Napoleon passed slowly round the square and inspected the ranks, man by man, looking intently into the scarred and war-worn, weather-beaten old faces, each one of which was familiar to him. Their station on every battlefield had been close at hand to where he took up his post. Night after night, in every campaign from Austerlitz to those last dreadful weeks, he had slept in their midst; his tent always pitched in the centre of the camp of the Imperial Guard. That had been Napoleon’s invariable custom in war. They had shared with him that last forlorn-hope march to save Paris, until, completely worn out and footsore, exhausted nature forbade their attempting to go farther. With tears streaming from their eyes the old soldiers, before whose bayonets in the charge no Continental foe had ever stood, mutely returned Napoleon’s last wistful, pathetic look of farewell.
He addressed a few touching words to them, standing in the centre of the square. Next he turned to General Petit, near at hand, and before them he took the general in his arms, as representing all, and kissed him on the cheek. “I cannot embrace you all,” exclaimed Napoleon in a voice broken with emotion, yet which all could hear distinctly, “so I embrace your General!” Then he motioned to the Porte-Aigle, standing all the while before him, with the Eagle held in the attitude of salute.
“Bring me the Eagle,” he said, “that I may embrace it also!” “Que m’apporte l’Aigle, que je l’embrasse aussi!” were Napoleon’s words.
The Porte-Aigle advanced and again inclined the Eagle forward to the Emperor. Napoleon took hold of it, embraced and kissed it three times, tears in his eyes, and displaying the deepest emotion.
NAPOLEON’S FAREWELL TO THE OLD GUARD AT FONTAINEBLEAU.
From a print after H. Vernet, kindly lent by Messrs. T. H. Parker, 45, Whitcomb Street.
“Ah, chère Aigle,” he exclaimed, “que les baisers que je te donne retentissent dans la postérité.”
The Eagle-bearer then stepped back a pace.
“Adieu, mes enfants! Adieu, mes braves! Entourez moi encore une fois!” were Napoleon’s closing words as the historic scene terminated.