The French lines being completed, the Emperor passed along them, attended by a brilliant and numerous staff: a forest of plumes waved around him. The troops hailed him with repeated shouts of _Vive l’Empereur!_ the infantry raising their caps upon their bayonets, and the cavalry their casques or helmets upon their swords and lances. The parade over, the whole instantly formed columns. With an army thus animated by one sentiment, and doubtless calculating on being joined during the fray by more than a few of the motley group who stood in his front, it may readily be conceived that Napoleon fully participated in the general confidence of a signal victory. “The force of the two armies,” said the Emperor just before the battle began, “could not be estimated by a mere comparison of numbers; because the allied army was composed of troops more or less efficient: so that _one Englishman might be counted for one Frenchman_; but two Netherlander, Prussians, Germans, or soldiers of the Confederation, were required to make up one Frenchman.” [Illustration: (end of chapter; image of a sword)] FOOTNOTES: [1] “I did in truth,” said Ney at his trial, “kiss the hand of the king, his Majesty having presented it to me when he wished me a good journey. I spoke of the descent of Napoleon with indignation, and made use of the expression, _the iron cage_. During the night of the 13th of March, (down to which time I protest my fidelity,) I received a proclamation from Napoleon, which I signed.” On the following day he published the fatal proclamation to his troops, which afterwards cost him his life. _See_ Appendix, No. II. [2] _See_ GURWOOD, _Dispatches_, vol. XII, pages 350, 356. [3] _Ibid._, page 363. [4] _See_ GURWOOD, _Dispatches_, vol. XII, page 365. [5] _See_ Appendix, No. I. [6] The 3d guards and 42d Highlanders had near eight hundred militia-men in their ranks. The guards actually fought in their Surrey militia jackets. [7] Colonel de Wissel, of the 1st German hussars, reported the fact to general Vivian, who went to the outposts next day, and, finding the enemy ready to attack, informed the Duke. [8] _See_ the following page, and the beginning of chap. XI. [9] _See_ GURWOOD, _Dispatches_, vol. XII, page 290. [10] One would say, after such language as this to his devoted and enthusiastic followers, and maintaining as Napoleon did, that Frederick the Great was right in carrying poison about his person to put an end to his existence in case of a great reverse of fortune, “He was right, he was right, it would have been dastardly indeed to live like a wretch (_pleutre_) after having once attained to the highest pinnacle of fame;” the Emperor would have brought his actions more in unison with his words, if, when on finding the day of Waterloo going against him, he had, in person, led his Imperial guard to attack our position. [11] _See_ Outline map of the Waterloo campaign.