True, he now exposed his line of communications with France; but if the art of war consisted in never running any risk, glory would be the prize of mediocre minds.

He must have a complete triumph.

The question was not of abandoning this or that province: his political superiority was at stake.

At Marengo, Austerlitz, and Wagram, he was in greater danger.

His forces now were not _in the air_; they rested on the Elbe, on its fortresses, and on Erfurt.