Napoleon's Letters To Josephine Part 5

"Des 1796, lorsque, avec 30,000 hommes, il fait la conquete de l'Italie, il est non-seulement grand general, mais profond politique."--_Des Idees Napoleonniennes._

"Your Government has sent against me four armies without Generals, and this time a General without an army."--_Napoleon to the Austrian Plenipotentiaries, at Leoben._

SERIES B

(For subjoined Notes to this Series see pages 211-223.)

LETTER PAGE

No. 1. _Sortie from Mantua_ 211

No. 2. _Marmirolo_ 211 _Fortune_ 212

No. 3. _The village of Virgil_ 212

No. 4. _Achille_ 212

No. 5. _Will-o'-the-Wisp_ 213

No. 6. _The needs of the army_ 213-5

No. 7. _Brescia_ 215

No. 9. _I hope we shall get into Trent_ 216

No. 12. _One of these nights the doors will be burst open_ 216-8

No. 13. _Corsica is ours_ 218

No. 14. _Verona_ 219

No. 15. _Once more I breathe freely_ 220

No. 18. "_The 29th_" 220

No. 20. _General Brune_ 221

No. 21. _February 3rd_ 221

No. 24. _Perhaps I shall make peace with the Pope_ 222

No. 25. _The unlimited power you hold over me_ 222

No. 1.

_July 5th._--Archduke Charles defeated by Moreau at Radstadt.

_July 6th.--Sortie from Mantua: Austrians fairly successful._

TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.

_Roverbella, July 6, 1796._

I have beaten the enemy. Kilmaine will send you the copy of the despatch. I am tired to death. Pray start at once for Verona. I need you, for I think that I am going to be very ill.

I send you a thousand kisses. I am in bed.

BONAPARTE.

_July 9th.--Bonaparte asks Kellermann for reinforcements._

_July 14th._--Frankfort on the Main captured by Kleber.

_July 16th.--Sortie from Mantua: Austrians defeated._

No. 2.

_July 17th.--Attempted coup de main at Mantua: French unsuccessful._

TO JOSEPHINE, AT MILAN.

_Marmirolo_, _July 17, 1796_, 9 P.M.

I got your letter, my beloved; it has filled my heart with joy. I am grateful to you for the trouble you have taken to send me news; your health should be better to-day--I am sure you are cured. I urge you strongly to ride, which cannot fail to do you good.

Ever since I left you, I have been sad. I am only happy when by your side. Ceaselessly I recall your kisses, your tears, your enchanting jealousy; and the charms of the incomparable Josephine keep constantly alight a bright and burning flame in my heart and senses. When, free from every worry, from all business, shall I spend all my moments by your side, to have nothing to do but to love you, and to prove it to you? I shall send your horse, but I am hoping that you will soon be able to rejoin me. I thought I loved you some days ago; but, since I saw you, I feel that I love you even a thousand times more. Ever since I have known you, I wors.h.i.+p you more every day; which proves how false is the maxim of La Bruyere that "Love comes all at once." Everything in nature has a regular course, and different degrees of growth. Ah!

pray let me see some of your faults; be less beautiful, less gracious, less tender, and, especially, less kind; above all never be jealous, never weep; your tears madden me, fire my blood. Be sure that it is no longer possible for me to have a thought except for you, or an idea of which you shall not be the judge.

Have a good rest. Haste to get well. Come and join me, so that, at least, before dying, we could say--"We were happy for so many days!!"

Millions of kisses, and even to Fortune, in spite of his naughtiness.

BONAPARTE.

No. 3.

_July 18th.--Trenches opened before Mantua._