The Decline and Fall of Napoleon #251984

Throughout his active life he always worked at very high pressure, and so overstrained' the machinery of his mind and body that both deteriorated with more than ordinary rapidity. The sword as well as the scabbard showed unmistakable signs of wear — and — tear when they had been only a dozen vears in constant -use, and the sharp and startling contrast between the manner in which he gave effect to his great plans in his earlier and in his later campaigns is very re markable.