the memoirs of marie antoinette-第48章
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On the 2d of October the military entertainment was followed up by a breakfast given at the hotel of the Body Guards。 It is said that a discussion took place whether they should not march against the Assembly； but I am utterly ignorant of what passed at that breakfast。 From that moment Paris was constantly in commotion； there were continual mobs； and the most virulent proposals were heard in all public places； the conversation was invariably about proceeding to Versailles。 The King and Queen did not seem apprehensive of such a measure； and took no precaution against it； even when the army had actually left Paris； on the evening of the 5th of October； the King was shooting at Meudon； and the Queen was alone in her gardens at Trianon； which she then beheld for the last time in her life。 She was sitting in her grotto absorbed in painful reflection； when she received a note from the Comte de Saint…Priest； entreating her to return to Versailles。 M。 de Cubieres at the same time went off to request the King to leave his sport and return to the palace； the King did so on horseback； and very leisurely。 A few minutes afterwards he was informed that a numerous body of women； which preceded the Parisian army； was at Chaville； at the entrance of the avenue from Paris。
The scarcity of bread and the entertainment of the Body Guards were the pretexts for the insurrection of the 5th and 6th of October； 1789； but it is clear to demonstration that this new movement of the people was a part of the original plan of the factious； insomuch as； ever since the beginning of September； a report had been industriously circulated that the King intended to withdraw； with his family and ministers； to some stronghold； and at all the popular assemblies there had been always a great deal said about going to Versailles to seize the King。
At first only women showed themselves； the latticed doors of the Chateau were closed； and the Body Guard and Flanders regiment were drawn up in the Place d'Armes。 As the details of that dreadful day are given with precision in several works； I will only observe that general consternation and disorder reigned throughout the interior of the palace。
I was not in attendance on the Queen at this time。 M。 Campan remained with her till two in the morning。 As he was leaving her she condescendingly； and with infinite kindness； desired him to make me easy as to the dangers of the moment； and to repeat to me M。 de La Fayette's own words； which he had just used on soliciting the royal family to retire to bed； undertaking to answer for his army。
The Queen was far from relying upon M。 de La Fayette's loyalty； but she has often told me that she believed on that day； that La Fayette； having affirmed to the King； in the presence of a crowd of witnesses； that he would answer for the army of Paris； would not risk his honour as a commander； and was sure of being able to redeem his pledge。 She also thought the Parisian army was devoted to him； and that all he said about his being forced to march upon Versailles was mere pretence。
On the first intimation of the march of the Parisians； the Comte de Saint…Priest prepared Rambouillet for the reception of the King； his family； and suite； and the carriages were even drawn out； but a few cries of 〃Vive le Roi！〃 when the women reported his Majesty's favourable answer； occasioned the intention of going away to be given up； and orders were given to the troops to withdraw。
＇Compare this account with the particulars given in the 〃Memoirs〃 of Ferribres； Weber； Bailly； and Saint…Priest； from the latter of which the following sentence is taken：
〃M。 d'Estaing knew not what to do with the Body Guards beyond bringing them into the courtyard of the ministers； and shutting the grilles。 Thence they proceeded to the terrace of the Chateau； then to Trianon； and lastly to Rambouillet。
〃I could not refrain from expressing to M。 d'Estaing； when he came to the King； my astonishment at not seeing him make any military disposition。 'Monsieur；' replied he； 'I await the orders of the King' （who did not open his mouth）。 'When the King gives no orders；' pursued I； 'a general should decide for himself in a soldierly manner。' This observation remained unanswered。〃＇
The Body Guards were； however； assailed with stones and musketry while they were passing from the Place d'Armes to； their hotel。 Alarm revived； again it was thought necessary that the royal family should go away； some carriages still remained ready for travelling； they were called for； they were stopped by a wretched player belonging to the theatre of the town； seconded by the mob： the opportunity for flight had been lost。
The insurrection was directed against the Queen in particular； I shudder even now at the recollection of the poissardes； or rather furies； who wore white aprons； which they screamed out were intended to receive the bowels of Marie Antoinette； and that they would make cockades of them； mixing the most obscene expressions with these horrible threats。
The Queen went to bed at two in the morning； and even slept； tired out with the events of so distressing a day。 She had ordered her two women to bed； imagining there was nothing to dread； at least for that night； but the unfortunate Princess was indebted for her life to that feeling of attachment which prevented their obeying her。 My sister； who was one of the ladies in question； informed me next day of all that I am about to relate。
On leaving the Queen's bedchamber； these ladies called their femmes de chambre； and all four remained sitting together against her Majesty's bedroom door。 About half…past four in the morning they heard horrible yells and discharges of firearms； one ran to the Queen to awaken her and get her out of bed； my sister flew to the place from which the tumult seemed to proceed； she opened the door of the antechamber which leads to the great guard…room； and beheld one of the Body Guard holding his musket across the door； and attacked by a mob； who were striking at him； his face was covered with blood； he turned round and exclaimed： 〃Save the Queen； madame； they are come to assassinate her！〃 She hastily shut the door upon the unfortunate victim of duty； fastened it with the great bolt； and took the same precaution on leaving the next room。 On reaching the Queen's chamber she cried out to her； 〃Get up； Madame！ Don't stay to dress yourself； fly to the King's apartment！〃 The terrified Queen threw herself out of bed； they put a petticoat upon her without tying it； and the two ladies conducted her towards the oile…de…boeuf。 A door； which led from the Queen's dressing…room to that apartment； had never before been fastened but on her side。 What a dreadful moment！ It was found to be secured on the other side。 They knocked repeatedly with all their strength； a servant of one of the King's valets de chambre came and opened it； the Queen entered the King's chamber； but he was not there。 Alarmed for the Queen's life； he had gone down the staircases and through the corridors under the oeil…de…boeuf； by means of which he was accustomed to go to the Queen's apartments without being under the necessity of crossing that room。 He entered her Majesty's room and found no one there but some Body Guards； who had taken refuge in it。 The King； unwilling to expose their lives； told them to wait a few minutes； and afterwards sent to desire them to go to the oeil…de…boeuf。 Madame de Tourzel； at that time governess of the children of France； had just taken Madame and the Dauphin to the King's apartments。 The Queen saw her children again。 The reader must imagine this scene of tenderness and despair。
It is not true that the assassins penetrated to the Queen's chamber and pierced the bed with their swords。 The fugitive Body Guards were the only persons who entered it； and if the crowd had reached so far they would all have been massacred。 Besides； when the rebels had forced the doors of the antechamber； the footmen and officers on duty； knowing that the Queen was no longer in her apartments； told them so with that air of truth which always carries conviction。 The ferocious horde instantly rushed towards the oeil…de…boeuf； hoping； no doubt； to intercept her on her way。
Many have asserted that they recognised the Duc d'Orleans in a greatcoat and slouched hat； at half…past four in the morning； at the top of the marble staircase； pointing out with his hand the guard…room； which led to the Queen's apartments。 This fact was deposed to at the Chatelet by several individuals in the course of the inquiry instituted respecting the transactions of the 5th and 6th of October。
＇The National Assembly was sitting when information of the march of the Parisians was given to it by one of the deputies who came from Paris。 A certain number of the members were no strangers； to this movement。 It appears that Mirabeau wished to avail himself of it to raise the Duc d'Orleans to the throne。 Mounier； who presided over the National Assembly； rejected the idea with horror。 〃My good man；〃 said Mirabeau to him； 〃what difference will it make to you to have Louis XVII。 for your King instead of Louis XVI。？〃 （The Duc d'Orleans was baptised Louis。）＇
The prudence and honourable feeling of several officers of the Parisian guards； and the judicious conduct of M。 de Vaudreuil； lieutenant…general of marine； and of M。 de Chevanne； one of the King's Guards； brought about an understanding between the grenadiers of the National Guard of Paris and the King's Guard。 The doors of the oeil…de…boeuf were closed； and the antechamber which precedes that room was filled with grenadiers who wanted to get in to massacre the Guards。 M。 de Chevanne offered himself to them as a victim if they wished for one； and demanded what they would have。 A report had been spread through their ranks that the Body Guards set them at defiance； and that they all wore black cockades。 M。 de Chevanne showed them that he wore； as did the corps； the cockade of their uniform； and promised that the Guards should exchange it for that of the nation。 This was done； they even went so far as to exchange their grenadiers' caps for the hats of the Body Guards； those who were on guard took off their shoulder…belts； embraces and transports of fraternisation instantly succeeded to the savage eagerness to murder the band which had shown so much fidelity to its sovereign。 The cry was now 〃Vivent le Roi； la Nation； et les Gardes…du…corps！〃
The army occupied the Place d'Armes； all the courtyards of the Chateau； and the entrance to the avenue。 They called for the Queen to appear in the balcony： she came forward with Madame and the Dauphin。 There was a cry of 〃No children！〃 Was this with a view to deprive her of the interest she inspired； accompanied as she was by her young family； or did the leaders of the democrats hope that some madman would venture to aim a mortal blow at her person？ The unfortunate Princess certainly was impressed with the latter idea； for she sent away her children； and with her hands and eyes raised towards heaven； advanced upon the balcony like a self…devoted victim。
A few voices shouted 〃To Paris
