Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXIII.—April, 1852.—Vol. IV.: None — John Shaqi
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXIII.—April, 1852.—Vol. IV.: NoneVarious
General
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXIII.—April, 1852.—Vol. IV.: None
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
How strange is the life of the heart of man. From this interview,
Napoleon, two hours after his arrival in Paris, with his whole soul
agitated by the tumult of domestic woe, went to the palace of the
Luxembourg, to visit the Directory, to form his plans for the overthrow
of the government of France. Pale, pensive, joyless, his inflexible
purposes of ambition wavered not--his iron energies yielded not.
Josephine was an idol. He execrated her and he adored her. He loved her
most passionately. He hated her most virulently. He could clasp her one
moment to his bosom with burning kisses; the next moment he would spurn
her from him as the most loathsome wretch. But glory was a still more
cherished idol, at whose shrine he bowed with unwavering adoration. He
strove to forget his domestic wretchedness by prosecuting, with new
vigor, his schemes of grandeur. As he ascended the stairs of the
Luxembourg, some of the guard, who had been with him in Italy,
recognized his person, and he was instantly greeted, with enthusiastic
shouts, "Long live Bonaparte." The clamor rolled like a voice of thunder
through the spacious halls of the palace, and fell, like a death knell,
upon the ears of the Directors. The populace, upon the pavement, caught
the sound and reechoed it from street to street. The plays at the
theatres, and the songs at the Opera, were stopped, that it might be
announced, from the stage, that Bonaparte had arrived in Paris. Men,
women, and children simultaneously rose to their feet, and a wild burst
of enthusiastic joy swelled upon the night air. All Paris was in
commotion. The name of Bonaparte was upon every lip. The enthusiasm was
contagious. Illuminations began to blaze, here and there, without
concert, from the universal rejoicing, till the whole city was
resplendent with light. One bell rang forth its merry peal of greeting,
and then another, and another, till every steeple was vocal with its
clamorous welcome. One gun was heard, rolling its heavy thunders over
the city. It was the signal for an instantaneous, tumultuous roar, from
artillery and musketry, from all the battalions in the metropolis. The
tidings of the great victories of Aboukir and Mount Tabor, reached Paris
with Napoleon. Those Oriental names were shouted through the streets,
and blazed upon the eyes of the delighted people in letters of light.
Thus in an hour the whole of Paris was thrown into a delirium of joy,
and, without any previous arrangements, there was displayed the most
triumphant and gorgeous festival.
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