thrown back within the frontiers
of 1789, alone, diminished in the midst of its aggrandized neighbors,
suspected by all Europe, and lastingly surrounded by a threatening
circle of distrust and rancor.

Such is the political work of Napoleon, the work of egoism served
by genius. In his European structure as in his French structure this
sovereign egoism has introduced a vice of construction. This fundamental
vice is manifest at the outset in the European edifice, and, at the
expiration of fifteen years, it brings about a sudden downfall: in the
French edifice it is equally serious but not so apparent; only at the
end of half a century, or even a whole century, is it to be made clearly
visible; but its gradual and slow effects will be equally pernicious and
they are no less sure.

*****

[Footnote 1201: See my "Philosophy of Art" for texts and facts, Part
II., ch. VI.--Other analogies, which are too long for development here,
may be found, especially in all that concerns the imagination and
love. "He was disposed to accept the marvelous, presentiments, and even
certain mysterious communications between beings.... I have seen him
excited by the rustling of the wind, speak enthusiastically of the roar
of the sea, and sometimes inclined to believe in nocturnal apparitions;
in short, leaning to certain superstitions." (Madame de Remusat, I.,
102, and III., 164.)--Meneval (III., 114) notes his "crossing himself
involuntarily on the occurrence of some great danger, on the discovery
of some important fact." During the consulate, in the evening, in a
circle of ladies, he sometimes improvised and declaimed tragic "tales,"
Italian fashion, quite worthy of the story-tellers of the XVth and XVIth
centuries. (Bourrienne, VI., 387, gives one of his improvisations.
Cf. Madame de Remusat, I., 102.)--As to love, his letters to Josephine
during the Italian campaign form one of the best examples of Italian
passion and "in most piquant contrast with the temperate and graceful
elegance of his predecessor M. de Beauharnais." (Madame de Remusat,
I., 143).--His other amours, simply physical, are too difficult to deal
with; I have gathered some details orally on this subject which are
almost from first hands and perfectly authentic. It is sufficient to
cite one text already published: "According to Josephine, he had no
moral principle whatever; did he not seduce his sisters one after the
other? "--"I am not a man like other men, he said of