colonels take a
look at their corps at ten; the _chefs de bataillon_ at nine; and,
_parbleu!_the corporals are at work by daybreak. Then, what confounded
drilling and dressing up, as if Napoleon could detect the slightest
waving of the line over two leagues of ground; while you see the
luckless adjutants flying hither and thither, cursing, imprecating,
and threatening, and hastily reiterating at the head of each company,
'Remember, men, be sure to remember, that when the drums beat to arms,
you shout "Vive l'Empereur!"' Rely upon it, Burke, if we had but one
half of these preparations before a battle, we 'd not be the dangerous
fellows those Russians and Austrians think us."

"Come, come," said I, "you shall not persuade me that the soldiers feel
no pride on these occasions. The same men who fight so valiantly for
their Emperor--"

"Stop there, I beg of you," said he, bursting into a fit of laughter.
"I must really cry halt now. So long as you live, my dear friend, let
nothing induce you to repeat that worn cant, 'Fight for their Emperor!'
Why, they fought as bravely for Turenne, and Villars, and Marechal Saxe;
they were as full of courage under Moreau, and Kleber, and Desaix, and
Hoche; ay, and will be again when the Emperor is no more, and Heaven
knows who stands in his place. The genius of a French army is fighting,
not for gain, nor plunder, nor even for glory, so much as for fighting
itself; and he is the best man who gives them most of it. What reduced
the reckless hordes of the Revolution to habits of discipline and
obedience but the warlike spirit of their leaders, whose bravery they
respected? And think you Napoleon himself does not feel this in his
heart, and know the necessity of continual war to feed the insatiable
appetite of his followers? In a word, my friend," added he, in a tone of
mock solemnity, "we are a great people; and Nature intended us to be so
by giving us a language in which _Gloire_ rhymes with _Victoire_. And
now for the march, for I fancy we are late enough already."

There are few sources of annoyance more poignant than to discover any
illusion we have long indulged in assailed by the sneers and sarcasms
of another, who assumes a tone of superior wisdom on the faith of a
difference of opinion. The mass of our likings and dislikings find their
way into our heart more from impulse than reason, and when attacked are
scarcely defensible by any effort of the understanding. This very fact
ren