Note 398 — Chapter XIII
Reading edition
"While the army was passing through Syria, there was scarcely a soldier but was heard to repeat these lines from Zaire:—
'Les Français sont las de chercher désormais Des climats que pour eux le destin n'a point faits, Ils n'abandonnent point leur fertile patrie Pour languir aux deserts de l'aride Arabie.'
When the men found themselves in the midst of the Desert, surrounded by the boundless ocean of sand, they began to question the generosity of their general; they thought he had observed singular moderation in having promised each of them only seven acres—'The rogue,' said they, 'might with safety give us as much as he pleases; we should not abuse his good-nature.'"—Las Cases, tom. i., p. 210.