Napoleon's Letters To Josephine Part 30

_Warsaw, January 11, 1807._

Your letter of the 27th received, from which I note that you are somewhat uneasy about military events. Everything is settled, as I have told you, to my satisfaction; my affairs prosper. The distance is too great for me to allow you to come so far at this time of year. I am in splendid health, sometimes rather wearied by the length of the nights.

Up to the present I have seen few people here.

Adieu, dear. I wish you to be cheerful, and to give a little life to the capital. I would much like to be there.--Yours ever,

NAPOLEON.

I hope that the Queen has gone to the Hague with M. Napoleon.

No. 31.

_January 16th.--Capture of Brieg by the French._

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_January 16, 1807._

MY DEAR,--I have received your letter of the 5th of January; all that you tell me of your unhappiness pains me. Why these tears, these repinings? Have you then no longer any fort.i.tude? I shall see you soon. Never doubt my feelings; and if you wish to be still dearer to me, show character and strength of mind. I am humiliated to think that my wife can distrust my destinies.

Adieu, dear. I love you, I long to see you, and wish to learn that you are content and happy.

NAPOLEON.

No. 32.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Warsaw, January 18, 1807._

I fear that you are greatly grieved at our separation and at your return to Paris, which must last for some weeks longer. I insist on your having more fort.i.tude. I hear you are always weeping. Fie! how unbecoming it is! Your letter of January 7th makes me unhappy. Be worthy of me; a.s.sume more character. Cut a suitable figure at Paris; and, above all, be contented.

I am very well, and I love you much; but, if you are always crying, I shall think you without courage and without character. I do not love cowards. An empress ought to have fort.i.tude.

NAPOLEON.

No. 33.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Warsaw, January 19, 1807._

_My Dear_,--Your letter to hand. I have laughed at your fear of fire.

I am in despair at the tone of your letters and at what I hear. I forbid you to weep, to be petulant and uneasy; I want you to be cheerful, lovable, and happy.

NAPOLEON.

No. 34.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_Warsaw, January 23, 1807._

Your letter of January 15th to hand. It is impossible to allow women to make such a journey as this--bad roads, miry and unsafe. Return to Paris; be cheerful and content there. Perhaps even I shall soon be there. I have laughed at what you say about your having taken a husband to be with him. I thought, in my ignorance, that the wife was made for the husband, the husband for his country, his family, and glory. Pardon my ignorance; one is always learning from our fair ladies.

Adieu, my dear. Think how much it costs me not to send for you. Say to yourself, "It is a proof how precious I am to him."

NAPOLEON.

No. 35.

_January 25th.--Russians defeated at Mohrungen by Bernadotte._

TO THE EMPRESS, AT MAYENCE.

_January 25, 1807._

I am very unhappy to see you are in pain. I hope that you are at Paris; you will get better there. I share your griefs, and do not groan. For I could not risk losing you by exposing you to fatigues and dangers which befit neither your rank nor your s.e.x.

I wish you never to receive T---- at Paris; he is a black sheep. You would grieve me by doing otherwise.

Adieu, my dear. Love me, and be courageous.

NAPOLEON.

No. 36.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.

_Warsaw, January 26, 1807, Noon._

_My Dear_,--I have received your letter. It pains me to see how you are fretting yourself. The bridge of Mayence neither increases nor decreases the distance which separates us. Remain, therefore, at Paris. I should be vexed and uneasy to know that you were so miserable and so isolated at Mayence. You must know that I ought, that I can, consider only the success of my enterprise. If I could consult my heart I should be with you, or you with me; for you would be most unjust if you doubted my love and entire affection.

NAPOLEON.

No. 37.

TO THE EMPRESS, AT PARIS.

_Willemberg, February 1, 1807, Noon._