the memoirs of marie antoinette-第72章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ed　that　none　of　the　Princesses　work　should　leave　the　Temple。　The　short　daily　walk　in　the　garden　was　also　embittered　by　the　rude　behaviour　of　the　military　and　municipal　gaolers；　sometimes；　however；　it　afforded　an　opportunity　for　marks　of　sympathy　to　be　shown。　　People　would　station　themselves　at　the　windows　of　houses　overlooking　the　Temple　gardens；　and　evince　by　gestures　their　loyal　affection；　and　some　of　the　sentinels　showed；　even　by　tears；　that　their　duty　was　painful　to　them。

On　the　21st　September　the　National　Convention　was　constituted；　Petion　being　made　president　and　Collot　d'Herbois　moving　the　〃abolition　of　royalty〃　amidst　transports　of　applause。　　That　afternoon　a　municipal　officer　attended　by　gendarmes　a　cheval；　and　followed　by　a　crowd　of　people；　arrived　at　the　Temple；　and；　after　a　flourish　of　trumpets；　proclaimed　the　establishment　of　the　French　Republic。　　The　man；　says　Clery；　〃had　the　voice　of　a　Stentor。〃　　The　royal　family　could　distinctly　hear　the　announcement　of　the　King's　deposition。　　〃Hebert；　so　well　known　under　the　title　of　Pere　Duchesne；　and　Destournelles　were　on　guard。　　They　were　sitting　near　the　door；　and　turned　to　the　King　with　meaning　smiles。　He　had　a　book　in　his　hand；　and　went　on　reading　without　changing　countenance。　　The　Queen　showed　the　same　firmness。　　The　proclamation　finished；　the　trumpets　sounded　afresh。　　I　went　to　the　window；　the　people　took　me　for　Louis　XVI。　and　I　was　overwhelmed　with　insults。〃

After　the　new　decree　the　prisoners　were　treated　with　increased　harshness。　Pens；　paper；　ink；　and　pencils　were　taken　from　them。　　The　King　and　Madame　Elisabeth　gave　up　all；　but　the　Queen　and　her　daughter　each　concealed　a　pencil。　　〃In　the　beginning　of　October；〃　says　Madame　Royale；　〃after　my　father　had　supped；　he　was　told　to　stop；　that　he　was　not　to　return　to　his　former　apartments；　and　that　he　was　to　be　separated　from　his　family。　　At　this　dreadful　sentence　the　Queen　lost　her　usual　courage。　　We　parted　from　him　with　abundance　of　tears；　though　we　expected　to　see　him　again　in　the　morning。

　　　　　＇At　nine　o'clock；　says　Clery；　the　King　asked　to　be　taken　to　his　　　　　　family；　but　the　municipal　officers　replied　that　they　had　〃no　orders　　　　　　for　that。〃　　Shortly　afterwards　a　boy　brought　the　King　some　bread　and　　　　　　a　decanter　of　lemonade　for　his　breakfast。　　The　King　gave　half　the　　　　　　bread　to　Clery；　saying；　〃It　seems　they　have　forgotten　your　　　　　　breakfast；　take　this；　the　rest　is　enough　for　me。〃　　Clery　refused；　　　　　　but　the　King　insisted。　　〃I　could　not　contain　my　tears；〃　he　adds；　　　　　　〃the　King　perceived　them；　and　his　own　fell　also。〃＇

They　brought　in　our　breakfast　separately　from　his；　however。　　My　mother　would　take　nothing。　　The　officers；　alarmed　at　her　silent　and　concentrated　sorrow；　allowed　us　to　see　the　King；　but　at　meal…times　only；　and　on　condition　that　we　should　not　speak　low；　nor　in　any　foreign　language；　but　loud　and　in　'good　French。'　　We　went　down；　therefore；　with　the　greatest　joy　to　dine　with　my　father。　　In　the　evening；　when　my　brother　was　in　bed；　my　mother　and　my　aunt　alternately　sat　with　him　or　went　with　me　to　sup　with　my　father。　　In　the　morning；　after　breakfast；　we　remained　in　the　King's　apartments　while　Clery　dressed　our　hair；　as　he　was　no　longer　allowed　to　come　to　my　mother's　room；　and　this　arrangement　gave　us　the　pleasure　of　spending　a　few　moments　more　with　my　father。〃

　　　　　＇When　the　first　deputation　from　the　Council　of　the　Commune　visited　　　　　　the　Temple；　and　formally　inquired　whether　the　King　had　any　complaint　　　　　　to　make；　he　replied；　〃No；　while　he　was　permitted　to　remain　with　his　　　　　　family　he　was　happy。〃＇

The　royal　prisoners　had　no　comfort　except　their　affection　for　each　other。　At　that　time　even　common　necessaries　were　denied　them。　　Their　small　stock　of　linen　had　been　lent　them；　by　persons　of　the　Court　during　the　time　they　spent　at　the　Feuillans。　　The　Princesses　mended　their　clothes　every　day；　and　after　the　King　had　gone　to　bed　Madame　Elisabeth　mended　his。　　〃With　much　trouble；〃　says　Clrry；　〃I　procured　some　fresh　linen　for　them。　　But　the　workwomen　having　marked　it　with　crowned　letters；　the　Princesses　were　ordered　to　pick　them　out。〃　　The　room　in　the　great　tower　to　which　the　King　had　been　removed　contained　only　one　bed；　and　no　other　article　of　furniture。　　A　chair　was　brought　on　which　Clery　spent　the　first　night；　painters　were　still　at　work　on　the　room；　and　the　smell　of　the　paint；　he　says；　was　almost　unbearable。　　This　room　was　afterwards　furnished　by　collecting　from　various　parts　of　the　Temple　a　chest　of　drawers；　a　small　bureau；　a　few　odd　chairs；　a　chimney…glass；　and　a　bed　hung　with　green　damask；　which　had　been　used　by　the　captain　of　the　guard　to　the　Comte　d'Artois。　　A　room　for　the　Queen　was　being　prepared　over　that　of　the　King；　and　she　implored　the　workmen　to　finish　it　quickly；　but　it　was　not　ready　for　her　occupation　for　some　time；　and　when　she　was　allowed　to　remove　to　it　the　Dauphin　was　taken　from　her　and　placed　with　his　father。　　When　their　Majesties　met　again　in　the　great　Tower；　says　Clery；　there　was　little　change　in　the　hours　fixed　for　meals；　reading；　walking　and　the　education　of　their　children。　　They　were　not　allowed　to　have　mass　said　in　the　Temple；　and　therefore　commissioned　Clery　to　get　them　the　breviary　in　use　in　the　diocese　of　Paris。　　Among　the　books　read　by　the　King　while　in　the　Tower　were　Hume's　〃History　of　England〃　（in　the　original）；　Tasso；　and　the　〃De　Imitatione　Christi。〃　　The　jealous　suspicions　of　the　municipal　officers　led　to　the　most　absurd　investigations；　a　draught…board　was　taken　to　pieces　lest　the　squares　should　hide　treasonable　papers；　macaroons　were　broken　in　half　to　see　that　they　did　not　contain　letters；　peaches　were　cut　open　and　the　stones　cracked；　and　Clery　was　compelled　to　drink　the　essence　of　soap　prepared　for　shaving　the　King；　under　the　pretence　that　it　might　contain　poison。

In　November　the　King　and　all　the　family　had　feverish　colds；　and　Clery　had　an　attack　of　rheumatic　fever。　　On　the　first　day　of　his　illness　he　got　up　and　tried　to　dress　his　master；　but　the　King；　seeing　how　ill　he　was；　ordered　him　to　lie　down；　and　himself　dressed　the　Dauphin。　　The　little　Prince　waited　on　Clery　all　day；　and　in　the　evening　the　King　contrived　to　approach　his　bed；　and　said；　in　a　low　voice；　〃I　should　like　to　take　care　of　you　myself；　but　you　know　how　we　are　watched。　　Take　courage；　tomorrow　you　shall　see　my　doctor。〃　　Madame　Elisabeth　brought　the　valet　cooling　draughts；　of　which　she　deprived　herself；　and　after　Clery　was　able　to　get　up；　the　young　Prince　one　night　with　great　difficulty　kept　awake　till　eleven　o'clock　in　order　to　give　him　a　box　of　lozenges　when　he　went　to　make　the　King's　bed。

On　7th　December　a　deputation　from　the　Commune　brought　an　order　that　the　royal　family　should　be　deprived　of　〃knives；　razors；　scissors；　penknives；　and　all　other　cutting　instruments。〃　　The　King　gave　up　a　knife；　and　took　from　a　morocco　case　a　pair　of　scissors　and　a　penknife；　and　the　officials　then　searched　the　room；　taking　away　the　little　toilet　implements　of　gold　and　silver；　and　afterwards　removing　the　Princesses'　working　materials。　Returning　to　the　King's　room；　they　insisted　upon　seeing　what　remained　in　his　pocket…case。　　〃Are　these　toys　which　I　have　in　my　hand　also　cutting　instruments？〃　　asked　the　King；　showing　them　a　cork…screw；　a　turn…screw；　and　a　steel　for　lighting。　　These　also　were　taken　from　him。　　Shortly　afterwards　Madame　Elisabeth　was　mending　the　King's　coat；　and；　having　no　scissors；　was　compelled　to　break　the　thread　with　her　teeth。

〃What　a　contrast！〃　he　exclaimed；　looking　at　her　tenderly。　　〃You　wanted　nothing　in　your　pretty　house　at　Montreuil。〃

〃Ah；　brother；〃　she　answered；　〃how　can　I　have　any　regret　when　I　partake　your　misfortunes？〃

The　Queen　had　frequently　to　take　on　herself　some　of　the　humble　duties　of　a　servant。　　This　was　especially　painful　to　Louis　XVI。　when　the　anniversary　of　some　State　festival　brought　the　contrast　between　past　and　present　with　unusual　keenness　before　him。

〃Ah；　Madame；〃　he　once　exclaimed；　〃what　an　employment　for　a　Queen　of　France！　　Could　they　see　that　at　Vienna！　　Who　would　have　foreseen　that；　in　uniting　your　lot　to　mine；　you　would　have　descended　so　low？〃

〃And　do　you　esteem　as　nothing；〃　she　replied；　〃the　glory　of　being　the　wife　of　one　of　the　best　and　most　persecuted　of　men？　　Are　not　such　misfortunes　the　noblest　honours？〃　＇Alison's　〃History　of　Europe；〃　vol。　ii。；　p。　299。＇

Meanwhile　the　Assembly　had　decided　that　the　King　should　be　brought　to　trial。　　Nearly　all　parties；　except　the　Girondists；　no　matter　how　bitterly　opposed　to　each　other；　could　agree　in　making　him　the　scapegoat；　and　the　first　rumour　of　the　approaching　ordeal　was　conveyed　to　the　Temple　by　Clery's　wife；　who；　with　a　friend；　had　permission　occasionally　to　visit　him。　　〃I　did　not　know　how　to　announce　this　terrible　news　to　the　King；〃　he　says；　〃but　time　was　pressing；　and　be　had　forbidden　my　concealing　anything　from　him。　　In　the　evening；　while　undressing　him；　I　gave　him　an　account　of　all　I　had　learnt；　and　added　that　there　were　only　four　days　to　concert　some　plan　of　corresponding　with　the　Queen。　　The　arrival　of　the　municipal　officer　would　not　allow　me　to　say　more。　　Next　morning；　when　the　King　rose；　I　could　not　get　a　moment　for　speaking　with　him。　　He　went　up　with　his　son　to　breakfast　with　the　Princesses；　and　I　followed。　　After　breakfast　he　talked　long　with　the　Queen；　who；　by　a　look　full　of　trouble；　made　me　understand　that　they　were　discussing　what　I　had　told　the　King。　During　the　day　I　found　an　opportunity　of　describing　to　Madame　Elisabeth　how　much　it　had　cost　me　to　augment　the　King's　distresses　by　informing　him　of　his　approaching　trial。　　She　reassured　me；　saying　that　the　King　felt　this　as　a　mark　of　attachment　on　my　part；　and　added；　'That　which　most　troubles　him　is　the　fear　of　being　separated　from　us。'　　In　the　evening　the　King　told　me　how　satisfied　he　was　at　having　had　warning　that　he　was　to　appear　before　the　Convention。　　'Continue；'　he　said；　'to　endeavour　to　find　out　something　as　to　what　they　want　to　do　with　me。　　Never　fear　distressing　me。　　I　have　agreed　with　my　family　not　to　seem　pre…informed；　in　order　not　to　compromise　you。'〃

On　the　11th　December；　at　five　o'clock　in　the　morning；　the　prisoners　heard　the　generale　beaten　throughout　Paris；　and　cavalry　and　cannon　entered　the　Temple　gardens。　　At　nine　the　King　and　the　Dauphin　went　as　usual　to　breakfast　with　the　Queen。　　They　were　allowed　to　remain　together　for　an　hour；　but　constantly　under　the　eyes　of　their　republican　guardians。　　At　last　they　were　obliged　to　part；　doubtful　whether　they　would　ever　see　each　other　again。　　The　little　Prince；　who　remained　with　his　father；　and　was　ignorant　of　the　new　cause　for　anxiety；　begged　hard　that　the　King　would　play　at　ninepins　with　him　as　usual。　　Twice　the　Dauphin　could　not　get　beyond　a　certain　number。　　〃Each　time　that　I　get　up　to　sixteen；〃　he　said；　with　some　vexation；　〃I　lose　the　game。〃　　The　King　did　not　reply；　but　Clery　fancied　the　words　made　a　painful　impression　on　him。

At　eleven；　while　the　King　was　giving　the　Dauphin　a　reading　lesson；　two　municipal　officers　entered　and　said　they　had　come　〃to　take　young　Louis　to　his　mother。〃　　The　King　inquired　why；　but　was　only　told　that　such　were　the　orders　of　the　Council。　　At　one　o'clock　the　Mayor　of　Paris；　Chambon；　accompanied　by　Chaumette；　Procureur　de　la　Commune；　Santerre；　commandant　of　the　National　Guar