the memoirs of marie antoinette-第59章
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and even in the Assembly； where Robespierre had already denounced them as traitors to the country； and dreading still greater evils； added their opinions to those of the majority of the ministers and M。 de Kaunitz； those who really desired that the constitution should be maintained advised that it should not be accepted thus literally。 The King seemed inclined to this advice； and this is one of the strongest proofs of his sincerity。
Alexandre Lameth； Duport； and Barnave； still relying on the resources of their party； hoped to have credit for directing the King through the influence they believed they had acquired over the mind of the Queen。 They also consulted people of acknowledged talent； but belonging to no council nor to any assembly。 Among these was M。 Dubucq； formerly intendant of the marine and of the colonies。 He answered laconically in one phrase： 〃Prevent disorder from organising itself。〃
The letter written by the King to the Assembly； claiming to accept the constitution in the very place where it had been created； and where he announced he would be on the 14th September at mid…day； was received with transport； and the reading was repeatedly interrupted by plaudits。 The sitting terminated amidst the greatest enthusiasm； and M。 de La Fayette obtained the release of all those who were detained on account of the King's journey ＇to Varennes＇； the abandonment of all proceedings relative to the events of the Revolution； and the discontinuance of the use of passports and of temporary restraints upon free travelling； as well in the interior as without。 The whole was conceded by acclamation。 Sixty members were deputed to go to the King and express to him fully the satisfaction his Majesty's letter had given。 The Keeper of the Seals quitted the chamber； in the midst of applause； to precede the deputation to the King。
The King answered the speech addressed to him； and concluded by saying to the Assembly that a decree of that morning； which had abolished the order of the Holy Ghost； had left him and his son alone permission to be decorated with it； but that an order having no value in his eyes； save for the power of conferring it； he would not use it。
The Queen； her son； and Madame； were at the door of the chamber into which the deputation was admitted。 The King said to the deputies； 〃You see there my wife and children； who participate in my sentiments； 〃 and the Queen herself confirmed the King's assurance。 These apparent marks of confidence were very inconsistent with the agitated state of her mind。 〃These people want no sovereigns；〃 said she。 〃We shall fall before their treacherous though well…planned tactics； they are demolishing the monarchy stone by stone。〃
Next day the particulars of the reception of the deputies by the King were reported to the Assembly； and excited warm approbation。 But the President having put the question whether the Assembly ought not to remain seated while the King took the oath 〃Certainly；〃 was repeated by many voices； 〃and the King； standing； uncovered。〃 M。 Malouet observed that there was no occasion on which the nation； assembled in the presence of the King； did not acknowledge him as its head； that the omission to treat the head of the State with the respect due to him would be an offence to the nation； as well as to the monarch。 He moved that the King should take the oath standing； and that the Assembly should also stand while he was doing so。 M。 Malouet's observations would have carried the decree； but a deputy from Brittany exclaimed； with a shrill voice； that he had an amendment to propose which would render all unanimous。 〃Let us decree；〃 said he； 〃that M。 Malouet； and whoever else shall so please； may have leave to receive the King upon their knees； but let us stick to the decree。〃
The King repaired to the chamber at mid…day。 His speech was followed by plaudits which lasted several minutes。 After the signing of the constitutional act all sat down。 The President rose to deliver his speech； but after he had begun； perceiving that the King did not rise to hear him； he sat down again。 His speech made a powerful impression； the sentence with which it concluded excited fresh acclamations； cries of 〃Bravo！〃 and 〃Vive le Roi！〃〃Sire； 〃said he； 〃how important in our eyes； and how dear to our heartshow sublime a feature in our history must be the epoch of that regeneration which gives citizens to France； and a country to Frenchmen；to you； as a king； a new title of greatness and glory； and； as a man； a source of new enjoyment。〃 The whole Assembly accompanied the King on his return； amidst the people's cries of happiness； military music； and salvoes of artillery。
At length I hoped to see a return of that tranquillity which had so long vanished from the countenances of my august master and mistress。 Their suite left them in the salon； the Queen hastily saluted the ladies； and returned much affected； the King followed her； and； throwing himself into an armchair； put his handkerchief to his eyes。 〃Ah！ Madame；〃 cried he； his voice choked by tears； 〃why were you present at this sitting？ to witness〃 these words were interrupted by sobs。 The Queen threw herself upon her knees before him； and pressed him in her arms。 I remained with them； not from any blamable curiosity； but from a stupefaction which rendered me incapable of determining what I ought to do。 The Queen said to me； 〃Oh！ go； go！〃 with an accent which expressed； 〃Do not remain to see the dejection and despair of your sovereign！〃 I withdrew； struck with the contrast between the shouts of joy without the palace and the profound grief which oppressed the sovereigns within。 Half an hour afterwards the Queen sent for me。 She desired to see M。 de Goguelat； to announce to him his departure on that very night for Vienna。 The renewed attacks upon the dignity of the throne which had been made during the sitting； the spirit of an Assembly worse than the former； the monarch put upon a level with the President； without any deference to the throne； all this proclaimed but too loudly that the sovereignty itself was aimed at。 The Queen no longer saw any ground for hope from the Provinces。 The King wrote to the Emperor； she told me that she would herself； at midnight； bring the letter which M。 de Goguelat was to bear to the Emperor； to my room。
During all the remainder of the day the Chateau and the Tuileries were crowded； the illuminations were magnificent。 The King and Queen were requested to take an airing in their carriage in the Champs…Elysees； escorted by the aides…decamp； and leaders of the Parisian army； the Constitutional Guard not being at the time organised。 Many shouts of 〃Vive le Roi！〃 were heard； but as often as they ceased； one of the mob； who never quitted the door of the King's carriage for a single instant； exclaimed with a stentorian voice； 〃No； don't believe them！ Vive la Nation！〃 This ill…omened cry struck terror into the Queen。
A few days afterwards M。 de Montmorin sent to say he wanted to speak to me； that he would come to me； if he were not apprehensive his doing so would attract observation； and that he thought it would appear less conspicuous if he should see me in the Queen's great closet at a time which he specified； and when nobody would be there。 I went。 After having made some polite observations upon the services I had already performed； and those I might yet perform； for my master and mistress； he spoke to me of the King's imminent danger； of the plots which were hatching； and of the lamentable composition of the Legislative Assembly； and he particularly dwelt upon the necessity of appearing； by prudent remarks； determined as much as possible to abide by the act the King had just recognised。 I told him that could not be done without committing ourselves in the eyes of the royalist party； with which moderation was a crime； that it was painful to hear ourselves taxed with being constitutionalists； at the same time that it was our opinion that the only constitution which was consistent with the King's honour； and the happiness and tranquillity of his people； was the absolute power of the sovereign； that this was my creed； and it would pain me to give any room for suspicion that I was wavering in it。
〃Could you ever believe；〃 said he； 〃that I should desire any other order of things？ Have you any doubt of my attachment to the King's person； and the maintenance of his rights？〃
〃I know it； Count；〃 replied I； 〃but you are not ignorant that you lie under the imputation of having adopted revolutionary ideas。〃
〃Well； madame； have resolution enough to dissemble and to conceal your real sentiments； dissimulation was never more necessary。 Endeavours are being made to paralyse the evil intentions of the factious as much as possible； but we must not be counteracted here by certain dangerous expressions which are circulated in Paris as coming from the King and Queen。〃
I told him that I had been already struck with apprehension of the evil which might be done by the intemperate observations of persons who had no power to act； and that I had felt ill consequences from having repeatedly enjoined silence on those in the Queen's service。
〃I know that；〃 said the Count； 〃the Queen informed me of it； and that determined me to come and request you to increase and keep alive； as much as you can； that spirit of discretion which is so necessary。〃
While the household of the King and Queen were a prey to all these fears； the festivities in celebration of the acceptance of the constitution proceeded。 Their Majesties went to the Opera； the audience consisted entirely of persons who sided with the King； and on that day the happiness of seeing him for a short time surrounded by faithful subjects might be enjoyed。 The acclamations were then sincere。
〃La Coquette Corrigee〃 had been selected for representation at the Theatre Francais solely because it was the piece in which Mademoiselle Contat shone most。 Yet the notions propagated by the Queen's enemies coinciding in my mind with the name of the play； I thought the choice very ill…judged。 I was at a loss； however； how to tell her Majesty so； but sincere attachment gives courage。 I explained myself； she was obliged to me； and desired that another play might be performed。 They accordingly selected 〃La Gouvernante；〃 almost equally unfortunate in title。
The Queen； Madame the King's daughter； and Madame Elisabeth were all well received on this occasion。 It is true that the opinions and feelings of the spectators in the boxes could not be otherwise than favourable； and great pains had been taken； previously to these two performances； to fill the pit with proper persons。 But； on the other hand； the Jacobins took the same precautions on their side at the Theatre Italien； and the tumult was excessive there。 The play was Gretry's 〃Les Evenements Imprevus。〃 Unfortunately； Madame Dugazon thought proper to bow to the Queen as she sang the words； 〃Ah； how I love my mistress！〃 in a duet。 Above twenty voices immediately exclaimed from the pit； 〃No mistress！ no master！ liberty！〃 A few replied from the boxes and slips； 〃Vive le Roi！ vive la Reine！〃 Those in the pit answered； 〃No master！ no Queen！〃 The quarrel increased； the pit formed into parties； th
