The Second Funeral of Napoleon
Page: 32

of the handsome swordsman those stubborn English "canaille" would
have given way. A king, Sire, is, you know, the greatest of
slaves--State affairs of consequence--his Majesty the King of Naples
is detained no doubt. When we last saw the King, however, and his
Highness the Prince of Elchingen, they looked to have as good health
as ever they had in their lives, and we heard each of them calmly
calling out "FIRE!" as they have done in numberless battles before.

Is it possible? can the Emperor forget? We don't like to break it
to him, but has he forgotten all about the farm at Pizzo, and the
garden of the Observatory? Yes, truly: there he lies on his golden
shield, never stirring, never so much as lifting his eyelids, or
opening his lips any wider.

O vanitas vanitatum! Here is our Sovereign in all his glory, and
they fired a thousand guns at Cherbourg and never woke him!


However, we are advancing matters by several hours, and you must
give just as much credence as you please to the subjoined remarks
concerning the Procession, seeing that your humble servant could not
possibly be present at it, being bound for the church elsewhere.

Programmes, however, have been published of the affair, and your
vivid fancy will not fail to give life to them, and the whole
magnificent train will pass before you.

Fancy then, that the guns are fired at Neuilly: the body landed at
daybreak from the funereal barge, and transferred to the car; and
fancy the car, a huge Juggernaut of a machine, rolling on four
wheels of an antique shape, which supported a basement adorned with
golden eagles, banners, laurels, and velvet hangings. Above the
hangings stand twelve golden statues with raised arms supporting a
huge shield, on which the coffin lay. On the coffin was the
imperial crown, covered with violet velvet crape, and the whole vast
machine was drawn by horses in superb housings, led by valets in the
imperial livery.

Fancy at the head of the procession first of all--


The Gendarmerie of the Seine, with their trumpets and Colonel.

The Municipal Guard (horse), with their trumpets, standard, and