I might answer,
in order to know who he is, you must be he. I can only say to you
that, so far as I am able to judge him, he is one of those men with
whom Nature groans, and only brings forth in a century."
Had Junot not replied to his father, the deeds of the young general
would soon have done so. Presently, in all France, in all Italy,
yes, in all Europe, there was not a man who could ask, "Who is
General Bonaparte?" His name was in every mouth, and the soldiers
adored the man who had stood victoriously at their head at Lodi and
Milan, and borne the banner forward amid the murderous shower of
balls at the bridge of Arcoli. Diplomatists and statesmen wondered
at him who had taken Venice, and compelled proud and hated Austria
to make peace with the French republic, which had brought Marie
Antoinette to the scaffold. The republicans and the Directory of the
republic feared Bonaparte, because they recognized an enemy of the
republic in him, and dreaded his growing power and increasing
renown.
On this account General Bonaparte was recalled from the Italian army
after peace had been made with Austria, and he returned to Paris.
Still he was so feared that the Directory of the republic, in order
to remove him, and at the same time to give occupation to his active
spirit and his splendid abilities, proposed to Bonaparte to go with
an army to Egypt, and extend the glory of France to the distant
East.
Pages:
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780