the memoirs of marie antoinette-第21章
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ing governed by a good King； he took a pleasure in repeatedly walking without guards； in the midst of the crowd which pressed around him； and called down blessings on his head。 I remarked the impression made at this time by an observation of Louis XVI。 On the day of his coronation he put his hand up to his head； at the moment of the crown being placed upon it； and said； 〃It pinches me。〃 Henri III。 had exclaimed； 〃It pricks me。〃 Those who were near the King were struck with the similarity between these two exclamations； though not of a class likely to be blinded by the superstitious fears of ignorance。
While the Queen； neglected as she was； could not even hope for the happiness of being a mother； she had the mortification of seeing the Comtesse d'Artois give birth to the Duc d'Angouleme。
Custom required that the royal family and the whole Court should be present at the accouchement of the Princesses； the Queen was therefore obliged to stay a whole day in her sister…in…law's chamber。 The moment the Comtesse d'Artois was informed a prince was born； she put her hand to her forehead and exclaimed with energy； 〃My God； how happy I am！〃 The Queen felt very differently at this involuntary and natural exclamation。 Nevertheless； her behaviour was perfect。 She bestowed all possible marks of tenderness upon the young mother； and would not leave her until she was again put into bed； she afterwards passed along the staircase； and through the hall of the guards； with a calm demeanour； in the midst of an immense crowd。 The poissardes； who had assumed a right of speaking to sovereigns in their own vulgar language； followed her to the very doors of her apartments； calling out to her with gross expressions； that she ought to produce heirs。 The Queen reached her inner room； hurried and agitated； he shut herself up to weep with me alone； not from jealousy of her sister…in…law's happiness；of that he was incapable；but from sorrow at her own situation。
Deprived of the happiness of giving an heir to the crown； the Queen endeavoured to interest herself in the children of the people of her household。 She had long been desirous to bring up one of them herself； and to make it the constant object of her care。 A little village boy； four or five years old； full of health； with a pleasing countenance； remarkably large blue eyes； and fine light hair； got under the feet of the Queen's horses； when she was taking an airing in a calash； through the hamlet of St。 Michel； near Louveciennes。 The coachman and postilions stopped the horses； and the child was rescued without the slightest injury。 Its grandmother rushed out of the door of her cottage to take it； but the Queen； standing up in her calash and extending her arms； called out that the child was hers； and that destiny had given it to her； to console her； no doubt； until she should have the happiness of having one herself。 〃Is his mother alive？〃 asked the Queen。 〃No； Madame； my daughter died last winter； and left five small children upon my hands。〃 〃I will take this one； and provide for all the rest； do you consent？〃 〃Ah； Madame； they are too fortunate；〃 replied the cottager； 〃but Jacques is a bad boy。 I hope he will stay with you！〃 The Queen； taking little Jacques upon her knee； said that she would make him used to her； and gave orders to proceed。 It was necessary； however； to shorten the drive； so violently did Jacques scream； and kick the Queen and her ladies。
The arrival of her Majesty at her apartments at Versailles； holding the little rustic by the hand； astonished the whole household； he cried out with intolerable shrillness that he wanted his grandmother； his brother Louis； and his sister Marianne； nothing could calm him。 He was taken away by the wife of a servant； who was appointed to attend him as nurse。 The other children were put to school。 Little Jacques； whose family name was Armand； came back to the Queen two days afterwards； a white frock trimmed with lace； a rose…coloured sash with silver fringe； and a hat decorated with feathers； were now substituted for the woollen cap； the little red frock； and the wooden shoes。 The child was really very beautiful。 The Queen was enchanted with him； he was brought to her every morning at nine o'clock； he breakfasted and dined with her； and often even with the King。 She liked to call him my child；
＇This little unfortunate was nearly twenty in 1792； the fury of the people and the fear of being thought a favourite of the Queen's had made him the most sanguinary terrorist of Versailles。 He was killed at the battle of Jemappes。＇
and lavished caresses upon him； still maintaining a deep silence respecting the regrets which constantly occupied her heart。
This child remained with the Queen until the time when Madame was old enough to come home to her august mother； who had particularly taken upon herself the care of her education。
The Queen talked incessantly of the qualities which she admired in Louis XVI。； and gladly attributed to herself the slightest favourable change in his manner； perhaps she displayed too unreservedly the joy she felt； and the share she appropriated in the improvement。 One day Louis XVI。 saluted her ladies with more kindness than usual； and the Queen laughingly said to them； 〃Now confess； ladies； that for one so badly taught as a child； the King has saluted you with very good grace！〃
The Queen hated M。 de La Vauguyon； she accused him alone of those points in the habits； and even the sentiments； of the King which hurt her。 A former first woman of the bedchamber to Queen Maria Leczinska had continued in office near the young Queen。 She was one of those people who are fortunate enough to spend their lives in the service of kings without knowing anything of what is passing at Court。 She was a great devotee； the Abbe Grisel； an ex…Jesuit； was her director。 Being rich from her savings and an income of 50；000 livres； she kept a very good table； in her apartment； at the Grand Commun； the most distinguished persons who still adhered to the Order of Jesuits often assembled。 The Duc de La Vauguyon was intimate with her； their chairs at the Eglise des Reollets were placed near each other； at high mass and at vespers they sang the 〃Gloria in Excelsis〃 and the 〃Magnificat〃 together； and the pious virgin； seeing in him only one of God's elect； little imagined him to be the declared enemy of a Princess whom she served and revered。 On the day of his death she ran in tears to relate to the Queen the piety； humility； and repentance of the last moments of the Duc de La Vauguyon。 He had called his people together； she said； to ask their pardon。 〃For what？〃 replied the Queen； sharply； 〃he has placed and pensioned off all his servants； it was of the King and his brothers that the holy man you bewail should have asked pardon； for having paid so little attention to the education of princes on whom the fate and happiness of twenty…five millions of men depend。 Luckily；〃 added she； 〃the King and his brothers； still young； have incessantly laboured to repair the errors of their preceptor。〃
The progress of time； and the confidence with which the King and the Princes； his brothers； were inspired by the change in their situation since the death of Louis XV。； had developed their characters。 I will endeavour to depict them。
The features of Louis XVI。 were noble enough； though somewhat melancholy in expression； his walk was heavy and unmajestic； his person greatly neglected； his hair； whatever might be the skill of his hairdresser； was soon in disorder。 His voice； without being harsh； was not agreeable； if he grew animated in speaking he often got above his natural pitch； and became shrill。 The Abbe de Radonvilliers； his preceptor； one of the Forty of the French Academy； a learned and amiable man； had given him and Monsieur a taste for study。 The King had continued to instruct himself； he knew the English language perfectly； I have often heard him translate some of the most difficult passages in Milton's poems。 He was a skilful geographer； and was fond of drawing and colouring maps； he was well versed in history； but had not perhaps sufficiently studied the spirit of it。 He appreciated dramatic beauties； and judged them accurately。 At Choisy； one day； several ladies expressed their dissatisfaction because the French actors were going to perform one of Moliere's pieces。 The King inquired why they disapproved of the choice。 One of them answered that everybody must admit that Moliere had very bad taste； the King replied that many things might be found in Moliere contrary to fashion； but that it appeared to him difficult to point out any in bad taste？
＇The King； having purchased the Chateau of Rambouillet from the Duc de Penthievre； amused himself with embellishing it。 I have seen a register entirely in his own handwriting； which proves that he possessed a great variety of information on the minutiae of various branches of knowledge。 In his accounts he would not omit an outlay of a franc。 His figures and letters； when he wished to write legibly； were small and very neat； but in general he wrote very ill。 He was so sparing of paper that he divided a sheet into eight； six； or four pieces； according to the length of what he had to write。 Towards the close of the page he compressed the letters； and avoided interlineations。 The last words were close to the edge of the paper； he seemed to regret being obliged to begin another page。 He was methodical and analytical； he divided what he wrote into chapters and sections。 He had extracted from the works of Nicole and Fenelon； his favourite authors； three or four hundred concise and sententious phrases； these he had classed according to subject； and formed a work of them in the style of Montesquieu。 To this treatise he had given the following general title： 〃Of Moderate Monarchy 〃 （De la Monarchie temperee）； with chapters entitled； 〃Of the Person of the Prince；〃 〃Of the Authority of Bodies in the State；〃 〃Of the Character of the Executive Functions of the Monarchy。〃 Had he been able to carry into effect all the grand precepts he had observed in Fenelon； Louis XVI。 would have been an accomplished monarch； and France a powerful kingdom。 The King used to accept the speeches his ministers presented to him to deliver on important occasions； but he corrected and modified them； struck out some parts； and added others； and sometimes consulted the Queen on the subject。 The phrase of the minister erased by the King was frequently unsuitable； and dictated by the minister's private feelings； but the King's was always the natural expression。 He himself composed； three times or oftener； his famous answers to the Parliament which he banished。 But in his letters he was negligent； and always incorrect。 Simplicity was the characteristic of the King's style； the figurative style of M。 Necker did not please him； the sarcasms of Maurepas were disagreeable to him。 Unfortunate Prince！ he would predict； in his observations； that if such a calamity should happen； the monarchy would be ruined； a
