HadJunotnotrepliedtohisfather，thedeedsoftheyounggeneralwouldsoonhavedoneso。Presently，inallFrance，inallItaly，yes，inallEurope，therewasnotamanwhocouldask，“WhoisGeneralBonaparte？“Hisnamewasineverymouth，andthesoldiersadoredthemanwhohadstoodvictoriouslyattheirheadatLodiandMilan，andbornethebannerforwardamidthemurderousshowerofballsatthebridgeofArcoli。DiplomatistsandstatesmenwonderedathimwhohadtakenVenice，andcompelledproudandhatedAustriatomakepeacewiththeFrenchrepublic，whichhadbroughtMarieAntoinettetothescaffold。TherepublicansandtheDirectoryoftherepublicfearedBonaparte，becausetheyrecognizedanenemyoftherepublicinhim，anddreadedhisgrowingpowerandincreasingrenown。
OnthisaccountGeneralBonapartewasrecalledfromtheItalianarmyafterpeacehadbeenmadewithAustria，andhereturnedtoParis。
StillhewassofearedthattheDirectoryoftherepublic，inordertoremovehim，andatthesametimetogiveoccupationtohisactivespiritandhissplendidabilities，proposedtoBonapartetogowithanarmytoEgypt，andextendthegloryofFrancetothedistantEast。
BonaparteenteredwithallhisfierynatureintothisideawhichBarrasandTalleyrandhadsoughttoinveiglehiminto，andallhistime，histhoughts，andhisenergiesweredirectedtotheonepurpose，tofithimselfoutwitheverythingthatshouldbeneedfultobringtoavictoriousendalongandstubbornwarinaforeignland。Astrongfleetwascollected，andBonaparte，asthecommanderofthemanythousandswhoweretogotoEgyptunderhim，calledtohisaidthemostskilful，valiant，andrenownedgeneralsoftheFrencharmy。
ItcouldnotfailthatoneofthefirstandmosteminentofthesewasGeneralKleber，and，ofcourse，hisyoungadjutantandnephewLouisaccompaniedhim。
Onthe19thofApril，1798，theFrenchfleetlefttheharborofToulon，andsailedtowardtheEast，for，asBonapartesaid，“OnlyintheOrientaregreatrealmsandgreatdeeds——intheOrient，wheresixhundredmillionsofmenlive。“
ButthesesixhundredmillionshavenoarmysuchastheFrenchis，nocommanderlikeBonaparte，nogeneralslikeMurat，Junot，Desaix，and，aboveall，Kleber。
Kleberwasthesecondincommand。Hesharedhisperils，hesharedhisvictories，andwithhimwasunitedhisnephewLouis，ayouthoffourteenyears，who，fromhistall，slimfigure，hisgravity，andhisreadyunderstanding，wouldhavepassedatleastforayouthofeighteen，andwho，trainedintheschoolofmisfortune，belongedtothoseearly-maturednatureswhichdestinyhassteeled，thattheymaycourageouslycontendwithandgainthevictoryoverdestruction。
Itwasonthemorningofthe3dofJuly。TheFrencharmyhaddisembarked，andstoodnotfarfromAlexandria，ontheancientsacredsoilofEgypt。Whateverwasdonemustbedonequickly，forNelsonwasapproachingwithafleet，preparedtocontendwiththeFrenchforthepossessionofAlexandria。ShouldthecitynotbetakenbeforethearrivaloftheEnglishfleet，thevictorywouldbedoubtful。Bonaparteknewthiswell。“Fortunegivesusthreedays’
timeatthemost，“criedhe，“andifwedonotusethemwearelost!“
Buthedidusethem!Withfearfulrapiditythedisembarkationofthetroopswaseffected；withfearfulrapiditytheFrencharmyarrangeditselfonEgyptiansoilinthreedivisions，underMorand，Bon，andKleber。Abovethemallwashewhoseheadhadconceivedthegiganticundertaking，hewhoseheroicspiritcomprehendedthewhole。ThiswasBonaparte。
Afterinspectingallthearmyandissuinghisorders，herodeupthehillincompanywithhisstafftothepillarofPompey，inordertoobservefromthatpointthecourseofevents。Thearmywasadvancingimpetuously，andsoonthecitybuiltbyAlexandertheGreatmustopenitsgatestohissuccessor，BonapartetheGreat。
Afterashortrespite，thearmyadvancedfartherintothelandofthepyramids。“Remember，“criedBonapartetohissoldiers，pointingtothosemonuments——“rememberthatfortycenturieslookdownuponyou。“
AndthepyramidsofthegreatplainofCairobeheldthegloriousdeedsandvictoriesoftheFrencharmy，beheldtheoverthrowoftheEgyptianhost。TheNilemurmuredwithitsblood-redwavesthedeath-
songofthebraveMamelukes，andthe“fortycenturies“whichlookeddownfromthepyramidswereobliteratedbythegloriousvictoriesthatBonapartegainedatthefootofthosesacredmonuments。Anewepochwastobegin。TheoldepochwasburiedforEgypt，andoutoftheruinsofpastcenturiesanewEgyptwastobeborn，anEgyptwhichwastoserveFranceandbetributarytoitasavassal。
ThiswasBonaparte’splan，andhedideverythingtobringittocompletion。Hepassedfrombattletobattle，fromvictorytovictory，andafterconqueringEgyptandtakinguphisresidenceinCairo，heatoncebegantoorganizethenewly-woncountry，andtointroducetotheidleandlistlessEastthecultureoftheearnestandprogressiveWest。ButEgyptwouldnotacceptthetreasuresofcultureatthehandofitsconqueror。Itroseagainandagaininrebellionagainstthepowerthathelditdown，andhurleditsflamingtorchesofrevengeagainstthehatedenemy。AtokenofthismaybeseeninthedreadfulrevoltatCairo，whichbeganinthenightofthe20thofOctober，and，afterdaysofviolence，endedwiththecruelcuttingdownofsixthousandMamelukes。AproofofitmaybeseenintheconstantlyrenewedattacksofswarmsofBedouinsandMamelukesontheFrencharmy。ThesehordesadvancedeventothegatesofCairo，andterrifiedthepopulation，whichhadatlasttakenrefugebeneaththefootoftheconqueror。ButBonapartesucceededinsubjugatingthehostileBedouintribes，ashehadalreadysubjugatedthepopulationofthecities。Hesentoneofhisadjutants，GeneralCroisier，withacorpsofbravesoldiers，intothedeserttomeettheemirofthehostiletribes，andCroisierwonrespectforthecommandsofhisgeneral。Hesucceededintakingcaptivethewholebody。Afearfulsentencewasinflictedonthem。
Beforetheeyesoftheirwives，theirchildren，andtheirmothers，allthemenofthetribe，morethanfivehundredinnumber，werekilledandtheirheadsputintosacks。ThehowlingandweepingwomenandchildrenweredriventoCairo。Manyperishedofhungerontheroad，ordiedbeneaththesabre-blowsoftheirenemies；butmorethanathousandsucceededinreachingCairo。TheywereobligedtoencampuponthegreatsquareElBekir，intheheartofCairo，tillthedonkeysarrivedwhichborethedreadfulspoilsofvictoryinblood-drippingbagsupontheirbacks。ThewholepopulationofCairowassummonedtothisgiganticsquare，andwasobligedtolookonwhilethesackswereopenedandthebloodyheadsrolledoutuponthesacredsoilofEgypt。
Afterthistimequietreignedforaseason。Horrorhadbroughttheconqueredintosubjection，andBonapartecouldcontinuehisvictoriouscourse。HewithdrewtoSyria，takingwithhimKleberandKleber’syoungadjutant，thelittleLouis。Hesawthehorrorsofwar；hewasthere，thesonoftheKingsofFrance，whenthearmyoftherepublicconqueredthecitiesElArishandGaza；hetookpartbythesideofKleberinthestormingofJaffa。HewastherewhenthecapturedJaffahadtoopenitsgatestothevictors。Hewastherewhen，inthegreatcaravansary，fourthousandTurkishsoldiersgroundedtheirarmsandsurrenderedthemselvesasprisoners，afterreceivingthepromisethattheirlivesshouldbespared。Hewasthere，too，thesonofMarieAntoinette，whentheunfortunatesweredrivendowntothesea-coastandshot，inorderthattheirenemiesmightberidofthem。Hewasthere，thesonofLouisXVI。，whenBonapartevisitedthepest-houseinJaffa；hewalkedthroughthesick-roomsatthesideofhisuncleKleber，whonoticedhowthefaceoftheyoungman，whichhadsooftenbeencalminmeetingdeathonthebattle-fieldorinthestormofassault，nowquivered，andthepalenessofdeathsweptoverhischeeks。
“Whatwasthematter，myson？“askedKleber，ashereturnedhomefromthiscelebratedvisittothepest-house。“Whydidyouturnpaleallatonce，Louis？“
“General，“respondedLouis，perplexed，“Iknownothowtoanswer。“
“Yououghtnottohavegonewithmetothehospital，“saidKleber，shakinghishead。“YouknowIdidnotwantyoutogoatfirst；butyouinsistedonit，andbeggedandimploredsolongthatatlastI
hadtoyieldandletyouaccompanyus。But，Iconfessitmyself，itwasadreadfulsight，thesesickpeoplewiththeirswollenbodiescoveredwithbloodandrunningsores。Iunderstandnowwhyyoutrembledandturnedpale——youwereafraidofthisdreadfulsickness？“
“No，general，“answeredLouis，softly——“no，Ihavenofear。DidyounotnoticethatIsprangforwardandassistedGeneralBonaparte，whenheliftedupthepoorsickmanwholayonthefloorbeforethedoor，andthatIhelpedcarryhimintotheroom？“
“Isawit，Louis，andIwasmuchpleasedwithyourcourage，andwasthereforesurprisedafterwardwhenyouturnedpaleandtrembled，andIsawtearsinyoureyes。Whatagitatedyouallatoncesomuch？“
TheyoungmanslowlyraisedhisheadandlookedatKleberwithhisgreatblueeyes。“General，“hesaid，softly，“Imyselfdonotknowwhatagitatedmesomuch。Wewerebothstandingbeforethebedofasickman，towhomIhandedapitcherofwaterwhichhebeggedforearnestly。Hefixedhisgreateyesuponme，andhisquiveringlipsmurmured：’Godblessyou!allsaintsandangelsprotectyou!’Ashespokethesewords，thereresoundedinmyhearttheechoofatimelongsincepast。Itseemedtomeasifsuddenlyadarkcurtainparted，andIlookedasinadreamatawondrous，brilliantspectacle。Isawabeautifulanddignifiedwomanofprincelyfigure，ofnoble，majesticnature。WithherIsawtwochildren，agirlandaboy，whomsheledbythehand，andwithwhomshewalkedthroughalonghallwhichwasfilledwithrowsofbeds。Andasshewalkedthere，itseemedasifthesunlightenedupthedismalhall，andilluminedthepalefacesofthesickones。Theyraisedthemselvesupintheirbedsandextendedtheirthin，emaciatedhandstothetalllady，andthankedherwithearnestblessingsforhervisitandhercomfortingwords。Therewasonlyoneofthepatientswhodidnotrise，butlaystiffuponhisbedandmoanedandsighedandwhisperedunintelligiblewords，whichnooneheeded，becausetheattentionofallwasfixeduponthegreatvisitor。Buttheboywhowaswalkingbythesideofthetallladyhadunderstoodthesobsofthesickone。
Helefthismother，tookthejugwhichstooduponatablebetweentwobeds，filledaglasswithwaterfromit，andheldittothedry，quiveringlipsofthesickone。Hedrankgreedily，andthenfixedhiseyesupontheboyandlispedthewords：’Godblessyou!allsaintsandangelsprotectyou!’Andallthepeoplerepeatedaloud：
’Godblessyou，allsaintsandangelsprotectyou!’Thedignifiedladystoopedwithaheavenlysmiletoherson，pressedatenderkissuponhisgoldenlocks，andrepeatedthesamewordsaloud。This，general，wasthefantasywhichsuddenlyappearedbeforemyeyeswhenthepatientspokethosewordsto-day。ItseemedtomeasifI
perceivedallatoncealong-silentsongofhome。Iheardthewonderfulvoiceoftheexaltedladywhospokethosewords。ItseemedtomeasifIfeltthekisswhichshethenimprintedontheheadofthefive-year-oldboy，feltittomyinmostheart，anditglowedtherewiththefireofanundyinglove，andshookmywholebeing，andfilledmyeyeswithtears。Youwillnotchidemeforthat，general，forthosewerethelipsofmymotherwhopressedthatkissofblessingonherunhappyson。“