My voice wanes weaker with you, Sire; is nought! Yet these few words, as Minister of Marine, I'll venture now.--My process would be thus:-- Our projects for a junction of the fleets Being well-discerned and read by every eye Through long postponement, England is prepared. I would recast them. Later in the year Form sundry squadrons of this massive one, Harass the English till the winter time, Then rendezvous at Cadiz; where leave half To catch the enemy's eye and call their cruizers, While rounding Scotland with the other half, You make the Channel by the eastern strait, Cover the passage of our army-boats, And plant the blow. NAPOLEON And what if they perceive Our Scottish route, and meet us eastwardly? DECRES I have thought of it, and planned a countermove; I'll write the scheme more clearly and at length, And send it hither to your Majesty. NAPOLEON Do so forthwith; and send me in Daru. [Exit DECRES. Re-enter MONGE.] Our breakfast, Monge, to-day has been cut short, And these discussions on the ancient tongues Wherein you shine, must yield to modern moils. Nay, hasten not away; though feeble wills, Incompetence, ay, imbecility, In some who feign to serve the cause of France, Do make me other than myself just now!-- Ah--here's Daru. [DARU enters. MONGE takes his leave.] Daru, sit down and write. Yes, here, at once, This room will serve me now. What think you, eh? Villeneuve has just turned tail and run to Cadiz. So quite postponed--perhaps even overthrown-- My long-conned project against yonder shore As 'twere a juvenile's snow-built device But made for melting! Think of it, Daru,-- My God, my God, how can I talk thereon! A plan well judged, well charted, well upreared, To end in nothing!... Sit you down and write. [NAPOLEON walks up and down, and resumes after a silence.] Write this.--A volte-face 'tis indeed!--Write, write! DARU [holding pen to paper] I wait, your Majesty. NAPOLEON First Bernadotte-- Yes; “Bernadotte moves out from Hanover Through Hesse upon Wurzburg and the Danube.-- Marmont from Holland bears along the Rhine, And joins at Mainz and Wurzburg Bernadotte... While these prepare their routes the army here Will turn its back on Britain's tedious shore, And, closing up with Augereau at Brest, Set out full force due eastward.... By the Black forest feign a straight attack, The while our purpose is to skirt its left, Meet in Franconia Bernadotte and Marmont; Traverse the Danube somewhat down from Ulm; Entrap the Austrian column by their rear; Surround them, cleave them; roll upon Vienna, Where, Austria settled, I engage the Tsar, While Massena detains in Italy The Archduke Charles.