The Portland daily press., 1880-03-06
THE PRESS.
The Imperial Actor.
[From the French of Alfred de vigny. ]


sudden arrival of the Emperor. You know
that, just as the flash of the cannon is seen
before the report is heard, so we always
saw him at the same time that we heard the
signal OF his approach, so quick were his
movements, and in such haste did he seem
to be to live and to crowd his actions one
upon another. When he entered the court
yard of palace on horseback, his attend
ants could hardly keep up with him, and
the guard could not take up arms to salute
him before he had already dismounted and
was ascending the staircase. On this occa-
sion heard his footsteps at the same mo-
ment as the drums. l had but just time to
throw myself into the alcove of a large un-
used state bed that had royal balustrade in
front of it and was, happily, more than half
closed by curtains, embroidered with bees.
The Emperor was much agitated He
walked alone into the room, with an air of
impatient expectation; bestrode its length
thrice in one instant, and then went to the
window and began drumming a march on
the panes. Another carriage rolled into the
courtyard. He stopped his DEVILS tattoo,
stamped his feet two or three times as if
irritated at the sight of something done slow
ly, and then went hastily to the door and
opened it to the Pope.
Plus VII. ente.ed alone. Bonaparte has
tened to shut the door with the promptness
of a gaoler. / felt much alarmed, I must
own, at finding myself alone with two such
personages. l remained, however, silent
and motionless. looking and listening with
all my faculties.
The Pope was tall, his face was long, sal
low and expressive of suffering, but at the
same time, also of sanity nobleness and
unlimited goodness. His black eyes were
large and beautiful. His lips were parted
by benevolent smile, to which his promi-
nent chin gave an expression of finesse at
once very intelligent and very animated.
smile in which there was nothing of politi-
cal craft, but which was made up of Chris
tian benevolence. A white skull-cap COW
cred his long hair, which was black,
but which had broad streaks of sill
yer in it. A long cape of red velvet was
carelessly thrown over his bent shoulders,
and his gown trailed about his feet. He en-
tered slowly, with the calm and measured
gait of an aged woman. With downcast
eyes he seated himself in one of the large
Roman chairs gilded and with richly carved
arms. and waited for what the other Italian
would say to him.
What a scene! What scene! see it
still! 1t was not the genius of the man that
it showed me. but his character; and if it
did not display his intellectual greatness, at
any rate it manifested what was en- his
heart.
Bonaparte was not then what he became
later; he had not yet the prominent stomach
OF a financier, the sickly, puffy countenance
the equity legs, all that infirm corpulence
which art has unfortunately seized upon to
convert into type, as we say nowadays, and
which has left of him in the public eve an
indescribable shape, boih popular and gre
tesque, which might serve as the model of a
child's toy, and which will one day trans
form him into something as fabulous and
impossible as theashapeless punchinello. He
was not thus then; but vigorous and supple,
active, quick, slim, convulsive in his ges-
lures, graceful in some of his movements,
studiously elegant in his manners; his chest
fiat and receding into his shoulders, his face
thin and melancholy.
He did not cease his walking about the
room when the Pope entered. He then be-
gan prowling about the armchair like a
sportsman in search of game, and stopping
suddenly in front of the Pontiff in the stiff
and immovable attitude of corporal, he
said:
II repeat to you, Holy Father, am no
free thinker, l, and do not like dialecti-
spite OF my old Republicans, will go to
mass"
He threw these last words abruptly at the
Pope, as though swinging incense into his
face, and then waited to see the effect. think
ing that the somewhat impious circum-
stances which had preceded the interview
ought to give this sudden frank avowal an
extraordinary value. The Pope cast down
his eyes, and placed his two hands over the
eagles heads that formed the arms of his
chair. He seemed to say clearly by this at
titude of a Roman statue:
Il resign myself beforehand to listen to
all the profane things it may please him to
say to me-"
Bonaparte walked round the room and
round the armchair which stood in the mid
dle,I and saw by the side glance that he cast
on the old Pontiff that lie was not pleased
either wish himself or with his adversary.
and that he reproached himself with having
made an unskillful start in the conversation.
He began, therefore, talking as he walked
round and round, throwing furtiye but
piercing glances in the mirrors of the apart
ment in which the face of the Holy Father
was reflected, looking at him in profile,
when he passed near him, but never facing
him, lest he would seem too anxious as to
the effect of his words.
There is one thing, Holy Father" he
said, (which pains me, and that is, that YOU
consent to the coronation in the same way
that you did to the concordat; as if YOU
were forced to do it, You assume an air of
martyrdom. you look the picture of resigna-
ton; as if offering your sufferings to heaven!
But in truth that is not your position-you
are not prisoner, pardieu! you are as free
as airv'
Plus VII. smiled sadly and looked him in
the face. He felt how prodigiously exacting
vas this despot to whom, as to all those Of
like nature, it was not enough to be obeyed
unless it were done with the air of having
ardently desired what he commanded.
YES" resumed Bonaparte with more en-
ergy, ''you are free, certainly; you can re-
turn to Rome; the way is open; no one de-
tains you.'
The Pope sighed and raised his right hand
and his eyes to heaven without answer
ing; then very slowly turned once more his
withered face and began contemplating the
gold cross that hung from his neck.
Bonaparte continued moving round and
round more slowly. His voice became soft
and his smile extremely gracious.
'Holy Father, were it not for the serious
ness of your character, l should say YOU
were somewhat ungrateful.' You do mot
seem sufficiently to remember the good SER
vices that France has rendered you. The
Conclave of Venice which elected you
Pope, seems to me a little as though it had
been inspired by my campaign in Italy, and
by word that / said about you. Austria
did not treat you well then, and was
much distressed by it. Your Holiness was,
think ,obliged to return by sea to Rome for
want OF permission to pass through the
Austrian territory"
He paused. awaiting the answer of his 81
lent guest; but Plus VII. bowed his head
almost imperceptibly, and remained as if in
too great scate of detection to listen even
to what was being said. Bonaparte then
pushed chair with his foot near to the
armchair of the Pope. trembled, for in
coming to get the chair his epulette grazed
the curtain of the alcove where 1 was hid
den.
"It was, indeed" he continued, Gas
Catholic that it distressed me. l have new
er had time to study theology much, but l
still have great faith in the power of the
Church. She has prodigious vitality, Holy
Father. Voltaire, it is tr1e, injured you
little; but do not like him, and intend to