Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. III, No. XVII, October 1851Various
History
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. III, No. XVII, October 1851
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
Napoleon now issued another of those spirit-stirring proclamations,
which roused such enthusiasm among his own troops, and which so
powerfully electrified the ardent imagination of the Italians.
"Soldiers! you have descended like a torrent from the Apennines. You
have overwhelmed every thing which opposed your progress. Piedmont is
delivered from the tyranny of Austria; Milan is in your hands, and the
Republican standards wave over the whole of Lombardy. The Dukes of Parma
and Modena owe their existence to your generosity. The army which
menaced you with so much pride, can no longer find a barrier to protect
itself against your arms. The Po, the Ticino, the Adda have not been
able to stop you a single day. These boasted bulwarks of Italy have
proved as nugatory as the Alps. Such a career of success has carried joy
into the bosom of your country. Fêtes in honor of your victories have
been ordered in all the communes of the Republic. There your parents,
your wives, your sisters, your lovers rejoice in your achievements, and
boast with pride that you belong to them. Yes, soldiers! you have indeed
done much, but much remains still to be done. Shall posterity say that
we knew how to conquer, but knew not how to improve victory? Shall we
find a Capua in Lombardy? We have forced marches to make, enemies to
subdue, laurels to gather, injuries to revenge. Let those who have
whetted the daggers of civil war in France, who have assassinated our
ministers, who have burned our ships at Toulon--let those tremble. The
hour of vengeance has struck. But let not the _people_ be alarmed. We
are the friends of the people every where; particularly of the Brutuses,
the Scipios, and the great men whom we have taken for our models. To
re-establish the Capitol; to replace the statues of the heroes who
rendered it illustrious; to rouse the Romans, stupefied by centuries of
slavery--such will be the fruit of our victories. They will form an
epoch with posterity. To you will pertain the immortal glory of changing
the face of the finest portion of Europe. The French people, free and
respected by the whole world, will give to Europe a glorious peace. You
will then return to your homes, and your fellow-citizens will say,
pointing to you, _He belonged to the army of Italy_."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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