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That figure stood for a long time wholly in the light； this arose from a certain legendary dimness evolved by the majority of heroes； and which always veils the truth for a longer or shorter time； but to…day history and daylight have arrived。
That light called history is pitiless； it possesses this peculiar and divine quality； that； pure light as it is； and precisely because it is wholly light； it often casts a shadow in places where people had hitherto beheld rays； from the same man it constructs two different phantoms； and the one attacks the other and executes justice on it； and the shadows of the despot contend with the brilliancy of the leader。 Hence arises a truer measure in the definitive judgments of nations。 Babylon violated lessens Alexander； Rome enchained lessens Caesar； Jerusalem murdered lessens Titus； tyranny follows the tyrant。 It is a misfortune for a man to leave behind him the night which bears his form。
BOOK FIRST。…WATERLOO
CHAPTER V
THE QUID OBSCURUM OF BATTLES
Every one is acquainted with the first phase of this battle； a beginning which was troubled； uncertain； hesitating； menacing to both armies； but still more so for the English than for the French。
It had rained all night； the earth had been cut up by the downpour； the water had accumulated here and there in the hollows of the plain as if in casks； at some points the gear of the artillery carriages was buried up to the axles； the circingles of the horses were dripping with liquid mud。
If the wheat and rye trampled down by this cohort of transports on the march had not filled in the ruts and strewn a litter beneath the wheels； all movement； particularly in the valleys； in the direction of Papelotte would have been impossible。
The affair began late。
Napoleon； as we have already explained； was in the habit of keeping all his artillery well in hand； like a pistol； aiming it now at one point； now at another； of the battle； and it had been his wish to wait until the horse batteries could move and gallop freely。
In order to do that it was necessary that the sun should e out and dry the soil。 But the sun did not make its appearance。
It was no longer the rendezvous of Austerlitz。
When the first cannon was fired； the English general； Colville； looked at his watch； and noted that it was thirty…five minutes past eleven。
The action was begun furiously； with more fury； perhaps； than the Emperor would have wished； by the left wing of the French resting on Hougomont。
At the same time Napoleon attacked the centre by hurling Quiot's brigade on La Haie…Sainte； and Ney pushed forward the right wing of the French against the left wing of the English； which rested on Papelotte。
The attack on Hougomont was something of a feint； the plan was to draw Wellington thither； and to make him swerve to the left。 This plan would have succeeded if the four panies of the English guards and the brave Belgians of Perponcher's division had not held the position solidly； and Wellington； instead of massing his troops there； could confine himself to despatching thither； as reinforcements； only four more panies of guards and one battalion from Brunswick。
The attack of the right wing of the French on Papelotte was calculated； in fact； to overthrow the English left； to cut off the road to Brussels； to bar the passage against possible Prussians； to force Mont…Saint…Jean； to turn Wellington back on Hougomont； thence on Braine…l'Alleud； thence on Hal； nothing easier。 With the exception of a few incidents this attack succeeded Papelotte was taken； La Haie…Sainte was carried。
A detail to be noted。
There was in the English infantry； particularly in Kempt's brigade； a great many raw recruits。
These young soldiers were valiant in the presence of our redoubtable infantry； their inexperience extricated them intrepidly from the dilemma； they performed particularly excellent service as skirmishers： the soldier skirmisher； left somewhat to himself； bees； so to speak； his own general。
These recruits displayed some of the French ingenuity and fury。
This novice of an infantry had dash。 This displeased Wellington。
After the taking of La Haie…Sainte the battle wavered。
There is in this day an obscure interval； from mid…day to four o'clock； the middle portion of this battle is almost indistinct； and participates in the sombreness of the hand…to…hand conflict。
Twilight reigns over it。
We perceive vast fluctuations in that fog； a dizzy mirage； paraphernalia of war almost unknown to…day； pendant colbacks； floating sabre…taches； cross…belts； cartridge…boxes for grenades； hussar dolmans； red boots with a thousand wrinkles； heavy shakos garlanded with torsades； the almost black infantry of Brunswick mingled with the scarlet infantry of England； the English soldiers with great； white circular pads on the slopes of their shoulders for epaulets； the Hanoverian light…horse with their oblong casques of leather； with brass hands and red horse…tails； the Scotch with their bare knees and plaids； the great white gaiters of our grenadiers； pictures； not strategic lineswhat Salvator Rosa requires； not what is suited to the needs of Gribeauval。
A certain amount of tempest is always mingled with a battle。 Quid obscurum； quid divinum。
Each historian traces； to some extent； the particular feature which pleases him amid this pellmell。 Whatever may be the binations of the generals； the shock of armed masses has an incalculable ebb。
During the action the plans of the two leaders enter into each other and bee mutually thrown out of shape。
Such a point of the field of battle devours more batants than such another； just as more or less spongy soils soak up more or less quickly the water which is poured on them。 It bees necessary to pour out more soldiers than one would like； a series of expenditures which are the unforeseen。
The line of battle waves and undulates like a thread； the trails of blood gush illogically； the fronts of the armies waver； the regiments form capes and gulfs as they enter and withdraw； all these reefs are continually moving in front of each other。
Where the infan