoreloftythanNapoleonerect。Thosewhohadtriumphedwerealarmed。

EnglandhadhimguardedbyHudsonLowe，andFrancehadhimwatchedbyMontchenu。Hisfoldedarmsbecameasourceofuneasinesstothrones。Alexandercalledhim"mysleeplessness。"Thisterrorwastheresultofthequantityofrevolutionwhichwascontainedinhim。ThatiswhatexplainsandexcusesBonapartistliberalism。

Thisphantomcausedtheoldworldtotremble。Thekingsreigned，butillattheirease，withtherockofSaintHelenaonthehorizon。

WhileNapoleonwaspassingthroughthedeathstruggleatLongwood，thesixtythousandmenwhohadfallenonthefieldofWaterloowerequietlyrotting，andsomethingoftheirpeacewasshedabroadovertheworld。TheCongressofViennamadethetreatiesin1815，andEuropecalledthistheRestoration。

ThisiswhatWaterloowas。

ButwhatmattersittotheInfinite？allthattempest，allthatcloud，thatwar，thenthatpeace？AllthatdarknessdidnottroubleforamomentthelightofthatimmenseEyebeforewhichagrubskippingfromonebladeofgrasstoanotherequalstheeaglesoaringfrombelfrytobelfryonthetowersofNotreDame。

CHAPTERXIX

THEBATTLE—FIELDATNIGHT

Letusreturn——itisanecessityinthisbook——tothatfatalbattle—field。

Onthe18thofJunethemoonwasfull。ItslightfavoredBlucher’sferociouspursuit，betrayedthetracesofthefugitives，deliveredupthatdisastrousmasstotheeagerPrussiancavalry，andaidedthemassacre。Suchtragicfavorsofthenightdooccursometimesduringcatastrophes。

Afterthelastcannon—shothadbeenfired，theplainofMont—Saint—Jeanremaineddeserted。

TheEnglishoccupiedtheencampmentoftheFrench；itistheusualsignofvictorytosleepinthebedofthevanquished。

TheyestablishedtheirbivouacbeyondRossomme。ThePrussians，letlooseontheretreatingrout，pushedforward。WellingtonwenttothevillageofWaterlootodrawuphisreporttoLordBathurst。

Ifeverthesicvosnonvobiswasapplicable，itcertainlyistothatvillageofWaterloo。Waterlootooknopart，andlayhalfaleaguefromthesceneofaction。Mont—Saint—Jeanwascannonaded，Hougomontwasburned，LaHaie—Saintewastakenbyassault，Papelottewasburned，Plancenoitwasburned，LaBelle—Alliancebeheldtheembraceofthetwoconquerors；thesenamesarehardlyknown，andWaterloo，whichworkednotinthebattle，bearsoffallthehonor。

Wearenotofthenumberofthosewhoflatterwar；whentheoccasionpresentsitself，wetellthetruthaboutit。Warhasfrightfulbeautieswhichwehavenotconcealed；ithasalso，weacknowledge，somehideousfeatures。Oneofthemostsurprisingisthepromptstrippingofthebodiesofthedeadafterthevictory。Thedawnwhichfollowsabattlealwaysrisesonnakedcorpses。

Whodoesthis？Whothussoilsthetriumph？Whathideous，furtivehandisthatwhichisslippedintothepocketofvictory？

Whatpickpocketsaretheywhoplytheirtradeintherearofglory？

Somephilosophers——Voltaireamongthenumber——affirmthatitispreciselythosepersonshavemadetheglory。Itisthesamemen，theysay；thereisnoreliefcorps；thosewhoareerectpillagethosewhoareproneontheearth。Theheroofthedayisthevampireofthenight。Onehasassuredlytheright，afterall，tostripacorpseabitwhenoneistheauthorofthatcorpse。

Forourownpart，wedonotthinkso；itseemstousimpossiblethatthesamehandshouldplucklaurelsandpurlointheshoesfromadeadman。

Onethingiscertain，whichis，thatgenerallyafterconquerorsfollowthieves。Butletusleavethesoldier，especiallythecontemporarysoldier，outofthequestion。

Everyarmyhasarear—guard，anditisthatwhichmustbeblamed。

Bat—likecreatures，halfbrigandsandlackeys；allthesortsofvespertillosthatthattwilightcalledwarengenders；wearersofuniforms，whotakenopartinthefighting；pretendedinvalids；

formidablelimpers；interlopingsutlers，trottingalonginlittlecarts，sometimesaccompaniedbytheirwives，andstealingthingswhichtheysellagain；beggarsofferingthemselvesasguidestoofficers；

soldiers’servants；marauders；armiesonthemarchindaysgoneby，——

wearenotspeakingofthepresent，——draggedallthisbehindthem，sothatinthespeciallanguagetheyarecalled"stragglers。"Noarmy，nonation，wasresponsibleforthosebeings；theyspokeItalianandfollowedtheGermans，thenspokeFrenchandfollowedtheEnglish。

Itwasbyoneofthesewretches，aSpanishstragglerwhospokeFrench，thattheMarquisofFervacques，deceivedbyhisPicardjargon，andtakinghimforoneofourownmen，wastraitorouslyslainandrobbedonthebattle—fielditself，inthecourseofthenightwhichfollowedthevictoryofCerisoles。Therascalsprangfromthismarauding。Thedetestablemaxim，Liveontheenemy！

producedthisleprosy，whichastrictdisciplinealonecouldheal。

Therearereputationswhicharedeceptive；onedoesnotalwaysknowwhycertaingenerals，greatinotherdirections，havebeensopopular。

Turennewasadoredbyhissoldiersbecausehetoleratedpillage；

evilpermittedconstitutespartofgoodness。TurennewassogoodthatheallowedthePalatinatetobedeliveredovertofireandblood。

Themaraudersinthetrainofanarmyweremoreorlessinnumber，accordingasthechiefwasmoreorlesssevere。HocheandMarceauhadnostragglers；Wellingtonhadfew，andwedohimthejusticetomentionit。

Nevertheless，onthenightfromthe18thtothe19thofJune，thedeadwererobbed。Wellingtonwasrigid；hegaveordersthatanyonecaughtintheactshouldbeshot；butrapineistenacious。

Themaraudersstoleinonecornerofthebattlefieldwhileotherswerebeingshotinanother。

Themoonwassinisteroverthisplain。

Towardsmidnight，amanwasprowlingabout，orrather，climbinginthedirectionofthehollowroadofOhain。Toallappearancehewasoneofthosewhomwehavejustdescribed，——neitherEnglishnorFrench，neitherpeasantnorsoldier，lessamanthanaghoulattractedbythescentofthedeadbodieshavingtheftforhisvictory，andcometorifleWaterloo。Hewascladinablousethatwassomethinglikeagreatcoat；hewasuneasyandaudacious；

hewalkedforwardsandgazedbehindhim。Whowasthisman？

Thenightprobablyknewmoreofhimthantheday。Hehadnosack，butevidentlyhehadlargepocketsunderhiscoat。Fromtimetotimehehalted，scrutinizedtheplainaroundhimasthoughtoseewhetherhewereobserved，bentoverabruptly，disturbedsomethingsilentandmotionlessontheground，thenroseandfled。

Hisslidingmotion，hisattitudes，hismysteriousandrapidgestures，causedhimtoresemblethosetwilightlarvaewhichhauntruins，andwhichancientNormanlegendscalltheAlleurs。

Certainnocturnalwadingbirdsproducethesesilhouettesamongthemarshes。

Aglancecapableofpiercingallthatmistdeeplywouldhaveperceivedatsomedistanceasortoflittlesutler’swagonwithaflutedwickerhood，harnessedtoafamishednagwhichwascroppingthegrassacrossitsbitasithalted，hidden，asitwere，behindthehovelwhichadjoinsthehighwaytoNivelles，attheangleoftheroadfromMont—Saint—JeantoBrainel’Alleud；

andinthewagon，asortofwomanseatedoncoffersandpackages。

Perhapstherewassomeconnectionbetweenthatwagonandthatprowler。

Thedarknesswasserene。Notacloudinthezenith。Whatmattersitiftheearthbered！themoonremainswhite；thesearetheindifferencesofthesky。Inthefields，branchesoftreesbrokenbygrape—shot，butnotfallen，upheldbytheirbark，swayedgentlyinthebreezeofnight。Abreath，almostarespiration，movedtheshrubbery。

Quiverswhichresembledthedepartureofsoulsranthroughthegrass。

InthedistancethecomingandgoingofpatrolsandthegeneralroundsoftheEnglishcampwereaudible。

HougomontandLaHaie—Saintecontinuedtoburn，forming，oneinthewest，theotherintheeast，twogreatflameswhichwerejoinedbythecordonofbivouacfiresoftheEnglish，likeanecklaceofrubieswithtwocarbunclesattheextremities，astheyextendedinanimmensesemicircleoverthehillsalongthehorizon。

WehavedescribedthecatastropheoftheroadofOhain。Theheartisterrifiedatthethoughtofwhatthatdeathmusthavebeentosomanybravemen。

Ifthereisanythingterrible，ifthereexistsarealitywhichsurpassesdreams，itisthis:tolive，toseethesun；tobeinfullpossessionofvirileforce；topossesshealthandjoy；tolaughvaliantly；

torushtowardsaglorywhichoneseesdazzlinginfrontofone；

tofeelinone’sbreastlungswhichbreathe，aheartwhichbeats，awillwhichreasons；tospeak，think，hope，love；tohaveamother，tohaveawife，tohavechildren；tohavethelight——andallatonce，inthespaceofashout，inlessthanaminute，tosinkintoanabyss；

tofall，toroll，tocrush，tobecrushed；toseeearsofwheat，flowers，leaves，branches；nottobeabletocatchholdofanything；

tofeelone’ssworduseless，menbeneathone，horsesontopofone；

tostruggleinvain，sinceone’sboneshavebeenbrokenbysomekickinthedarkness；tofeelaheelwhichmakesone’seyesstartfromtheirsockets；tobitehorses’shoesinone’srage；tostifle，toyell，towrithe；tobebeneath，andtosaytoone’sself，"ButjustalittlewhileagoIwasalivingman！"

There，wherethatlamentabledisasterhaduttereditsdeath—rattle，allwassilencenow。Theedgesofthehollowroadwereencumberedwithhorsesandriders，inextricablyheapedup。Terribleentanglement！

Therewasnolongeranyslope，forthecorpseshadlevelledtheroadwiththeplain，andreachedthebrimlikeawell—filledbushelofbarley。Aheapofdeadbodiesintheupperpart，ariverofbloodinthelowerpart——suchwasthatroadontheeveningofthe18thofJune，1815。ThebloodraneventotheNivelleshighway，andthereoverflowedinalargepoolinfrontoftheabatisoftreeswhichbarredtheway，ataspotwhichisstillpointedout。

Itwillberememberedthatitwasattheoppositepoint，inthedirectionoftheGenapperoad，thatthedestructionofthecuirassiershadtakenplace。Thethicknessofthelayerofbodieswasproportionedtothedepthofthehollowroad。

Towardsthemiddle，atthepointwhereitbecamelevel，whereDelort’sdivisionhadpassed，thelayerofcorpseswasthinner。

Thenocturnalprowlerwhomwehavejustshowntothereaderwasgoinginthatdirection。Hewassearchingthatvasttomb。

Hegazedabout。Hepassedthedeadinsomesortofhideousreview。

Hewalkedwithhisfeetintheblood。

Allatoncehepaused。

Afewpacesinfrontofhim，inthehollowroad，atthepointwherethepileofdeadcametoanend，anopenhand，illuminedbythemoon，projectedfrombeneaththatheapofmen。Thathandhadonitsfingersomethingsparkling，whichwasaringofgold。

Themanbentover，remainedinacrouchingattitudeforamoment，andwhenherosetherewasnolongeraringonthehand。

Hedidnotpreciselyrise；heremainedinastoopingandfrightenedattitude，withhisbackturnedtotheheapofdead，scanningthehorizononhisknees，withthewholeupperportionofhisbodysupportedonhistwoforefingers，whichrestedontheearth，andhisheadpeeringabovetheedgeofthehollowroad。

Thejackal’sfourpawssuitsomeactions。

Thencomingtoadecision，herosetohisfeet。

Atthatmoment，hegaveaterriblestart。Hefeltsomeoneclutchhimfrombehind。

Hewheeledround；itwastheopenhand，whichhadclosed，andhadseizedtheskirtofhiscoat。

Anhonestmanwouldhavebeenterrified；thismanburstintoalaugh。

"Come，"saidhe，"it’sonlyadeadbody。Ipreferaspooktoagendarme。"

Butthehandweakenedandreleasedhim。Effortisquicklyexhaustedinthegrave。

"Wellnow，"saidtheprowler，"isthatdeadfellowalive？

Let’ssee。"

Hebentdownagain，fumbledamongtheheap，pushedasideeverythingthatwasinhisway，seizedthehand，graspedthearm，freedthehead，pulledoutthebody，andafewmomentslaterhewasdraggingthelifeless，oratleasttheunconscious，man，throughtheshadowsofhollowroad。Hewasacuirassier，anofficer，andevenanofficerofconsiderablerank；alargegoldepaulettepeepedfrombeneaththecuirass；thisofficernolongerpossessedahelmet。Afurioussword—cuthadscarredhisface，wherenothingwasdiscerniblebutblood。

However，hedidnotappeartohaveanybrokenlimbs，and，bysomehappychance，ifthatwordispermissiblehere，thedeadhadbeenvaultedabovehiminsuchamannerastopreservehimfrombeingcrushed。

Hiseyeswerestillclosed。

OnhiscuirassheworethesilvercrossoftheLegionofHonor。

Theprowlertoreoffthiscross，whichdisappearedintooneofthegulfswhichhehadbeneathhisgreatcoat。

Thenhefeltoftheofficer’sfob，discoveredawatchthere，andtookpossessionofit。Nexthesearchedhiswaistcoat，foundapurseandpocketedit。

Whenhehadarrivedatthisstageofsuccorwhichhewasadministeringtothisdyingman，theofficeropenedhiseyes。

"Thanks，"hesaidfeebly。

Theabruptnessofthemovementsofthemanwhowasmanipulatinghim，thefreshnessofthenight，theairwhichhecouldinhalefreely，hadrousedhimfromhislethargy。

Theprowlermadenoreply。Heraisedhishead。Asoundoffootstepswasaudibleintheplain；somepatrolwasprobablyapproaching。

Theofficermurmured，forthedeathagonywasstillinhisvoice:——

"Whowonthebattle？"

"TheEnglish，"answeredtheprowler。

Theofficerwenton:——

"Lookinmypockets；youwillfindawatchandapurse。Takethem。"

Itwasalreadydone。

Theprowlerexecutedtherequiredfeint，andsaid:——

"Thereisnothingthere。"

"Ihavebeenrobbed，"saidtheofficer；"Iamsorryforthat。

Youshouldhavehadthem。"

Thestepsofthepatrolbecamemoreandmoredistinct。

"Someoneiscoming，"saidtheprowler，withthemovementofamanwhoistakinghisdeparture。

Theofficerraisedhisarmfeebly，anddetainedhim。

"Youhavesavedmylife。Whoareyou？"

Theprowleransweredrapidly，andinalowvoice:——

"Likeyourself，IbelongedtotheFrencharmy。Imustleaveyou。

Iftheyweretocatchme，theywouldshootme。Ihavesavedyourlife。

Nowgetoutofthescrapeyourself。"

"Whatisyourrank？"

"Sergeant。"

"Whatisyourname？"

"Thenardier。"

"Ishallnotforgetthatname，"saidtheofficer；"anddoyouremembermine。MynameisPontmercy。"

BOOKSECOND。——THESHIPORION

CHAPTERI

NUMBER24，601BECOMESNUMBER9，430

JeanValjeanhadbeenrecaptured。

Thereaderwillbegratefultousifwepassrapidlyoverthesaddetails。Wewillconfineourselvestotranscribingtwoparagraphspublishedbythejournalsofthatday，afewmonthsafterthesurprisingeventswhichhadtakenplaceatM。surM。

Thesearticlesarerathersummary。Itmustberemembered，thatatthatepochtheGazettedesTribunauxwasnotyetinexistence。

WeborrowthefirstfromtheDrapeauBlanc。ItbearsthedateofJuly25，1823。

AnarrondissementofthePasdeCalaishasjustbeenthetheatreofaneventquiteoutoftheordinarycourse。Aman，whowasastrangerintheDepartment，andwhoborethenameofM。Madeleine，had，thankstothenewmethods，resuscitatedsomeyearsagoanancientlocalindustry，themanufactureofjetandofblackglasstrinkets。Hehadmadehisfortuneinthebusiness，andthatofthearrondissementaswell，wewilladmit。Hehadbeenappointedmayor，inrecognitionofhisservices。ThepolicediscoveredthatM。Madeleinewasnootherthananex—convictwhohadbrokenhisban，condemnedin1796fortheft，andnamedJeanValjean。

JeanValjeanhasbeenrecommittedtoprison。ItappearsthatprevioustohisarresthehadsucceededinwithdrawingfromthehandsofM。Laffitte，asumofoverhalfamillionwhichhehadlodgedthere，andwhichhehad，moreover，andbyperfectlylegitimatemeans，acquiredinhisbusiness。NoonehasbeenabletodiscoverwhereJeanValjeanhasconcealedthismoneysincehisreturntoprisonatToulon。

Thesecondarticle，whichentersalittlemoreintodetail，isanextractfromtheJournaldeParis，ofthesamedate。

Aformerconvict，whohadbeenliberated，namedJeanValjean，hasjustappearedbeforetheCourtofAssizesoftheVar，undercircumstancescalculatedtoattractattention。Thiswretchhadsucceededinescapingthevigilanceofthepolice，hehadchangedhisname，andhadsucceededingettinghimselfappointedmayorofoneofoursmallnortherntowns；inthistownhehadestablishedaconsiderablecommerce。Hehasatlastbeenunmaskedandarrested，thankstotheindefatigablezealofthepublicprosecutor。

Hehadforhisconcubineawomanofthetown，whodiedofashockatthemomentofhisarrest。Thisscoundrel，whoisendowedwithHerculeanstrength，foundmeanstoescape；butthreeorfourdaysafterhisflightthepolicelaidtheirhandsonhimoncemore，inParisitself，attheverymomentwhenhewasenteringoneofthoselittlevehicleswhichrunbetweenthecapitalandthevillageofMontfermeil（Seine—et—Oise）。Heissaidtohaveprofitedbythisintervalofthreeorfourdaysofliberty，towithdrawaconsiderablesumdepositedbyhimwithoneofourleadingbankers。

Thissumhasbeenestimatedatsixorsevenhundredthousandfrancs。

Iftheindictmentistobetrusted，hehashiddenitinsomeplaceknowntohimselfalone，andithasnotbeenpossibletolayhandsonit。Howeverthatmaybe，thesaidJeanValjeanhasjustbeenbroughtbeforetheAssizesoftheDepartmentoftheVarasaccusedofhighwayrobberyaccompaniedwithviolence，abouteightyearsago，onthepersonofoneofthosehonestchildrenwho，asthepatriarchofFerneyhassaid，inimmortalverse，"……ArrivefromSavoyeveryyear，Andwho，withgentlehands，doclearThoselongcanalschokedupwithsoot。"

Thisbanditrefusedtodefendhimself。Itwasprovedbytheskilfulandeloquentrepresentativeofthepublicprosecutor，thatthetheftwascommittedincomplicitywithothers，andthatJeanValjeanwasamemberofabandofrobbersinthesouth。

JeanValjeanwaspronouncedguiltyandwascondemnedtothedeathpenaltyinconsequence。Thiscriminalrefusedtolodgeanappeal。

Theking，inhisinexhaustibleclemency，hasdeignedtocommutehispenaltytothatofpenalservitudeforlife。JeanValjeanwasimmediatelytakentotheprisonatToulon。

ThereaderhasnotforgottenthatJeanValjeanhadreligioushabitsatM。surM。Somepapers，amongotherstheConstitutional，presentedthiscommutationasatriumphofthepriestlyparty。

JeanValjeanchangedhisnumberinthegalleys。Hewascalled9，430。

However，andwewillmentionitatonceinorderthatwemaynotbeobligedtorecurtothesubject，theprosperityofM。surM。vanishedwithM。Madeleine；allthathehadforeseenduringhisnightoffeverandhesitationwasrealized；lackinghim，thereactuallywasasoullacking。Afterthisfall，theretookplaceatM。surM。thategotisticaldivisionofgreatexistenceswhichhavefallen，thatfataldismembermentofflourishingthingswhichisaccomplishedeveryday，obscurely，inthehumancommunity，andwhichhistoryhasnotedonlyonce，becauseitoccurredafterthedeathofAlexander。

Lieutenantsarecrownedkings；superintendentsimprovisemanufacturersoutofthemselves。Enviousrivalriesarose。M。Madeleine’svastworkshopswereshut；hisbuildingsfelltoruin，hisworkmenwerescattered。Someofthemquittedthecountry，othersabandonedthetrade。Thenceforth，everythingwasdoneonasmallscale，insteadofonagrandscale；forlucreinsteadofthegeneralgood。

Therewasnolongeracentre；everywheretherewascompetitionandanimosity。M。Madeleinehadreignedoverallanddirectedall。

Nosoonerhadhefallen，thaneachpulledthingstohimself；

thespiritofcombatsucceededtothespiritoforganization，bitternesstocordiality，hatredofoneanothertothebenevolenceofthefoundertowardsall；thethreadswhichM。Madeleinehadsetweretangledandbroken，themethodswereadulterated，theproductsweredebased，confidencewaskilled；themarketdiminished，forlackoforders；salarieswerereduced，theworkshopsstoodstill，bankruptcyarrived。Andthentherewasnothingmoreforthepoor。

Allhadvanished。

Thestateitselfperceivedthatsomeonehadbeencrushedsomewhere。

LessthanfouryearsafterthejudgmentoftheCourtofAssizesestablishingtheidentityofJeanValjeanandM。Madeleine，forthebenefitofthegalleys，thecostofcollectingtaxeshaddoubledinthearrondissementofM。surM。；andM。deVillelecalledattentiontothefactintherostrum，inthemonthofFebruary，1827。

CHAPTERII

INWHICHTHEREADERWILLPERUSETWOVERSES，WHICHAREOFTHE

DEVIL’SCOMPOSITION，POSSIBLY

Beforeproceedingfurther，itwillbetothepurposetonarrateinsomedetail，asingularoccurrencewhichtookplaceataboutthesameepoch，inMontfermeil，andwhichisnotlackingincoincidencewithcertainconjecturesoftheindictment。

ThereexistsintheregionofMontfermeilaveryancientsuperstition，whichisallthemorecuriousandallthemoreprecious，becauseapopularsuperstitioninthevicinityofParisislikeanaloeinSiberia。

Weareamongthosewhorespecteverythingwhichisinthenatureofarareplant。Here，then，isthesuperstitionofMontfermeil:

itisthoughtthatthedevil，fromtimeimmemorial，hasselectedtheforestasahiding—placeforhistreasures。Goodwivesaffirmthatitisnoraritytoencounteratnightfall，insecludednooksoftheforest，ablackmanwiththeairofacarterorawood—chopper，wearingwoodenshoes，cladintrousersandablouseoflinen，andrecognizablebythefact，that，insteadofacaporhat，hehastwoimmensehornsonhishead。Thisought，infact，torenderhimrecognizable。Thismanishabituallyengagedindiggingahole。

Therearethreewaysofprofitingbysuchanencounter。Thefirstistoapproachthemanandspeaktohim。Thenitisseenthatthemanissimplyapeasant，thatheappearsblackbecauseitisnightfall；

thatheisnotdigginganyholewhatever，butiscuttinggrassforhiscows，andthatwhathadbeentakenforhornsisnothingbutadung—forkwhichheiscarryingonhisback，andwhoseteeth，thankstotheperspectiveofevening，seemedtospringfromhishead。

Themanreturnshomeanddieswithintheweek。Thesecondwayistowatchhim，towaituntilhehasdughishole，untilhehasfilleditandhasgoneaway；thentorunwithgreatspeedtothetrench，toopenitoncemoreandtoseizethe"treasure"whichtheblackmanhasnecessarilyplacedthere。Inthiscaseonedieswithinthemonth。Finally，thelastmethodisnottospeaktotheblackman，nottolookathim，andtofleeatthebestspeedofone’slegs。

Onethendieswithintheyear。