Domestic Peace.docx

Domestic Peace.docx

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DomesticPeace

DomesticPeacebyHonoredeBalzacTranslatedbyEllenMarriageandClaraBellDedicatedtomydearnieceValentineSurville.

TheincidentrecordedinthissketchtookplacetowardstheendofthemonthofNovember,1809,themomentwhenNapoleon'sfugitiveempireattainedtheapogeeofitssplendor.Thetrumpet-blastsofWagramwerestillsoundinganechointheheartoftheAustrianmonarchy.PeacewasbeingsignedbetweenFranceandtheCoalition.Kingsandprincescametoperformtheirorbits,likestars,roundNapoleon,whogavehimselfthepleasureofdraggingallEuropeinhistrain--amagnificentexperimentinthepowerheafterwardsdisplayedatDresden.Never,ascontemporariestellus,didParisseeentertainmentsmoresuperbthanthosewhichprecededandfollowedthesovereign'smarriagewithanAustrianarchduchess.Never,inthemostsplendiddaysoftheMonarchy,hadsomanycrownedheadsthrongedtheshoresoftheSeine,neverhadtheFrencharistocracybeensorichorsosplendid.Thediamondslavishlyscatteredoverthewomen'sdresses,andthegoldandsilverembroideryontheuniformscontrastedsostronglywiththepenuryoftheRepublic,thatthewealthoftheglobeseemedtoberollingthroughthedrawing-roomsofParis.IntoxicationseemedtohaveturnedthebrainsofthisEmpireofaday.Allthemilitary,notexceptingtheirchief,reveledlikeparvenusinthetreasureconqueredforthembyamillionmenwithworstedepaulettes,whosedemandsweresatisfiedbyafewyardsofredribbon.

AtthistimemostwomenaffectedthatlightnessofconductandfacilityofmoralswhichdistinguishedthereignofLouisXV.Whetheritwereinimitationofthetoneofthefallenmonarchy,orbecausecertainmembersoftheImperialfamilyhadsettheexample--ascertainmalcontentsoftheFaubourgSaint-Germainchosetosay--itiscertainthatmenandwomenalikeflungthemselvesintoalifeofpleasurewithanintrepiditywhichseemedtoforbodetheendoftheworld.Buttherewasatthattimeanothercauseforsuchlicense.Theinfatuationofwomenforthemilitarybecameafrenzy,andwastooconsonanttotheEmperor'sviewsforhimtotrytocheckit.Thefrequentcallstoarms,whichgaveeverytreatyconcludedbetweenNapoleonandtherestofEuropethecharacterofanarmistice,lefteverypassionopentoaterminationassuddenasthedecisionsoftheCommander-in-chiefofallthesebusbys,pelisses,andaiguillettes,whichsofascinatedthefairsex.Heartswereasnomadicastheregiments.BetweenthefirstandfifthbulletinsfromtheGrandarmeeawomanmightbeinsuccessionmistress,wife,mother,andwidow.

Wasittheprospectofearlywidowhood,thehopeofajointure,orthatofbearinganamepromisedtohistory,whichmadethesoldierssoattractive?

Werewomendrawntothembythecertaintythatthesecretoftheirpassionswouldbeburiedonthefieldofbattle?

ormaywefindthereasonofthisgentlefanaticisminthenoblecharmthatcouragehasforawoman?

Perhapsallthesereasons,whichthefuturehistorianofthemannersoftheEmpirewillnodoubtamusehimselfbyweighing,countedforsomethingintheirfacilereadinesstoabandonthemselvestoloveintrigues.Bethatasitmay,itmustherebeconfessedthatatthattimelaurelshidmanyerrors,womenshowedanardentpreferenceforthebraveadventurers,whomtheyregardedasthetruefountofhonor,wealth,orpleasure;andintheeyesofyounggirls,anepaulette--thehieroglyphicofafuture--signifiedhappinessandliberty.

Onefeature,andacharacteristicone,ofthisuniqueperiodinourhistorywasanunbridledmaniaforeverythingglittering.Neverwerefireworkssomuchinvogue,neverwerediamondssohighlyprized.Themen,asgreedyasthewomenofthesetranslucentpebbles,displayedthemnolesslavishly.Possiblythenecessityforcarryingplunderinthemostportableformmadegemsthefashioninthearmy.Amanwasnotridiculousthen,ashewouldbenow,ifhisshirt-frillorhisfingersblazedwithlargediamonds.Murat,anOrientalbynature,settheexampleofpreposterousluxurytomodernsoldiers.

TheComtedeGondreville,formerlyknownasCitizenMalin,whoseelevationhadmadehimfamous,havingbecomeaLucullusoftheConservativeSenate,which"conserved"nothing,hadpostponedanentertainmentinhonorofthepeaceonlythathemightthebetterpayhiscourttoNapoleonbyhiseffortstoeclipsethoseflattererswhohadbeenbefore-handwithhim.TheambassadorsfromallthePowersfriendlywithFrance,withaneyetofavorstocome,themostimportantpersonagesoftheEmpire,andevenafewprinces,wereatthishourassembledinthewealthysenator'sdrawing-rooms.Dancingflagged;everyonewaswatchingfortheEmperor,whosepresencetheCounthadpromisedhisguests.AndNapoleonwouldhavekepthiswordbutforthescenewhichhadbrokenoutthatveryevenin