louisa of prussia and her times-第38节

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demonstrations：　only　they　tried　to　display；　even　on　this　occasion；
their　accustomed　diplomacy；　and　instead　of　receiving　the　victorious
chieftain　in　the　capacity　of　humble　vassals；　they　preferred　to
present　their　respects　as　gallant　cavaliers　to　his　beautiful　wife
and　to　escort　her　into　the　city。

The　German　ambassadors；　therefore；　were　waiting　for　Mme。　General
Bonaparte　on　their　magnificent　prancing　steeds　in　front　of　the　gate
through　which　she　was　to　pass。　Even　old　Count　Metternich；　the
delegate　of　the　Emperor　of　Austria　and　ruler　of　the　empire；
notwithstanding　the　stiffness　of　his　limbs；　had　mounted　his　horse；
by　his　side　the　other　two　ambassadors　of　Austria　were　haltingCount
Lehrbach；　the　Austrian　member　of　the　imperial　commission；　and　Count
Louis　Cobenzl；　who　was　acting　as　a　delegate　for　Bohemia　and　Hungary。
Behind　old　Count　Metternich；　on　a　splendid　and　most　fiery　charger；　a
young　cavalier　of　tall　figure　and　rare　manly　beauty　might　be　seen；
it　was　young　Count　Clemens　Metternich；　who　was　to　represent　the
corporation　of　the　Counts　of　Westphalia；　and　to　begin　his　official
diplomatic　career　here　at　Rastadt　under　the　eye　of　his　aged　father。
By　his　side　the　imposing　and　grave　ambassadors　of　Prussia　made　their
appearanceCount　Goertz；　who　at　the　time　of　the　war　for　the
succession　in　Bavaria　had　played　a　part　so　important　for　Prussia　and
so　hostile　to　Austria；　and　Baron　Dohm；　no　less　distinguished　as　a
cavalier；　than　as　a　writer。　Not　far　from　them　the　representatives　of
Bavaria；　Saxony；　Wurtemberg；　and　of　the　whole　host　of　the　so…called
〃Immediates〃　＇Footnote：　The　noblemen　owning　territory　in　the　states
of　secondary　princes；　but　subject　only　to　the　authority　of　the
emperor；　were　called　〃Immediates。〃＇　might　be　seen；　whom　the　editors
and　correspondents　had　joined；　that　had　repaired　to　Rastadt　in　the
hope　of　finding　there　a　perfect　gold…mine　for　their　greedy　pens。　But
not　merely　the　German　diplomatists　and　the　aristocratic　young　men　of
Rastadt　were　waiting　here　for　the　arrival　of　Mme。　General　Bonaparte；
there　was　also　the　whole　crowd　of　French　singers；　actors；　and
adventurers　who　had　flocked　to　the　Congress　of　Rastadt　for　the
purpose　of　amusing　the　distinguished　noblemen　and　delegates　by　their
vaudevilles；　comedies；　and　gay　operas。　Finally；　there　were　also　the
French　actresses　and　ballet…girls；　who；　dressed　in　the　highest　style
of　fashion；　were　occupying　on　one　side　of　the　road　a　long　row　of
splendid　carriages。　Many　of　these　carriages　were　decorated　on　their
doors　with　large　coats…of…arms；　and　a　person　well　versed　in　heraldry
might　have　easily　seen　therefrom　that　these　escutcheons　indicated
some　of　the　noble　diplomatists　on　the　other　side　of　the　road　to　be
the　owners　of　the　carriages。　In　fact；　a　very　cordial　and　friendly
understanding　seemed　to　prevail　between　the　diplomatists　and　the
ladies　of　the　French　theatre。　This　was　not　only　evident　from　the
German　diplomatists　having　lent　their　carriages　to　the　French　ladies
for　the　day's　reception；　but　likewise　from　the　ardent；　tender；　and
amorous　glances　that　were　being　exchanged　between　them；　from　their
significant　smiles；　and　from　their　stealthy　nods　and　mute　but
eloquent　greetings。

Suddenly；　however；　this　inimical　flirtation　was　interrupted　by　the
rapid　approach　of　a　courier。　This　was　the　signal　announcing　the
impending　arrival　of　Josephine　Bonaparte。　In　fact；　the　heads　of　four
horses　were　seen　already　in　the　distance；　they　came　nearer　and
nearer；　and　now　the　carriage　drawn　by　these　horses；　and　a　lady
occupying　it；　could　be　plainly　discerned。

It　was　a　wonderful　warm　day　in　November。　Josephine；　therefore；　had
caused　the　top　of　her　carriage　to　be　taken　down；　and　the　spectators
were　able；　not　merely　to　behold　her　face；　but　to　scan　most　leisurely
her　whole　figure　and　even　her　costume。　The　carriage　had　approached
at　full　gallop；　but　now；　upon　drawing　near　to　the　crowd　assembled　in
front　of　the　gate；　it　slackened　its　speed；　and　every　one　had　time
and　leisure　to　contemplate　the　lady　enthroned　in　the　carriage。　She
was　no　longer　in　the　first　bloom　of　youth；　more　than　thirty　years
had　passed　already　over　her　head；　they　had　deprived　her　complexion
of　its　natural　freshness；　and　left　the　first　slight　traces　of　age
upon　her　pure　and　noble　forehead。　But　her　large　dark　eyes　were
beaming　still　in　the　imperishable　fire　of　her　inward　youth；　and　a
sweet　and　winning　smile；　illuminating　her　whole　countenance　as
though　a　ray　of　the　setting　sun　had　fallen　upon　it；　was　playing
around　her　charming　lips。　Her　graceful　and　elegant　figure　was
wrapped　in　a　closely　fitting　gown　of　dark…green　velvet；　richly
trimmed　with　costly　furs；　and　a　small　bonnet；　likewise　trimmed　with
furs；　covered　her　head；　and　under　this　bonnet　luxuriant　dark
ringlets　were　flowing　down；　surrounding　the　beautiful　and　noble　oval
of　her　face　with　a　most　becoming　frame。

Josephine　Bonaparte　was　still　a　most　attractive　and　lovely　woman；
and　on　beholding　her　it　was　easily　understood　why　Bonaparte；
although　much　younger；　had　been　so　fascinated　by　this　charming　lady
and　loved　her　with　such　passionate　tenderness。

The　French　actors　now　gave　vent　to　their　delight　by　loud　cheers；　and
rapturously　waving　their　hats；　they　shouted：　〃Vive　la　citoyenne
Bonaparte！　Vive　l'august　epouse　de　l'Italique！〃

Josephine　nodded　eagerly　and　with　affable　condescension　to　the
enthusiastic　crowd；　and　slowly　passed　on。　On　approaching　the
diplomatists；　she　assumed　a　graver　and　more　erect　attitude；　she
acknowledged　the　low；　respectful　obeisances　of　the　cavaliers　with
the　distinguished；　careless；　and　yet　polite　bearing　of　a　queen；　and
seemed　to　have　for　every　one　a　grateful　glance　and　a　kind　smile。
Every　one　was　satisfied　that　she　had　especially　noticed　and
distinguished　him；　and　every　one；　therefore；　felt　flattered　and
elated。　From　the　diplomatists　she　turned　her　face　for　a　moment　to
the　other　side；　toward　the　ladies　seated　in　the　magnificent
carriages。　But　her　piercing　eye；　her　delicate　womanly　instinct　told
her　at　a　glance　that　these　ladies；　in　spite　of　the　splendor
surrounding　them；　were　no　representatives　of　the　aristocracy；　she
therefore　greeted　them　with　a　rapid　nod；　a　kind　smile；　and　a
graceful　wave　of　her　hand；　and　then　averted　her　head　again。

Her　carriage　now　passed　through　the　gate；　the　cavaliers　surrounding
it　on　both　sides；　and　thereby　separating　the　distinguished　lady　from
her　attendants；　who　were　following　her　in　four　large　coaches。　These
were　joined　by　the　carriages　of　the　actresses；　by　whose　sides　the
heroes　of　the　stage　were　cantering　and　exhibiting　their　horsemanship
to　the　laughing　belles　with　painted　cheeks。

It　was　a　long　and　brilliant　procession　with　which　Mme。　General
Bonaparte　made　her　entrance　into　Rastadt；　and　the　last　of　the
carriages　had　not　yet　reached　the　gate；　when　Josephine's　carriage
had　already　arrived　on　the　market…place　and　halted　in　front　of　the
house　she　was　to　occupy　with　her　husband。　Before　the　footman　had　had
time　to　alight　from　the　box；　Josephine　herself　had　already　opened
the　coach　door　in　order　to　meet　the　young　ladies　who　were　waiting
for　her　at　the　door　of　her　house；　and　to　give　them　a　flattering
proof　of　her　affability。　In　polite　haste　she　descended　from　the
carriage　and　stepped　into　their　midst；　tendering　her　hands　to　those
immediately　surrounding　her；　and　whispering　grateful　words　of　thanks
to　them　for　the　beautiful　flowers　and　fruits；　and　thanking　the　more
distant　girls　with　winning　nods　and　smiling　glances。　Her　manners
were　aristocratic　and　withal　simple；　every　gesture　of　hers；　every
nod；　every　wave　of　her　hand　was　queenly　and　yet　modest；　unassuming
and　entirely　devoid　of　haughtiness；　just　as　it　behooved　a　prominent
daughter　of　the　great　Republic　which　had　chosen　for　her　motto
〃Liberte；　egalite；　fraternite。〃

Laden　with　flowers；　and　laughing　as　merrily　as　a　young　girl；
Josephine　finally　entered　the　house；　in　the　hall　of　the　latter　the
ladies　of　the　French　ambassadors；　the　wives　and　daughters　of　Bonnier
Reberjot　and　Jean　Debry；　were　waiting　for　her。　Josephine；　who　among
the　young　girls　just　now　had　been　all　hilarity；　grace；　and
familiarity；　now　again　assumed　the　bearing　of　a　distinguished　lady；
of　the　consort　of　General　Bonaparte；　and　received　the　salutations　of
the　ladies　with　condescending　reserve。　She　handed；　however；　to　each
of　the　ladies　one　of　her　splendid　bouquets；　and　had　a　pleasant　word
for　every　one。　On　arriving　at　the　door　of　the　rooms　destined　for　her
private　use；　she　dismissed　the　ladies　and　beckoned　her　maid　to
follow　her。

〃Now；　Amelia；〃　she　said　hurriedly；　as　soon　as　the　door　had　closed
behind　them〃now　let　us　immediately　attend　to　my　wardrobe。　I　know
Bonapartehe　is　always　impetuous　and　impatient；　and　he　regularly
arrives　sooner　than　he　has　stated　himself。　He　was　to　be　here　at　two
o'clock；　but　he　will　arrive　at　one　o'clock；　and　it　is　now　almost
noon。　Have　the　trunks　brought　up　at　once；　for　it　is　high　time　for　me
to　dress。〃

Amelia　hastened　to　carry　out　her　mistress's　orders；　and　Josephine
was　alone。　She　hurriedly　stepped　to　the　large　looking…glass　in　the
bedroom　and　closely　scanned　in　it　her　own　features。

〃Oh；　oh！　I　am　growing　old；〃　she　muttered　after　a　while。　〃Bonaparte