the memoirs of marie antoinette-第63章

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All　parties　were　exerting　themselves　either　to　ruin　or　to　save　the　King。　One　day　I　found　the　Queen　extremely　agitated；　she　told　me　she　no　longer　knew　where　she　was；　that　the　leaders　of　the　Jacobins　offered　themselves　to　her　through　the　medium　of　Dumouriez；　or　that　Dumouriez；　abandoning　the　Jacobins；　had　come　and　offered　himself　to　her；　that　she　had　granted　him　an　audience；　that　when　alone　with　her；　he　had　thrown　himself　at　her　feet；　and　told　her　that　he　had　drawn　the　'bonnet　rouge'　over　his　head　to　the　very　ears；　but　that　he　neither　was　nor　could　be　a　Jacobin；　that　the　Revolution　had　been　suffered　to　extend　even　to　that　rabble　of　destroyers　who；　thinking　of　nothing　but　pillage；　were　ripe　for　anything；　and　might　furnish　the　Assembly　with　a　formidable　army；　ready　to　undermine　the　remains　of　a　throne　already　but　too　much　shaken。　　Whilst　speaking　with　the　utmost　ardour　he　seized　the　Queen's　hand　and　kissed　it　with　transport；　exclaiming；　〃Suffer　yourself　to　be　saved！〃　　The　Queen　told　me　that　the　protestations　of　a　traitor　were　not　to　be　relied　on；　that　the　whole　of　his　conduct　was　so　well　known　that　undoubtedly　the　wisest　course　was　not　to　trust　to　it；

　　　　　＇The　sincerity　of　General　Dumouriez　cannot　be　doubted　in　this　　　　　　instance。　　The　second　volume　of　his　Memoirs　shows　how　unjust　the　　　　　　mistrust　and　reproaches　of　the　Queen　were。　　By　rejecting　his　　　　　　services；　Marie　Antoinette　deprived　herself　of　her　only　remaining　　　　　　support。　　He　who　saved　France　in　the　defiles　of　Argonne　would　　　　　　perhaps　have　saved　France　before　the　20th　of　June；　had　he　obtained　　　　　　the　full　confidence　of　Louis　XVI。　and　the　Queen。NOTE　BY　THE　　　　　　EDITOR。＇

that；　moreover；　the　Princes　particularly　recommended　that　no　confidence　should　be　placed　in　any　proposition　emanating　from　within　the　kingdom；　that　the　force　without　became　imposing；　and　that　it　was　better　to　rely　upon　their　success；　and　upon　the　protection　due　from　Heaven　to　a　sovereign　so　virtuous　as　Louis　XVI。　　and　to　so　just　a　cause。

The　constitutionalists；　on　their　part；　saw　that　there　had　been　nothing　more　than　a　pretence　of　listening　to　them。　　Barnave's　last　advice　was　as　to　the　means　of　continuing；　a　few　weeks　longer；　the　Constitutional　Guard；　which　had　been　denounced　to　the　Assembly；　and　was　to　be　disbanded。　　The　denunciation　against　the　Constitutional　Guard　affected　only　its　staff；　and　the　Duc　de　Brissac。　　Barnave　wrote　to　the　Queen　that　the　staff　of　the　guard　was　already　attacked；　that　the　Assembly　was　about　to　pass　a　decree　to　reduce　it；　and　he　entreated　her　to　prevail　on　the　King；　the　very　instant　the　decree　should　appear；　to　form　the　staff　afresh　of　persons　whose　names　he　sent　her。　　Barnave　said　that　all　who　were　set　down　in　it　passed　for　decided　Jacobins；　but　were　not　so　in　fact；　that　they；　as　well　as　himself；　were　in　despair　at　seeing　the　monarchical　government　attacked；　that　they　had　learnt　to　dissemble　their　sentiments；　and　that　it　would　be　at　least　a　fortnight　before　the　Assembly　could　know　them　well；　and　certainly　before　it　could　succeed　in　making　them　unpopular；　that　it　would　be　necessary　to　take　advantage　of　that　short　space　of　time　to　get　away　from　Paris；　immediately　after　their　nomination。　　The　Queen　was　of　opinion　that　she　ought　not　to　yield　to　this　advice。　　The　Duc　de　Brissac　was　sent　to　Orleans；　and　the　guard　was　disbanded。

Barnave；　seeing　that　the　Queen　did　not　follow　his　counsel　in　anything；　and　convinced　that　she　placed　all　her　reliance　on　assistance　from　abroad；　determined　to　quit　Paris。　　He　obtained　a　last　audience。　　〃Your　misfortunes；　Madame；〃　said　he；　〃and　those　which　I　anticipate　for　France；。　determined　me　to　sacrifice　myself　to　serve　you。　　I　see；　however；　that　my　advice　does　not　agree　with　the　views　of　your　Majesties。　　I　augur　but　little　advantage　from　the　plan　you　are　induced　to　pursue；you　are　too　remote　from　your　succours；　you　will　be　lost　before　they　reach　you。　　Most　ardently　do　I　wish　I　may　be　mistaken　in　so　lamentable　a　prediction；　but　I　am　sure　to　pay　with　my　head　for　the　interest　your　misfortunes　have　raised　in　me；　and　the　services　I　have　sought　to　render　you。　　I　request；　for　my　sole　reward；　the　honour　of　kissing　your　hand。〃　　The　Queen；　her　eyes　suffused　with　tears；　granted　him　that　favour；　and　remained　impressed　with　a　favourable　idea　of　his　sentiments。　　Madame　Elisabeth　participated　in　this　opinion；　and　the　two　Princesses　frequently　spoke　of　Barnave。　　The　Queen　also　received　M。　Duport　several　times；　but　with　less　mystery。　　Her　connection　with　the　constitutional　deputies　transpired。　　Alexandre　de　Lameth　was　the　only　one　of　the　three　who　survived　the　vengeance　of　the　Jacobins。

　　　　　＇Barnave　was　arrested　at　Grenoble。　　He　remained　in　prison　in　that　　　　　　town　fifteen　months；　and　his　friends　began　to　hope　that　he　would　be　　　　　　forgotten；　when　an　order　arrived　that　he　should　be　removed　to　Paris。　　　　　　At　first　he　was　imprisoned　in　the　Abbaye；　but　transferred　to　the　　　　　　Conciergerie；　and　almost　immediately　taken　before　the　revolutionary　　　　　　tribunal。　　He　appeared　there　with　wonderful　firmness；　summed　up　the　　　　　　services　he　had　rendered　to　the　cause　of　liberty　with　his　usual　　　　　　eloquence；　and　made　such　an　impression　upon　the　numerous　auditors　　　　　　that；　although　accustomed　to　behold　only　conspirators　worthy　of　　　　　　death　in　all　those　who　appeared　before　the　tribunal；　they　themselves　　　　　　considered　his　acquittal　certain。　　The　decree　of　death　was　read　　　　　　amidst　the　deepest　silence；　but　Barnave'a　firmness　was　immovable。　　　　　　When　he　left　the　court；　he　cast　upon　the　judges；　the　jurors；　and　the　　　　　　public　looks　expressive　of　contempt　and　indignation。　　He　was　led　to　　　　　　his　fate　with　the　respected　Duport　du　Tertre；　one　of　the　last　　　　　　ministers　of　Louis　XVI。　when　he　had　ascended　the　scaffold；　Barnave　　　　　　stamped；　raised　his　eyes　to　heaven；　and　said：　〃This；　then；　is　the　　　　　　reward　of　all　that　I　have　done　for　liberty！〃　　He　fell　on　the　29th　of　　　　　　October；　1793；　in　the　thirty…second　year　of　his　age；　his　bust　was　　　　　　placed　in　the　Grenoble　Museum。　　The　Consular　Government　placed　his　　　　　　statue　next　to　that　of　Vergniaud；　on　the　great　staircase　of　the　　　　　　palace　of　the　Senate。〃Biographie　de　Bruxelles。〃＇

The　National　Guard；　which　succeeded　the　King's　Guard；　having　occupied　the　gates　of　the　Tuileries；　all　who　came　to　see　the　Queen　were　insulted　with　impunity。　　Menacing　cries　were　uttered　aloud　even　in　the　Tuileries；　they　called　for　the　destruction　of　the　throne；　and　the　murder　of　the　sovereign；　the　grossest　insults　were　offered　by　the　very　lowest　of　the　mob。

About　this　time　the　King　fell　into　a　despondent　state；　which　amounted　almost　to　physical　helplessness。　　He　passed　ten　successive　days　without　uttering　a　single　word；　even　in　the　bosom　of　his　family；　except；　indeed；　when　playing　at　backgammon　after　dinner　with　Madame　Elisabeth。　　The　Queen　roused　him　from　this　state；　so　fatal　at　a　critical　period；　by　throwing　herself　at　his　feet；　urging　every　alarming　idea；　and　employing　every　affectionate　expression。　　She　represented　also　what　he　owed　to　his　family；　and　told　him　that　if　they　were　doomed　to　fall　they　ought　to　fall　honourably；　and　not　wait　to　be　smothered　upon　the　floor　of　their　apartment。

About　the　15th　of　June；　1792；　the　King　refused　his　sanction　to　the　two　decrees　ordaining　the　deportation　of　priests　and　the　formation　of　a　camp　of　twenty　thousand　men　under　the　walls　of　Paris。　　He　himself　wished　to　sanction　them；　and　said　that　the　general　insurrection　only　waited　for　a　pretence　to　burst　forth。　　The　Queen　insisted　upon　the　veto；　and　reproached　herself　bitterly　when　this　last　act　of　the　constitutional　authority　had　occasioned　the　day　of　the　20th　of　June。

A　few　days　previously　about　twenty　thousand　men　had　gone　to　the　Commune　to　announce　that；　on　the　20th；　they　would　plant　the　tree　of　liberty　at　the　door　of　the　National　Assembly；　and　present　a　petition　to　the　King　respecting　the　veto　which　he　had　placed　upon　the　decree　for　the　deportation　of　the　priests。　　This　dreadful　army　crossed　the　garden　of　the　Tuileries；　and　marched　under　the　Queen's　windows；　it　consisted　of　people　who　called　themselves　the　citizens　of　the　Faubourgs　St。　Antoine　and　St。　Marceau。　　Clothed　in　filthy　rags；　they　bore　a　most　terrifying　appearance；　and　even　infected　the　air。　　People　asked　each　other　where　such　an　army　could　come　from；　nothing　so　disgusting　had　ever　before　appeared　in　Paris。

On　the　20th　of　June　this　mob　thronged　about　the　Tuileries　in　still　greater　numbers；　armed　with　pikes；　hatchets；　and　murderous　instruments　of　all　kinds；　decorated　with　ribbons　of　the　national　colours；　Shouting；　〃The　nation　for　ever！　　Down　with　the　veto！〃　　The　King　was　without　guards。　Some　of　these　desperadoes　rushed　up　to　his　apartment；　the　door　was　about　to　be　forced　in；　when　the　King　commanded　that　it　should　be　opened。　Messieurs　de　Bougainville；　d'Hervilly；　de　Parois；　d'Aubier；　Acloque；　Gentil；　and　other　courageous　men　who　were　in　the　apartment　of　M。　de　Septeuil；　the　King's　first　valet　de　chambre；　instantly　ran　to　his　Majesty's　apartment。　　M。　de　Bougainville；　seeing　the　torrent　furiously　advancing；　cried　out；　〃Put　the　King　in　the　recess　of　the　window；　and　place　benches　before　him。〃　　Six　royalist　grenadiers　of　the　battalion　of　the　Filles　Saint　Thomas　made　their　way　by　an　inner　staircase；　and　ranged　themselves　before　the　benches。　　The　order　given　by　M。　de　Bougainville　saved　the　King　from　the　blades　of　the　assassins；　among　whom　was　a　Pole　named　Lazousky；　who　was　to　strike　the　first　blow。　　The　King's　brave　defenders　said；　〃Sire；　fear　nothing。〃　　The　King's　reply　is　well　known：　〃Put　your　hand　upon　my　heart；　and　you　will　perceive　whether　I　am　afraid。〃　M。　Vanot；　commandant　of　battalion；　warded　off　a　blow　aimed　by　a　wretch　against　the　King；　a　grenadier　of　the　Filles　Saint　Thomas　parried　a　sword…　thrust　made　in　the　same　direction。　　Madame　Elisabeth　ran　to　her　brother's　apartments；　when　she　reached　the　door　she　heard　loud　threats　of　death　against　the　Queen：　they　called　for　the　head　of　the　Austrian。　　〃Ah！　　let　them　think　I　am　the　Queen；〃　she　said　to　those　around　her；　〃that　she　may　have　time　to　escape。〃

The　Queen　could　not　join　the　King；　she　was　in　the　council　chamber；　where　she　had　been　placed　behind　the　great　table　to　protect　her；　as　much　as　possible；　against　the　approach　of　the　barbarians。　　Preserving　a　noble　and　becoming　demeanour　in　this　dreadful　situation；　she　held　the　Dauphin　before　her；　seated　upon　the　table。　　Madame　was　at　her　side；　the　Princesse　de　Lamballe；　the　Princesse　de　Tarente；　Madame　de　la　Roche…Aymon；　Madame　de　Tourzel；　and　Madame　de　Mackau　surrounded　her。　　She　had　fixed　a　tricoloured　cockade；　which　one　of　the　National　Guard　had　given　her；　upon　her　head。　　The　poor　little　Dauphin　was；　like　the　King；　shrouded　in　an　enormous　red　cap。　　The　horde　passed　in　files　before　the　table；

　　　　　＇One　of　the　circumstances　of　the　20th　of　June　which　most　vexed　the　　　　　　King's　friends　being　that　of　his　wearing　the　bonnet　rouge　nearly　　　　　　three　hours；　I　ventured　to　ask　him　for　some　explanation　of　a　fact　so　　　　　　strikingly　in　contrast　with　the　extraordinary　intrepidity　shown　by　　　　　　his　Majesty　during　that　horrible　day。　　This　was　his　answer：　〃The　　　　　　cries　of　'The　nation　for　ever！'　violently　increasing　around　me；　and　　　　　　seeming　to　be　addressed　to　me；　I　replied　that　the　nation　had　not　a　　　　　　warmer　friend　t