"Every great and commanding moment in the annals of the world," says Emerson, "is the triumph of some enthusiasm." It was enthusiasm that enabled Napoleon to make a campaign in two weeks that would have taken another a year to accomplish." These Frenchmen are not men, they fly," said the Austrians in consternation. In fifteen days Napoleon, in his first Italian campaign, had gained six victories, taken twenty-one standards, fifty-five pieces of cannon, had captured fifteen thousand prisoners, and had conquered Piedmont.