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Gustavus　will　perhaps　find　out；　when　it　is　too　late；　and　at　his　own
expense；　that　the　reins　of　government　must　be　firmly　held　in　one
hand；　and　the　other　skilfully　wield　the　sword；　while　it　is　yet　time。
Go；　sir；　and　inform　your　king　of　what　I　have　told　you！〃

Count　Fersen　made　no　reply；　he　merely　bowed　hastily　and　silently；
and；　beckoning　his　attaches　who　were　standing　behind　him；　he　left
the　room　with　his　suite。　＇Footnote：　This　whole　scene　actually　took
place；　and　contains　only　such　words　as　really　were　exchanged　between
Bonaparte　and　Fersen。Vide　〃Memoires　d'un　Homme　d'Etat；〃　vol。　v。；
p。　64。　Le　Normand；　Memoires；　vol。　i。；　p。　263。＇

Bonaparte's　flashing　eyes　followed　him　until　he　had　disappeared；　and
then　the　general　turned　once　more　to　the　ambassadors。

〃I　could　not　suffer　a　traitor　and　enemy　in　our　assembly；〃　he　said；
in　a　loud　and　firm　voice。　〃We　are　here　in　order　to　make　peace；　while
he　was　secretly　anxious　for　a　renewal　of　war；　and　was　bent　upon
sowing　the　evil　seeds　of　discord　among　us。　Let　us　all　endeavor　to
make　peace；　gentlemen；　to　the　best　of　our　power。　Do　not　compel　me　to
enter　the　lists　against　you；　too；　for　the　struggle　could　not　be
doubtful　between　a　nation　that　has　just　conquered　her　liberty；　and
princes　who　tried　to　deprive　her　of　it　again。　If　you　reject　to…day
the　pacific　overtures　I　shall　make　to　you；　I　shall　impose　other
conditions　to…morrow；　but　woe　unto　him　among　you；　who　should　refuse
my　mediation；　for　in　that　case　I　should　overthrow　the　whole
framework　of　a　false　policy；　and　the　thrones　standing　on　a　weak
foundation　would　soon　break　down。　I　speak　to　you　with　the　frankness
of　a　soldier　and　the　noble　pride　of　a　victorious　general；　I　caution
you　because　I　have　the　welfare　of　the　nations　at　heart；　who　more
than　ever　need　the　blessings　of　peace。　It　is　now　for　you　to　say
whether　we　shall　have　war　or　peace；　and　it　will　solely　depend　upon
your　submissiveness　whether　France　will　be　able　to　conclude　an
honorable　peace　with　her　German　neighbors；　or　whether　you　will
compel　us　to　take　up　arms　once　more。　But　in　that　case　woe　unto　you；
for　we　should　retaliate　in　the　most　terrible　manner　on　those　who
would　dare　to　oppose　us！〃　＇Footnote：　Bonaparte's　own　words。Vide　Le
Normand；　vol。　i。。　p。　964＇

He　paused　and　rapidly　glanced　at　the　assembled　gentlemen。　They　stood
before　him　with　grave　and　gloomy　faces；　but　none　of　them　were
courageous　enough　to　make　a　dignified　reply　to　the　proud　and
humiliating　words　of　the　French　general。　The　ambassadors　of　Germany
received　the　severe　lecture　of　the　representative　of　France　with
silent　submissiveness。

An　imperceptible　smile　played　on　Bonaparte's　lips。　He　saluted　the
gentlemen　with　a　slight　nod　and　rapidly　returned　to　his　own　rooms。




CHAPTER　XXI。

FRANCE　AND　AUSTRIA。


Bonaparte　had　scarcely　reached　his　room　and　just　closed　the　door；
when　the　opposite　door　opened；　and　the　entering　footman　announced；
〃His　excellency　Count　Louis　Cobenzl。〃　Bonaparte　waved　his　hand　and
went　to　meet　the　count　in　the　anteroom；　where　he　welcomed　him　with
the　utmost　kindness　and　courtesy。

The　two　gentlemen　thereupon　reentered　the　room　hand　in　hand；　a
pleasant　smile　playing　on　their　lips；　while　both　were　assuring　each
other　of　their　kind　intentions；　but　at　the　same　time　secretly
entertaining　the　ardent　desire　and　purpose　to　divine　their　mutual
thoughts；　but　to　conceal　their　own　schemes。　The　general；　with　great
politeness；　offered　the　seat　of　honor　on　the　sofa　to　the　count；　and
sat　down　in　an　arm…chair　in　front　of　him。　A　small　round　table　with
writing…materials　and　paper　stood　between　them；　forming　as　it　were
the　frontier　between　Austria　and　France。

〃So　the　ardent　desires　of　Austria　are　fulfilled　now；〃　said　Count
Cobenzl；　with　a　sweet　smile。　〃France　will　no　longer　oppose　us；　she
will　be　our　friend　and　ally。〃

〃France　will　welcome　this　new　friend　and　ally　of　hers；〃　exclaimed
Bonaparte；　feelingly；　〃provided　Austria's　intentions　are　loyal。　Ah；
my　dear　count；　no　protestations　now！　In　politics　words　prove
nothing；　deeds　every　thing。　Let　Austria；　then；　prove　by　her　deeds
that　she　really　desires　to　keep　up　a　good　understanding　with　France；
and　that　she　has　given　up　forever　her　hostile　attitude　toward　the
republic。〃

〃But　has　not　Austria　given　proof　of　her　intentions　toward　France
already？〃　asked　the　count；　in　surprise。　〃Has　not　his　majesty　the
emperor　declared　his　willingness　to　resume　diplomatic　relations　with
France；　and　thereby　formally　and　before　the　whole　world　to　recognize
the　French　Republic？〃

〃Sir；〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；　〃the　French　Republic　does　not　humbly
solicit　to　be　recognized。　She　compels　hostile　states　to　recognize
her；　for；　like　the　sun；　she　sheds　her　light　over　the　whole　globe；
and　she　would　pierce　the　eyes　of　such　as　would　feign　not　to　see　her；
rendering　them　blind　for　all　time　to　come！　＇Footnote：　Bonaparte's
own　words。Vide　Constant；　vol。　i。；　p。　284。＇　Austria　beheld　this
radiant　sun　of　the　republic　at　Lodi；　at　Rivoli；　Arcole；　and　Mantua；
whence；　then；　would　she　derive　courage　enough　to　refuse　recognizing
France？　But　instead　of　words；　prove　to　us　by　your　actions　that　your
friendship　is　honest　and　sincere。〃

〃We　are　ready　to　do　so；〃　said　Count　Cobenzl；　politely。　〃Austria　is
ready　to　give　a　public　and　brilliant　proof　of　her　devotion　to　the
great　general　whose　glory　is　now　filling　the　whole　world　with
astonishment　and　admiration。　His　majesty　the　emperor；　in　the　letter
which　I　had　the　honor　of　delivering　to　you　some　time　ago；　told　you
already　in　eloquent　words　how　greatly　he　admired　the　conqueror　of
Italy；　and　how　gladly　his　majesty；　if　it　were　in　his　power；　would
grant　you　such　favors　as　would　be　agreeable　to　you。　But　at　that　time
you　rejected　all　such　offers；　general；　and　nothing　could　induce　you
to　accept　of　what　we　wished　to　present　to　you。　It　seemed　not　to　have
value　enough　to〃

〃Rather　say；　count；　it　was　all　too　valuable　not　to　be　looked　upon　as
a　bribe；〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte。　〃I　was　negotiating　with　you；　sword　in
hand；　and　it　would　not　have　been　becoming　of　me　to　lay　the　sword
aside　in　order　to　fill　my　hands　with　your　presents。〃

〃But　now；　general；　now　that　we　have　laid　the　sword　aside；　that　we
have　made　peace；　that　we　have　exchanged　the　ratifications　of　the
treatynow　that　you　tender　your　hand　to　Austria　in　friendship　and
peace；　you　might　permit　his　majesty　the　Emperor　of　Austria　to
deposit　something　in　your　friendly　hand；　that　might　prove　to　you　how
sincerely　my　august　master　the　emperor　is　devoted　to　you。〃

〃And　what　does　the　emperor　desire　to　deposit　in　my　hand？〃　asked
Bonaparte；　with　a　quiet　smile。

Count　Cobenzl　hesitated　a　little　before　making　a　reply。　〃General；〃
he　then　said；　〃when　I　see　you　thus　before　me　in　your　marble　beauty；
I　am　involuntarily　reminded　of　the　heroes　of　Rome　and　Greece；　who
have　immortalized　the　glory　of　their　countries；　but　whom　the
admiration　of　posterity　had　to　compensate　for　the　ingratitude　of
their　contemporaries。　General；　republics　never　were　grateful　to
their　great　men；　and　only　too　often　have　they　stigmatized　their　most
glorious　deeds；　for　the　republics　deprecated　the　greatness　of　their
heroes；　because　he　who　distinguished　himself；　thereby　annulled　the
equality　and　fraternity　of　all　the　citizens。　Pericles　was　banished
from　Athens；　and　Julius　Caesar　was　assassinated！　General；　will
modern　republics　be　more　grateful　than　those　of　antiquity？　For　my
part；　I　dare　say；　it　is　rather　doubtful；　and　the　French　being
descendants　of　the　Romans；　I　am　afraid　they　will　not　prove　any　more
grateful　than　the　latter。　The　emperor；　my　august　master；　shares　my
fears；　and　as　he　loves　and　venerates　you；　he　would　like　to　exalt　you
so　high　as　to　prevent　the　hands　of　the　political　factions　from
reaching　up　to　you。　His　majesty　therefore　proposes　to　create　a
principality　for　you　in　Germany；　and　to　make　you　the　sovereign　ruler
of　two　hundred　thousand　people；　appointing　you　at　the　same　time　a
prince　of　the　German　empire；　and　giving　you　a　seat　and　vote　at　the
imperial　diet。　＇Footnote：　Historical。Vide　〃Memoires　d'un　Homme
d'Etat；〃　vol。　V。；　p。　67。＇　General；　do　you　accept　my　emperor's
offer？〃

〃To　become　the　emperor's　vassal？〃　asked　Bonaparte；　with　an
imperceptible　smile。　〃A　small　prince　of　the　German　empire　who　on
solemn　occasions　might　be　deemed　worthy　to　present　the　wash…basin　to
the　emperor；　or　to　be　his　train　bearer；　while　every　king　and　elector
would　outrank　me。　No；　my　dear　count；　I　do　not　accept　the　offer。　I
sincerely　thank　the　emperor　for　the　interest　he　takes　in　my　welfare；
but　I　must　accept　no　gifts　or　favors　not　coming　directly　from　the
French　nation；　and　I　shall　always　be　satisfied　with　the　income
bestowed　upon　me　by　the　latter；〃　＇Footnote：　Bonaparte's　own　reply。
Vide　〃Memoires　d'un　Homme　d'Etat；〃　vol。　V。；　p。　51。＇

〃You　reject　the　emperor's　offer？〃　asked　Cobenzl；　mournfully〃you
disdain　wearing　a　crown？〃

〃If　the　crown　should　crush　the　few　laurels　with　which　my　victories
have　adorned　me；　yes；　in　that　case　I　should　prefer　to　decline　the
crown　in　favor　of　my　laurels。　And；　my　dear　count；　if　I　had　been　so
anxious　for　a　crown；　I　might　have　picked　up　one　of　those　crowns　that
fell　down　at　my　feet　in　Italy。　But　I　preferred　to　crush　them　un