ENTERTAINING TWO
EMPERORS: NAPOLEON AND ALEXANDER I
[As
told by Weimar painter Luise Seidler]
I
saw Tsar Alexander and Napoleon driving through the streets of Weimar in a
small open hunting carriage, Napoleon on the right side, Alexander on the left.
Napoleon had brought French actors with him. As a gallant gesture to Duchess
Louise, he had Racine’s The Death of
Caesar performed in Weimar. The tickets were not for sale, but handed out
by the court.
[An
acquaintance gave Luise his ticket]
As
each of the rulers entered, there was a drum roll befitting his rank. The stage
was carpeted. The play was performed without intermission. The curtain wasn’t
even lowered. The two emperors sat in red velvet chairs on a raised platform at
the front. To their right and left sat the kings of Wurttemberg, Westphalia,
Bavaria, and Saxony…and behind them the counts and dukes…diplomats and
generals. Starry medals glittered and ribbons glowed on the embroidered
uniforms. Everything was splendid and sumptuous.
[The
ladies sat in the loges and in the balcony.]
In
spite of the masterful performance, Napoleon fell asleep…the rest of the noble
audience made an effort not to offend against etiquette.
A day earlier there had been a hunt on the Ettersberg, which I also watched. A hall
had been erected on the plateau of the mountain and decorated with branches of
fir trees. They were festooned with red berries to lighten the gloomy dark
green. On three sides of the hall bleachers had been set up for the audience to
watch the proceedings. The monarchs stood at the open end of the hall, and
behind them hunters who loaded their guns. The quarry was driven past them within
shooting range. First came a beautiful doe. When the poor animal collapsed in
its blood, I felt so sad in my heart that I sobbed loudly and hurried back to
the city.
(Source:
Luise Seidler. Erinnerungen und Leben;
my trans.)
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