Idées Napoléoniennes

Come, listen all who wish to learn
How nations should be ruled,
From one who from his youth has been
In such-like matters school'd;
From one who knows the art to please,
Improve and govern men--
Eh bien! Ecoutez, aux Idees,
Napoleoniennes!

To keep the mind intently fixed
On number One alone--
To look to no one's interest,
But push along your own,
Without the slightest reference
To how, or what, or when--
Eh bien! c'est la premiere Idee
Napoleonienne.

To make a friend, and use him well,
By which, of course, I mean
To use him up--until he's drain'd
Completely dry and clean
Of all that makes him useful, and
To kick him over then
Without remorse--c'est une Idee
Napoleonienne.

To sneak into a good man's house
With sham credentials penn'd--
to sneak into his heart and trust,
And seem his children's friend--
To learn his secrets, find out where
He keeps his keys--and then
To bone his spoons--c'est une Idee
Napoleonienne.

To gain your point in view--to wade
Through dirt, and slime, and blood--
To stoop to pick up what you want
Through any depth of mud.
But always in the fire to thrust
Some helpless cat's-paw, when
Your chestnuts burn--c'est une Idee
Napoleonienne.

To clutch and keep the lion's share--
To kill or drive away
The wolves, that you upon the lambs
May, unmolested, prey--
To keep a gang of jackals fierce
To guard and stock your den,
While you lie down--c'est une Idee
Napoleonienne.

To bribe the base, to crush the good,
And bring them to their knees--
To stick at nothing, or to stick
At what or whom you please--
To stoop, to lie, to brag, to swear,
Forswear, and swear again--
To rise--Ah! voia des Idees
Napoleoniennes.