Napoleon Bonaparte, Commander in Chief of the French Army in Italy, Before His Attack on Milan, April 26, 1796 - Abridgment Series
Gregg Zegarelli Esq.
Managing Shareholder at Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Group, PC
Following is a speech by the Magnificent Napoleon Bonaparte sourced from The Columbian Orator. [1, 2] I was reminded me of this speech this morning, because I saw a television clip of retribution fear mongering by one candidate in the presidential election about the other candidate. I found this claim about the unknown future particularly interesting if not blatantly hypocritical based upon actual respective historical events.
There is an adage, "When you conquer a people, do not rape the women." Why?
From a strategic perspective, conquering is force, but governing is seduction. One pushes and one pulls. A man will die or be enslaved before consenting to the rape of his wife or daughter, and he will never ever forget it. He will refuse to be governed and he will take resources to watch and to constrain. He will seethe and begrudge, which will manifest in objection and revolt, sooner or later. [3, 4] No less for the women, of course. For men and women both, it is foolish to injure what you will need to lead. Discipline is an investment in leadership and governance.
Lincoln and Napoleon studied their Caesar, and their Shakespeare. Like the Gettysburg Address and Patrick Henry's Give Liberty or Death speech [5], the following speech is a potpourri of literary devices.
Better yet, not only does Napoleon's speech demonstrate technical literary devices to be admired by students of the art, but it also demonstrates the distinction between conquering and governing. Governing requires wisdom and discipline, the understanding and negotiation of context. [6]
Retribution is bad politics, if not less than smart, particularly in a diverse, free and free-thinking society. [7, 8]
SO LET US BEHOLD THE MAGIFICENT GENERAL NAPOLEAN BONAPARTE; TO WIT:
SOLDIERS, DEPRIVED OF EVERYTHING, you have supplied everything.
You have won battles without cannon; made forced marches without shoes; watched without brandy, and often without bread. The grateful country will, in part, be indebted to you for her prosperity.
The two armies which attacked you with audacity, fly disheartened before you.
Men, who smiled at your misery, and rejoiced in thought at the idea of the triumphs of your enemies, are confounded and appalled.
But it must not, soldiers, be concealed from you, that you have done nothing since something remains yet to be done.
Neither Turin nor Milan are in your power. The ashes of the conquerors of the Tarquins, are still disgraced by the assassins of Basseville. At the commencement of the campaign you were destitute of everything; now you are amply provided; the magazines taken from your enemies are numerous; the artillery for the field and for besieging is arrived.
Soldiers, the country has a right to expect great things from you; justify her expectations.
The greatest obstacles are undoubtedly overcome; but you have still battles to fight, cities to take, rivers to pass.
Is there one among you whose courage is diminished? Is there one who would prefer returning to the summits of the Alps and the Apennines? No.
All burn with desire of extending the glory of the French; to humble the proud kings who dare to meditate putting us again in chains; to dictate a peace that shall be glorious, and that shall indemnify the country for the immense sacrifices which she has made. All of you burn with a desire to say on your return home, "I belonged to the victorious army of Italy."
Friends, I promise this conquest to you; but there is one condition which you must swear to fulfill.
It is to respect the people whom you deliver; to repress the horrible pillage which some wretches, instigated by our enemies, had practiced.
Unless you do this, you will no longer be the friends, but the scourges of the human race; you will no longer form the honor of the French people. They will disavow you.
Your victories, your successes, the blood of your brethren who died in battle; all, even honor and glory, will be lost.
With respect to myself; to the generals who possess your confidence, we shall blush to command an army without discipline, and who admit no other law than that of force.
People of Italy, the French army comes to break your chains; the French people are the friends of all people; come with confidence to them; your property, religion, and customs, shall be respected.
领英推荐
We make war as generous enemies; and wish only to make war against the tyrants who oppress you.
Source: The Columbian Orator?presents 84 selections, most of which are notable examples of oratory on such subjects as nationalism, religious faith, individual liberty, freedom, and slavery, including pieces by Washington, Franklin, Milton, Socrates, and Cicero, as well as heroic poetry and dramatic dialogues. Augmenting these is an essay on effective public speaking which influenced Abraham Lincoln as a young politician.
"Vincens vis est, gubernans autem seducit." ("Conquering is force, but governing is seduction."); "Cum populum viceris, feminas non rape." ("When you conquer a people, do not rape the women."); "Disciplina est collocatio in ductu et gubernatione." ("Discipline is an investment is leadership and governance.") ~ grz
* Gregg Zegarelli, Esq., earned both his Bachelor of Arts Degree and his Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His dual major areas of study were History from the College of Liberal Arts and Accounting from the Business School (qualified to sit for the CPA examination), with dual minors in Philosophy and Political Science. He has enjoyed Adjunct Professorships in the Duquesne University Graduate Leadership Master Degree Program (The Leader as Entrepreneur; Developing Leadership Character Through Adversity) and the University of Pittsburgh Law School (The Anatomy of a Deal). He is admitted to various courts throughout the United States of America.
Gregg Zegarelli, Esq.,?is Managing Shareholder of Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Group, PC.?Gregg is nationally rated as "superb" and has more than 35 years of experience working with entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes, including startups,?INC. 500, and publicly traded companies.?He is author of One: The Unified Gospel of Jesus, and The Business of Aesop? article series, and co-author with his father, Arnold Zegarelli, of The Essential Aesop: For Business, Managers, Writers and Professional Speakers. Gregg is a frequent lecturer, speaker and faculty for a variety of educational and other institutions.
? 2024 Gregg Zegarelli, Esq. Gregg can be contacted through LinkedIn.
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