Section 157. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. II.
Reading edition
In the plenitude of his resources every obstacle seemed to vanish. “There[1] shall be no Alps,” he said; and he built his perfect roads[2], climbing[3] by graded galleries their steepest precipices, until Italy was[4] as open to Paris as any town[5] in France. Having (S. 55, N. 1) decided what was to be done, he did that with[6] might and main. He[7] put out all his strength. He risked everything, and spared[8] nothing; neither ammunition, nor money, nor[9] troops, nor generals, nor[10] himself. If fighting[11] be the best mode of adjusting national differences (as[12] large majorities of men seem to agree), certainly Bonaparte was right in making it thorough[13].
He fought[14] sixty battles. He had never enough. Each victory was a new weapon. “My power would fall[15], were I not to support it by new achievements. Conquest has[16] made me what I am, and conquest must maintain me.”
Before[17] he fought a battle, Bonaparte thought[18] little about what he should do in[18] case of success, but a great deal about what he should do in case of a reverse of fortune. The same prudence and good sense marked[19] all his behaviour[20]. His instructions[21] to his secretary at the palace are worth[22] remembering. He said: “During the night enter my chamber as seldom as possible. Do not awake me when you have any good news to communicate[23]; with[24] that there is no hurry; but when you have bad news, rouse me instantly, for then there is not a moment to be lost.” His[25] achievement of business was immense, and[26] enlarges the known power of man. There have been (S. 82, N. 7) many working kings, from Ulysses to[27] William of Orange[28], but[29] none who accomplished a tithe of this man’s performance.—Emerson.