第475章

第475章napoleonwasexperiencingthebitterfeelingofaluckygambler，who，afterrecklesslystakinghismoneyandalwayswinning，suddenlyfinds，preciselywhenhehascarefullyreckonedupallcontingencies，thatthemoreheconsidershiscourse，themorecertainheisoflosing.

thesoldierswerethesame，thegeneralsthesame，therehadbeenthesamepreparations，thesamedisposition，thesameproclamation，“courteténergique.”hewashimselfthesame，—heknewthat；heknewthathewasmoreexperiencedandskilfulindeednowthanhehadbeenofold.theenemyevenwasthesameasatausterlitzandfriedland.buttheirresistiblewaveofhishandseemedrobbedofitsmightbymagic.

alltheoldman？uvresthathadinvariablybeencrownedwithess：theconcentrationofthebatteryononepoint，andtheadvanceofthereservestobreaktheline，andthecavalryattackof“menofiron，”alltheseresourceshadbeenemployed；andfarfromvictorybeingsecure，fromallsidesthesametidingskeptpouringinofkilledorwoundedgenerals，ofreinforcementsneeded，ofthetroopsbeingindisorder，andtherussiansimpossibletomove.

hitherto，aftertwoorthreeordersbeinggiven，twoorthreephrasesdelivered，marshalsandadjutantshadgallopedupwithradiantfacesandcongratulations，announcingthecaptureastrophiesofwholecorpsofprisoners，ofbundlesofflagsandeagles，ofcannonsandstores，andmurathadaskedleavetoletthecavalrygotocapturetheage.soithadbeenatlodi，marengo，arcole，jena，austerlitz，wagram，andsoon，andsoon.butnowsomethingstrangewascomingoverhismen.

inspiteofthenewsofthecaptureoftheflèches，napoleonsawthatthingswerenotthesame，notatallthesameasatpreviousbattles.hesawthatwhathewasfeeling，allthemenroundhim，experiencedinmilitarymatters，werefeelingtoo.alltheirfacesweregloomy；allavoidedeachothers’eyes.itwasonlyabeaussetwhocouldfailtograsptheimportofwhatwashappening.napoleonafterhislongexperienceofwarknewverywellallthatwasmeantbyanessfulattackaftereighthours’strainingeverypossibleeffort.heknewthatthiswasalmostequivalenttoadefeat，andthatthemerestchancemightnow，inthecriticalpointthebattlewasin，betheoverthrowofhimselfandhistroops.

whenhewentoverinhisownmindallthisstrangerussiancampaign，inwhichnotasinglevictoryhadbeengained，inwhichnotaflag，noracannon，noracorpshadbeentakenintwomonths，whenhelookedattheconcealedgloominthefacesroundhim，andheardreportsthattherussiansstillheldtheirground—aterriblefeeling，suchasisexperiencedinanightmare，cameoverhim，andalltheunluckycontingenciesoccurredtohimthatmightbehisruin.therussiansmightfalluponhisleftwing，mightbreakthroughhiscentre；astrayballmightevenkillhimself.allthatwaspossible.inhisformerbattleshehadonlyconsideredthepossibilitiesofess，nowanimmensenumberofunluckychancespresentedthemselves，andheexpectedthemall.yes，itwaslikeanightmare，whenamandreamsthatanassailantisattackinghim，andinhisdreamheliftsuphisarmanddealsablowwithaforceathisassailantthatheknowsmustcrushhim，andfeelsthathisarmfallslimpandpowerlessasarag，andthehorrorofinevitabledeathcomesuponhiminhishelplessness.

thenewsthattherussianswereattackingtheleftflankofthefrencharmyarousedthathorrorinnapoleon.hesatinsilenceonacamp-stoolundertheredoubt，hiselbowsonhisknees，andhisheadsunkinhishands.berthiercameuptohimandestedthattheyshouldinspectthelinestoascertainthepositionofaffairs.

“what？whatdoyousay？”saidnapoleon.“yes，tellthemtobringmyhorse.”hemountedahorseandrodetosemyonovskoye.

intheslowlypartingsmoke，overthewholeplainthroughwhichnapoleonrode，menandhorses，singlyandinheaps，werelyinginpoolsofblood.suchafearfulspectacle，sogreatamassofkilledinsosmallaspace，hadneverbeenseenbynapoleonnoranyofhisgenerals.theroarofthecannonthathadnotceasedfortenhours，exhaustedtheearandgaveapeculiarcharactertothespectacle（likemusicaccompanyinglivingpictures）.napoleonrodeuptotheheightofsemyonovskoye，andthroughthesmokehesawranksofsoldiersinuniformsofunfamiliarhues.theyweretherussians.

therussiansstoodinserriedranksbehindsemyonovskoyeandtheredoubt，andtheirgunskeptupanincessantroarandsmokeallalongtheirlines.itwasnotabattle.itwasaprolongedmassacre，whichcouldbeofnoavaileithertofrenchorrussians.napoleonpulleduphishorse，andsankagainintothebroodingreveriefromwhichberthierhadrousedhim.hecouldnotstaythatthingthatwasbeingdonebeforehimandabouthim，andthatwasregardedasbeingledbyhimandasdependingonhim，thatthingforthefirsttime，afterilless，struckhimassuperfluousandhorrible.oneofthegenerals，ridinguptonapoleon，venturedtoesttohimthattheoldguardsshouldadvanceintoaction.neyandberthier，standingcloseby，exchangedglancesandsmiledcontemptuouslyatthewildestionofthisgeneral.

napoleonsatmutewithdowncasthead.

“eighthundredleaguesfromfrance，iamnotgoingtoletmyguardbedestroyed，”hesaid，andturninghishorse，herodebacktoshevardino.