4387. Proclamation to the Army (November 1799)
Original French
4387 — A L’ARMÉE.
Quartier général, Paris, 18 brumaire an VIII (9 novembre 1799).
Soldats, le décret extraordinaire du Conseil des Anciens est conforme aux articles 102 et 103 de l’acte constitutionnel. Il m’a remis le commandement de la ville et de l’armée.
Je l’ai accepté pour seconder les mesures qu’il va prendre, et qui sont tout entières en faveur du peuple.
La République est mal gouvernée depuis deux ans. Vous avez espéré que mon retour mettrait un terme à tant de maux; vous l’avez célébré avec une union qui m’impose des obligations que je remplis; vous remplirez les vôtres, et vous seconderez votre général avec l’énergie, la fermeté et la confiance que j’ai toujours vues en vous.
La liberté, la victoire et la paix replaceront la République française au rang qu’elle occupait en Europe, et que l’ineptie ou la trahison a pu seule lui faire perdre. Vive la République!
BONAPARTE.
Musean translation
Machine-assisted Musean translation directly from the French transcript; source-language model review covered the earlier corpus, with later changes separately checked as documented in corpus/raw/napoleon-proclamations/source-language-review.md.
4387 — TO THE ARMY.
Headquarters, Paris, 18 Brumaire, Year VIII (November 9, 1799).
Soldiers, the extraordinary decree of the Council of Ancients conforms to articles 102 and 103 of the constitutional act. It has entrusted me with command of the city and the army.
I have accepted it to support the measures the council is about to take, measures wholly in favor of the people.
The Republic has been badly governed for two years. You hoped that my return would put an end to so many ills; you celebrated it with a unity that imposes obligations upon me, which I am fulfilling; you will fulfill yours, and you will support your general with the energy, firmness, and confidence I have always seen in you.
Liberty, victory, and peace will restore the French Republic to the rank it held in Europe, and which only ineptitude or treachery could have caused it to lose. Long live the Republic!
BONAPARTE.
Plain English translation
Independently produced machine-assisted Plain translation directly from the same French transcript; source-language model review covered the earlier corpus as documented in corpus/raw/napoleon-proclamations/source-language-review.md.
To the army.
Headquarters, Paris, 18 Brumaire, year VIII (November 9, 1799).
Soldiers, the Council of Elders' extraordinary decree conforms to the constitution, under articles 102 and 103. It has handed me command of the city and the army.
I accepted the command so I could help the Council carry out the measures it is about to take. They are wholly for the people's benefit.
For two years the Republic has been badly governed. You hoped my return would end all these troubles. You joined together to celebrate it, and that unity places duties on me, which I am carrying out. You will carry out yours and help your general with the energy, determination, and confidence I have always seen in you.
Freedom, victory, and peace will restore the French Republic to the place it held in Europe. Only incompetence or betrayal could have made it lose that position. Long live the Republic!
Bonaparte.
About this section
4387. Proclamation to the Army (November 1799) is part of Proclamation to the Army in Brumaire by Napoléon Bonaparte. This page sets the French original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is part 1 of 1 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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