the memoirs of marie antoinette-第5章

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raw　upon　me。〃

Mademoiselle　Genet；　at　fifteen；　was　naturally　less　of　a　philosopher　than　her　father　was　at　forty。　　Her　eyes　were　dazzled　by　the　splendour　which　glittered　at　Versailles。　　〃The　Queen；　Maria　Leczinska；　the　wife　of　Louis　XV。；　died；〃　she　says；　〃just　before　I　was　presented　at　Court。　　The　grand　apartments　hung　with　black；　the　great　chairs　of　state；　raised　on　several　steps；　and　surmounted　by　a　canopy　adorned　with　Plumes；　the　caparisoned　horses；　the　immense　retinue　in　Court　mourning；　the　enormous　shoulder…　knots；　embroidered　with　gold　and　silver　spangles；　which　decorated　the　coats　of　the　pages　and　footmen；all　this　magnificence　had　such　an　effect　on　my　senses　that　I　could　scarcely　support　myself　when　introduced　to　the　Princesses。　　The　first　day　of　my　reading　in　the　inner　apartment　of　Madame　Victoire　I　found　it　impossible　to　pronounce　more　than　two　sentences；　my　heart　palpitated；　my　voice　faltered；　and　my　sight　failed。　　How　well　understood　was　the　potent　magic　of　the　grandeur　and　dignity　which　ought　to　surround　sovereigns！　　Marie　Antoinette；　dressed　in　white；　with　a　plain　straw　hat；　and　a　little　switch　in　her　hand；　walking　on　foot；　followed　by　a　single　servant；　through　the　walks　leading　to　the　Petit　Trianon；　would　never　have　thus　disconcerted　me；　and　I　believe　this　extreme　simplicity　was　the　first　and　only　real　mistake　of　all　those　with　which　she　is　reproached。〃

When　once　her　awe　and　confusion　had　subsided；　Mademoiselle　Genet　was　enabled　to　form　a　more　accurate　judgment　of　her　situation。　　It　was　by　no　means　attractive；　the　Court　of　the　Princesses；　far　removed　from　the　revels　to　which　Louie　XV。　was　addicted；　was　grave；　methodical；　and　dull。　Madame　Adelaide；　the　eldest　of　the　Princesses；　lived　secluded　in　the　interior　of　her　apartments；　Madame　Sophie　was　haughty；　Madame　Louise　a　devotee。　　Mademoiselle　Genet　never　quitted　the　Princesses'　apartments；　but　she　attached　herself　most　particularly　to　Madame　Victoire。　　This　Princess　had　possessed　beauty；　her　countenance　bore　an　expression　of　benevolence；　and　her　conversation　was　kind；　free；　and　unaffected。　　The　young　reader　excited　in　her　that　feeling　which　a　woman　in　years；　of　an　affectionate　disposition；　readily　extends　to　young　people　who　are　growing　up　in　her　sight；　and　who　possess　some　useful　talents。　　Whole　days　were　passed　in　reading　to　the　Princess；　as　she　sat　at　work　in　her　apartment。　Mademoiselle　Genet　frequently　saw　there　Louis　XV。；　of　whom　she　has　related　the　following　anecdote：

〃One　day；　at　the　Chateau　of　Compiegne；　the　King　came　in　whilst　I　was　reading　to　Madame。　　I　rose　and　went　into　another　room。　　Alone；　in　an　apartment　from　which　there　was　no　outlet；　with　no　book　but　a　Massillon；　which　I　had　been　reading　to　the　Princess；　happy　in　all　the　lightness　and　gaiety　of　fifteen；　I　amused　myself　with　turning　swiftly　round；　with　my　court　hoop；　and　suddenly　kneeling　down　to　see　my　rose…coloured　silk　petticoat　swelled　around　me　by　the　wind。　　In　the　midst　of　this　grave　employment　enters　his　Majesty；　followed　by　one　of　the　Princesses。　　I　attempt　to　rise；　my　feet　stumble；　and　down　I　fall　in　the　midst　of　my　robes；　puffed　out　by　the　wind。　　'Daughter；'　said　Louis　XV。；　laughing　heartily；　'I　advise　you　to　send　back　to　school　a　reader　who　makes　cheeses。'〃　　The　railleries　of　Louis　XV。　were　often　much　more　cutting；　as　Mademoiselle　Genet　experienced　on　another　occasion；　which；　thirty　years　afterwards；　she　could　not　relate　without　an　emotion　of　fear。　〃Louis　XV。；〃　she　said；　〃had　the　most　imposing　presence。　　His　eyes　remained　fixed　upon　you　all　the　time　he　was　speaking；　and；　notwithstanding　the　beauty　of　his　features；　he　inspired　a　sort　of　fear。　I　was　very　young；　it　is　true；　when　he　first　spoke　to　me；　you　shall　judge　whether　it　was　in　a　very　gracious　manner。　　I　was　fifteen。　　The　King　was　going　out　to　hunt；　and　a　numerous　retinue　followed　him。　　As　he　stopped　opposite　me　he　said；　'Mademoiselle　Genet；　I　am　assured　you　are　very　learned；　and　understand　four　or　five　foreign　languages。''I　know　only　two；　Sire；'　I　answered；　trembling。　　'Which　are　they？'　English　and　Italian。''Do　you　speak　them　fluently？'　Yes；　Sire；　very　fluently。'　'That　is　quite　enough　to　drive　a　husband　mad。'　　After　this　pretty　compliment　the　King　went　on；　the　retinue　saluted　me；　laughing；　and；　for　my　part；　I　remained　for　some　moments　motionless　with　surprise　and　confusion。〃

At　the　time　when　the　French　alliance　was　proposed　by　the　Duc　de　Choiseul　there　was　at　Vienna　a　doctor　named　Gassner；＇Jean　Joseph　Gassner；　a　pretender　to　miraculous　powers。＇　who　had　fled　thither　to　seek　an　asylum　against　the　persecutions　of　his　sovereign；　one　of　the　ecclesiastical　electors。　　Gassner；　gifted　with　an　extraordinary　warmth　of　imagination；　imagined　that　he　received　inspirations。　　The　Empress　protected　him；　saw　him　occasionally；　rallied　him　on　his　visions；　and；　nevertheless；　heard　them　with　a　sort　of　interest。　　〃Tell　me；〃said　she　to　him　one　day；　〃whether　my　Antoinette　will　be　happy。〃　　Gassner　turned　pale；　and　remained　silent。　　Being　still　pressed　by　the　Empress；　and　wishing　to　give　a　general　expression　to　the　idea　with　which　he　seemed　deeply　occupied；　〃Madame；〃　he　replied；　〃there　are　crosses　for　all　shoulders。〃

The　occurrences　at　the　Place　Louis　XV。　on　the　marriage　festivities　at　Paris　are　generally　known。　　The　conflagration　of　the　scaffolds　intended　for　the　fireworks；　the　want　of　foresight　of　the　authorities；　the　avidity　of　robbers；　the　murderous　career　of　the　coaches；　brought　about　and　aggravated　the　disasters　of　that　day；　and　the　young　Dauphiness；　coming　from　Versailles；　by　the　Cours　la　Reine；　elated　with　joy；　brilliantly　decorated；　and　eager　to　witness　the　rejoicings　of　the　whole　people；　fled；　struck　with　consternation　and　drowned　in　tears；　from　the　dreadful　scene。　This　tragic　opening　of　the　young　Princess's　life　in　France　seemed　to　bear　out　Gassner's　hint　of　disaster；　and　to　be　ominous　of　the　terrible　future　which　awaited　her。

In　the　same　year　in　which　Marie　Antoinette　was　married　to　the　Dauphin；　Henriette　Genet　married　a　son　of　M。　Campan；　already　mentioned　as　holding　an　office　at　the　Court；　and　when　the　household　of　the　Dauphiness　was　formed；　Madame　Campan　was　appointed　her　reader；　and　received　from　Marie　Antoinette　a　consistent　kindness　and　confidence　to　which　by　her　loyal　service　she　was　fully　entitled。　　　Madame　Campan's　intelligence　and　vivacity　made　her　much　more　sympathetic　to　a　young　princess；　gay　and　affectionate　in　disposition；　and　reared　in　the　simplicity　of　a　German　Court；　than　her　lady　of　honour；　the　Comtesse　de　Noailles。　　This　respectable　lady；　who　was　placed　near　her　as　a　minister　of　the　laws　of　etiquette；　instead　of　alleviating　their　weight；　rendered　their　yoke　intolerable　to　her。

〃Madame　de　Noailles；〃　says　Madame　Campan；　〃abounded　in　virtues。　　Her　piety；　charity；　and　irreproachable　morals　rendered　her　worthy　of　praise；　but　etiquette　was　to　her　a　sort　of　atmosphere；　at　the　slightest　derangement　of　the　consecrated　order；　one　would　have　thought　the　principles　of　life　would　forsake　her　frame。

〃One　day　I　unintentionally　threw　this　poor　lady　into　a　terrible　agony。　The　Queen　was　receiving　I　know　not　whom；some　persons　just　presented；　I　believe；　the　lady　of　honour；　the　Queen's　tirewoman；　and　the　ladies　of　the　bedchamber；　were　behind　the　Queen。　　I　was　near　the　throne；　with　the　two　women　on　duty。　　All　was　right；at　least　I　thought　so。　　Suddenly　I　perceived　the　eyes　of　Madame　de　Noailles　fixed　on　mine。　　She　made　a　sign　with　her　head；　and　then　raised　her　eyebrows　to　the　top　of　her　forehead；　lowered　them；　raised　them　again；　then　began　to　make　little　signs　with　her　hand。　　From　all　this　pantomime；　I　could　easily　perceive　that　something　was　not　as　it　should　be；　and　as　I　looked　about　on　all　sides　to　find　out　what　it　was；　the　agitation　of　the　Countess　kept　increasing。　　The　Queen；　who　perceived　all　this；　looked　at　me　with　a　smile；　I　found　means　to　approach　her　Majesty；　who　said　to　me　in　a　whisper；　'Let　down　your　lappets；　or　the　Countess　will　expire。'　　All　this　bustle　arose　from　two　unlucky　pins　which　fastened　up　my　lappets；　whilst　the　etiquette　of　costume　said　'Lappets　hanging　down。'〃

Her　contempt　of　the　vanities　of　etiquette　became　the　pretext　for　the　first　reproaches　levelled　at　the　Queen。　　What　misconduct　might　not　be　dreaded　from　a　princess　who　could　absolutely　go　out　without　a　hoop！　and　who；　in　the　salons　of　Trianon；　instead　of　discussing　the　important　rights　to　chairs　and　stools；　good…naturedly　invited　everybody　to　be　seated。

　　　　　＇M。　de　Fresne　Forget；　being　one　day　in　company　with　the　Queen　　　　　　Marguerite；　told　her　he　was　astonished　how　men　and　women　with　such　　　　　　great　ruffs　could　eat　soup　without　spoiling　them；　and　still　more　how　　　　　　the　ladies　could　be　gallant　with　their　great　fardingales。　　The　Queen　　　　　　made　no　answer　at　that　time；　but　a　few　days　after；　having　a　very　　　　　　large　ruff　on；　and　some　'bouili'　to　eat；　she　ordered　a　very　long　　　　　　spoon　to　be　brought；　and　ate　her　'bouili'　with　it；　without　soiling　　　　　　her　ruff。　　Upon　which；　addressing　herself　to　M。　de　Fresne；　she　said；　　　　　　laughing；　〃There　now；　you　see；　with　a　little　ingenuity　one　may　　　　　　manage　anything。〃〃Yes；　faith；　madame；〃　said　the　good　man；　〃as　far　　　　　　as　regards　the　soup　I　am　satisfied。〃LAPLACE's　〃Collection；〃　vol。　　　　　　ii。；　p。　350。＇

The　anti…Austrian　party；　discontented　and　vindictive；　became　spies　upon　her　conduct；　exaggerated　her　slightest　errors；　and　calumniated　her　most　innocent　proceedings。　　〃What　seems　unaccountable　at　the　first　glance；〃　says　Montjoie；　〃is　that　the　first　attack　on　the　reputation　of　the　Queen　proceeded　from　the　bosom　of　the　Court。　　What　interest　could　the　courtiers　have　in　seeking　her　destruction；　which　involved　that　of　the　King？　　Was　it　not　drying　up　the　source　of　all　the　advantages　they　enjoyed；　or　could　hope　for？〃

　　　　　＇Madame　Campan　relates　the　following　among　many　anecdotes　　　　　　illustrative　of　the　Queen's　kindness　of　heart：　〃A　petition　was　　　　　　addressed　to　the　Queen　by　a　corporation　in　the　neighbourhood　of　　　　　　Paris；　praying　for　the　destruction　of　the　game　which　destroyed　their　　　　　　crops。　　I　was　the　bearer　of　this　petition　to　her　Majesty；　who　said；　　　　　　'I　will　undertake　to　have　these　good　people　relieved　from　so　great　　　　　　an　annoyance。'　　She　gave　the　document　to　M。　de　Vermond　in　my　　　　　　presence；　saying；　'I　desire　that　immediate　justice　be　done　to　this　　　　　　petition。'　　An　assurance　was　given　that　her　order　should　be　attended　　　　　　to；　but　six　weeks　afterwards　a　second　petition　was　sent　up；　for　the　　　　　　nuisance　had　not　been　abated　after　all。　　If　the　second　petition　had　　　　　　reached　the　Queen；　M。　de　Vermond　would　have　received　a　sharp　　　　　　reprimand。　　She　was　always　so　happy　when　it　was　in　her　power　to　do　　　　　　good。〃

　　　　　The　quick　repartee；　which　was　another　of　the　Queen's　　　　　　characteristics；　was　less　likely　to　promote　her　popularity。　　〃M。　　　　　　Brunier；〃　says　Madame　Campan；　〃was　physician　to　the　royal　children。　　　　　　During　his　visits　to　the　palace；　if　the　death　of　any　of　his　patients　　　　　　was　alluded　to；　he　never　failed　to　say；　'Ah！　there　I　lost　one　of　my　　　　　　best　friends！　　'Well；'　said　the　Queen；　'if　he　loses　all　his　patients　　　　　　who　are　his　friends；　what　will　become　of　those　who　are　not？'〃＇

When　the　terrible　Danton　exclaimed；　〃The　kings　of　Europe　menace　us；　it　behooves　us　to　defy　them；　let　us　throw　down　to　them　t