the memoirs of marie antoinette-第33章
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It was agreed that no young man except the Comte d'Artois should be admitted into the company of performers； and that the audience should consist only of the King； Monsieur； and the Princesses； who did not play； but in order to stimulate the actors a little； the first boxes were to be occupied by the readers； the Queen's ladies； their sisters and daughters； making altogether about forty persons。
The Queen laughed heartily at the voice of M。 d'Adhemar； formerly a very fine one； but latterly become rather tremulous。 His shepherd's dress in Colin； in the 〃Devin du Village；〃 contrasted very ridiculously with his time of life； and the Queen said it would be difficult for malevolence itself to find anything to criticise in the choice of such a lover。 The King was highly amused with these plays； and was present at every performance。 Caillot； a celebrated actor； who had long quitted the stage； and Dazincourt； both of acknowledged good character； were selected to give lessons； the first in comic opera； of which the easier sorts were preferred； and the second in comedy。 The office of hearer of rehearsals； prompter； and stage manager was given to my father…in…law。 The Duc de Fronsac； first gentleman of the chamber； was much hurt at this。 He thought himself called upon to make serious remonstrances upon the subject； and wrote to the Queen； who made him the following answer： 〃You cannot be first gentleman when we are the actors。 Besides； I have already intimated to you my determination respecting Trianon。 I hold no court there； I live like a private person； and M。 Campan shall be always employed to execute orders relative to the private fetes I choose to give there。〃 This not putting a stop to the Duke's remonstrances； the King was obliged to interfere。 The Duke continued obstinate； and insisted that he was entitled to manage the private amusements as much as those which were public。 It became absolutely necessary to end the argument in a positive manner。
The diminutive Duc de Fronsac never failed； when he came to pay his respects to the Queen at her toilet； to turn the conversation upon Trianon； in order to make some ironical remarks on my father…in…law； of whom； from the time of his appointment； he always spoke as 〃my colleague Campan。〃 The Queen would shrug her shoulders； and say； when he was gone； 〃It is quite shocking to find so little a man in the son of the Marechal de Richelieu。〃
So long as no strangers were admitted to the performances they were but little censured； but the praise obtained by the performers made them look for a larger circle of admirers。 The company； for a private company； was good enough； and the acting was applauded to the skies； nevertheless； as the audience withdrew； adverse criticisms were occasionally heard。 The Queen permitted the officers of the Body Guards and the equerries of the King and Princes to be present at the plays。 Private boxes were provided for some of the people belonging to the Court； a few more ladies were invited； and claims arose on all sides for the favour of admission。 The Queen refused to admit the officers of the body guards of the Princes； the officers of the King's Cent Suisses； and many other persons； who were highly mortified at the refusal。
While delight at having given an heir to the throne of the Bourbons； and a succession of fetes and amusements； filled up the happy days of Marie Antoinette； the public was engrossed by the Anglo…American war。 Two kings； or rather their ministers； planted and propagated the love of liberty in the new world； the King of England； by shutting his ears and his heart against the continued and respectful representations of subjects at a distance from their native land； who had become numerous； rich； and powerful； through the resources of the soil they had fertilised； and the King of France； by giving support to this people in rebellion against their ancient sovereign。 Many young soldiers； belonging to the first families of the country； followed La Fayette's example； and forsook luxury； amusement； and love； to go and tender their aid to the revolted Americans。 Beaumarchais； secretly seconded by Messieurs de Maurepas and de Vergennes； obtained permission to send out supplies of arms and clothing。 Franklin appeared at Court in the dress of an American agriculturist。 His unpowdered hair； his round hat； his brown cloth coat formed a contrast to the laced and embroidered coats and the powder and perfume of the courtiers of Versailles。 This novelty turned the light heads of the Frenchwomen。 Elegant entertainments were given to Doctor Franklin； who； to the reputation of a man of science； added the patriotic virtues which invested him with the character of an apostle of liberty。 I was present at one of these entertainments； when the most beautiful woman out of three hundred was selected to place a crown of laurels upon the white head of the American philosopher； and two kisses upon his cheeks。 Even in the palace of Versailles Franklin's medallion was sold under the King's eyes； in the exhibition of Sevres porcelain。 The legend of this medallion was
〃Eripuit coelo fulmen； sceptrumque tyrannis。〃
The King never declared his opinion upon an enthusiasm which his correct judgment no doubt led him to blame。 The Queen spoke out more plainly about the part France was taking respecting the independence of the American colonies； and constantly opposed it。 Far was she from foreseeing that a revolution atsuch a distance could excite one in which a misguided populace would drag her from her palace to a death equally unjust and cruel。 She only saw something ungenerous in the method which France adopted of checking the power of England。
However； as Queen of France； she enjoyed the sight of a whole people rendering homage to the prudence； courage； and good qualities of a young Frenchman； and she shared the enthusiasm inspired by the conduct and military success of the Marquis de La Fayette。 The Queen granted him several audiences on his first return from America； and； until the 10th of August； on which day my house was plundered； I preserved some lines from Gaston and Bayard； in which the friends of M。 de La Fayette saw the exact outline of his character； written by her own hand：
〃Why talk of youth； When all the ripe experience of the old Dwells with him？ In his schemes profound and cool； He acts with wise precaution； and reserves For time of action his impetuous fire。 To guard the camp； to scale the leaguered wall； Or dare the hottest of the fight； are toils That suit th' impetuous bearing of his youth； Yet like the gray…hair'd veteran he can shun The field of peril。 Still before my eyes I place his bright example； for I love His lofty courage； and his prudent thought。 Gifted like him； a warrior has no age。〃
＇During the American war a general officer in the service of the United States advanced with a score of men under the English batteries to reconnoitre their position。 His aide…de…camp； struck by a ball； fell at his side。 The officers and orderly dragoons fled precipitately。 The general； though under the fire of the cannon； approached the wounded man to see whether any help could be afforded him。 Finding the wound had been mortal； he slowly rejoined the group which had got out of the reach of the cannon。 This instance of courage and humanity took place at the battle of Monmouth。 General Clinton； who commanded the English troops； knew that the Marquis de La Fayette generally rode a white horse； it was upon a white horse that the general officer who retired so slowly was mounted； Clinton desired the gunners not to fire。 This noble forbearance probably saved M。 de La Fayette's life； for he it was。 At that time he was but twenty…two years of age。 〃Historical Anecdotes of the Reign of Louis XVI。〃
These lines had been applauded and encored at the French theatre； everybody's head was turned。 There was no class of persons that did not heartily approve of the support given openly by the French Government to the cause of American independence。 The constitution planned for the new nation was digested at Paris； and while liberty； equality； and the rights of man were commented upon by the Condorcets； Baillys； Mirabeaus； etc。； the minister Segur published the King's edict； which； by repealing that of 1st November； 1750； declared all officers not noble by four generations incapable of filling the rank of captain； and denied all military rank to the roturiers； excepting sons of the chevaliers de St。 Louis。
＇M。 de Segur；〃 says Chamfort； 〃having published an ordinance which prohibited the admission of any other than gentlemen into the artillery corps； and； on the other hand； none but well…educated persons being proper for admission； a curious scene took place： the Abbe Bossat； examiner of the pupils； gave certificates only to plebeians； while Cherin gave them only to gentlemen。 Out of one hundred pupils； there were not above four or five who were qualified in both respects。〃＇
The injustice and absurdity of this law was no doubt a secondary cause of the Revolution。 To understand the despair and rage with which this law inspired the Tiers Etat one should have belonged to that honourable class。 The provinces were full of roturier families； who for ages had lived as people of property upon their own domains； and paid the taxes。 If these persons had several sons； they would place one in the King's service； one in the Church； another in the Order of Malta as a chevalier servant d'armes； and one in the magistracy； while the eldest preserved the paternal manor； and if he were situated in a country celebrated for wine； he would； besides selling his own produce； add a kind of commission trade in the wines of the canton。 I have seen an individual of this justly respected class； who had been long employed in diplomatic business； and even honoured with the title of minister plenipotentiary； the son…in…law and nephew of colonels and town mayors； and； on his mother's side； nephew of a lieutenant…general with a cordon rouge； unable to introduce his sons as sous…lieutenants into a regiment of foot。
Another decision of the Court； which could not be announced by an edict； was that all ecclesiastical benefices； from the humblest priory up to the richest abbey； should in future be appanages of the nobility。 Being the son of a village surgeon； the Abbe de Vermond； who had great influence in the disposition of benefices； was particularly struck with the justice of this decree。
During the absence of the Abbe in an excursion he made for his health； I prevailed on the Queen to write a postscript to the petition of a cure； one of my friends； who was soliciting a priory near his curacy； with the intention of retiring to it。 I obtained it for him。 On the Abbe's return he told me very harshly that I should act in a manner quite contrary to the King's wishes if I again obtained such a favour； that the wealth of the Church was for the future to be invariably devoted to the support of the poorer nob
