the matches were uplifted, when Murat, dashing forward, cried aloud,
"Reserve your fire; there is nothing to fear!"

The same instant the Austrian officers were surrounded; the sappers
rushing on the bridge cleared away the combustibles, and cut off the
trains; and the cavalry, till now in concealment, pushing forward at a
gallop, crossed the bridge, followed by the grenadiers in a run,--before
the Austrians, who saw their own officers mingled with the French, could
decide on what was to be done,--while Murat, springing on his horse,
dashed forward at the head of the dragoons; and before five minutes
elapsed the battery was stormed, the gunners captured, and Vienna won.

Never was there a _coup de main_ more hardy than this, whether we look
to the danger of the deed itself, or the insignificant force by which it
was accomplished. A few horsemen and some companies of foot, led on
by an heroic chief, thus turned the whole fortune of Europe; for, by
securing this bridge, Napoleon enabled himself, as circumstances might
warrant, to unite the different corps of his army on the right or
left banks of the Danube, and either direct his operations against the
Russians, or the Austrians under the Archduke Charles, as he pleased.

The treachery by which the bold deed was made successful, was, alas!
deemed no stain on the achievement. But one rule of judgment existed in
the Imperial army: Was the advantage on the side of France, and to the
honor of her arms? That covered every flaw, no matter whether inflicted
by duplicity or breach of faith. The habit of healing all wounds of
conscience by a bulletin had become so general, that men would not trust
to the guidance of their own reason till confirmed by some Imperial
proclamation; and when the Emperor declared a battle gained and glory
achieved, who would gainsay him? If this blind, headlong confidence
tended to lower the _morale_ of the nation, in an equal degree did it
make them conquerors in the field; and thus--by a strange decree of
Providence, would it seem--were they preparing for themselves the
terrible reverse of fortune which, when the destinies of their leader
became clouded and their confidence in him shaken, was to fall on a
people who lived only in the mad intoxication of victory, and knew not
the sterner virtues that can combat with defeat.

But so was it. Napoleon commanded the legions and described their
achievements; he led them to the charge and he apportioned