Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

THAT DAY.
" IT is your turn," a young lady once said to an officer just
returned from the war ;
" tell me what one really feels, what one
really experiences in those terrible moments. But be concise,
I beg of you. You military men, when you get talking of the
war, recount very marvellous tales, and find people who swallow
them ;
but I am not one of the number, I warn you. Tell
me the truth and nothing more, without any of the fine rhetoric
which I have had too much of already in reading descriptions
of battles, for they are all written in the same style."
"
Tell, tell, is easily said," replied the "
officer, but without
any preparation ?
Give me time at least to collect and put my
reminiscences in order, if not I shall give you an account without
any head or tail."
" No !
my dear sir
;
no preparations
! I do not wish a
philosophical dissertation, and, much less, a page of military
history. Tell me quickly and as best you can, all that you
have seen."
" Do you insist upon it ? "
"Yes, absolutely."
" I will begin but
; remember, I shall not tell one word more
than what I have seen ;
if the story does not please you,
it will
not be my fault."
" Be concise, and do not try to be any thing more. Begin ! "
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