the memoirs of marie antoinette-第74章
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at of Malesherbes。
＇The Citoyenne Olympia Degonges； calling herself a free and loyal Republican without spot or blame； and declaring that the cold and selfish cruelty of Target had inflamed her heroism and roused her sensibility； asked permission to assist M； de Malesherbes in defending the King。 The Assembly passed to the order of the day on this request。BERTRAND DE MOLLEVILLE； 〃Annals；〃 edit。 1802； vol； viii。； p。 254。＇
On 14th December M。 Tronchet was allowed to confer with the King； and later in the same day M。 de Malesherbes was admitted to the Tower。 〃The King ran up to this worthy old man； whom he clasped in his arms；〃 said Clery； 〃and the former minister melted into tears at the sight of his master。〃
＇According to M。 de Hue； 〃The first time M。 de Malesherbes entered the Temple； the King clasped him in his arms and said； 'Ah； is it you； my friend？ You fear not to endanger your own life to save mine； but all will be useless。 They will bring me to the scaffold。 No matter； I shall gain my cause if I leave an unspotted memory behind me。'〃＇
Another deputation brought the King the Act of Accusation and the documents relating to it； numbering more than a hundred； and taking from four o'clock till midnight to read。 During this long process the King had refreshments served to the deputies； taking nothing himself till they had left； but considerately reproving Clery for not having supped。 From the 14th to the 26th December the King saw his counsel and their colleague M。 de Size every day。 At this time a means of communication between the royal family and the King was devised： a man named Turgi； who had been in the royal kitchen； and who contrived to obtain employment in the Temple； when conveying the meals of the royal family to their apartments； or articles he had purchased for them； managed to give Madame Elisabeth news of the King。 Next day； the Princess； when Turgi was removing the dinner； slipped into his hand a bit of paper on which she had pricked with a pin a request for a word from her brother's own hand。 Turgi gave this paper to Clery； who conveyed it to the King the same evening； and he； being allowed writing materials while preparing his defence； wrote Madame Elisabeth a short note。 An answer was conveyed in a ball of cotton； which Turgi threw under Clery's bed while passing the door of his room。 Letters were also passed between the Princess's room and that of Clery； who lodged beneath her； by means of a string let down and drawn up at night。 This communication with his family was a great comfort to the King； who； nevertheless； constantly cautioned his faithful servant。 〃Take care；〃 he would say kindly； 〃you expose yourself too much。〃
＇The King's natural benevolence was constantly shown while in the Temple。 His own dreadful position never prevented him from sympathy with the smaller troubles of others。 A servant in the Temple named Marchand； the father of a family； was robbed of two hundred francs； his wages for two months。 The King observed his distress； asked its cause； and gave Clery the amount to be handed to Marchand； with a caution not to speak of it to any one； and； above all； not to thank the King； lest it should injure him with his employers。＇
During his separation from his family the King refused to go into the garden。 When it was proposed to him he said； 〃I cannot make up my mind to go out alone； the walk was agreeable to me only when I shared it with my family。〃 But he did not allow himself to dwell on painful reflections。 He talked freely to the municipals on guard； and surprised them by his varied and practical knowledge of their trades； and his interest in their domestic affairs。 On the 19th December the King's breakfast was served as usual； but； being a fast…day； he refused to take anything。 At dinner…time the King said to Clery； 〃Fourteen years ago you were up earlier than you were to…day； it is the day my daughter was born… …today； her birthday；〃 he repeated； with tears； 〃and to be prevented from seeing her！〃 Madame Royale had wished for a calendar； the King ordered Clery to buy her the 〃Almanac of the Republic；〃 which had replaced the 〃Court Almanac；〃 and ran through it； marking with a pencil many names。
〃On Christmas Day；〃 Says Clery； 〃the King wrote his will。〃
＇Madame Royale says： 〃On the 26th December； St。 Stephen's Day； my father made his will； because he expected to be assassinated that day on his way to the bar of the Convention。 He went thither； nevertheless； with his usual calmness。〃〃Royal Memoirs；〃 p。 196。＇
On the 26th December； 1792； the King appeared a second time before the Convention。 M。 de Seze； labouring night and day； had completed his defence。 The King insisted on excluding from it all that was too rhetorical； and confining it to the mere discussion of essential points。
＇When the pathetic peroration of M； de Seze was read to the King； the evening before it was delivered to the Assembly； 〃I have to request of you；〃 he said； 〃to make a painful sacrifice； strike out of your pleading the peroration。 It is enough for me to appear before such judges； and show my entire innocence； I will not move their feelings。〃LACRETELLE。＇
At half…past nine in the morning the whole armed force was in motion to conduct him from the Temple to the Feuillans； with the same precautions and in the same order as had been observed on the former occasion。 Riding in the carriage of the Mayor； he conversed； on the way； with the same composure as usual； and talked of Seneca； of Livy； of the hospitals。 Arrived at the Feuillans； he showed great anxiety for his defenders； he seated himself beside them in the Assembly； surveyed with great composure the benches where his accusers and his judges sat； seemed to examine their faces with the view of discovering the impression produced by the pleading of M。 de Seze； and more than once conversed smilingly with Tronchet and Malesherbes。 The Assembly received his defence in sullen silence； but without any tokens of disapprobation。
Being afterwards conducted to an adjoining room with his counsel； the King showed great anxiety about M。 de Seze； who seemed fatigued by the long defence。 While riding back to the Temple he conversed with his companions with the same serenity as he had shown on leaving it。
No sooner had the King left the hall of the Convention than a violent tumult arose there。 Some were for opening the discussion。 Others； complaining of the delays which postponed the decision of this process； demanded the vote immediately； remarking that in every court； after the accused had been heard； the judges proceed to give their opinion。 Lanjuinais had from the commencement of the proceedings felt an indignation which his impetuous disposition no longer suffered him to repress。 He darted to the tribune； and； amidst the cries excited by his presence； demanded the annulling of the proceedings altogether。 He exclaimed that the days of ferocious men were gone by； that the Assembly ought not to be so dishonoured as to be made to sit in judgment on Louis XVI。； that no authority in France had that right； and the Assembly in particular had no claim to it； that if it resolved to act as a political body； it could do no more than take measures of safety against the ci…devant King； but that if it was acting as a court of justice it was overstepping all principles； for it was subjecting the vanquished to be tried by the conquerors； since most of the present members had declared themselves the conspirators of the 10th of August。 At the word 〃conspirators〃 a tremendous uproar arose on all aides。 Cries of 〃Order！〃〃To the Abbaye！〃〃Down with the Tribune！〃 were heard。 Lanjuinais strove in vain to justify the word 〃conspirators；〃 saying that he meant it to be taken in a favourable sense； and that the 10th of August was a glorious conspiracy。 He concluded by declaring that he would rather die a thousand deaths than condemn； contrary to all laws； even the most execrable of tyrants。
A great number of speakers followed； and the confusion continually increased。 The members； determined not to hear any more； mingled together； formed groups； abused and threatened one another。 After a tempest of an hour's duration； tranquillity was at last restored； and the Assembly； adopting the opinion of those who demanded the discussion on the trial of Louis XVI。； declared that it was opened； and that it should be continued； to the exclusion of all other business； till sentence should be passed。
The discussion was accordingly resumed on the 27th； and there was a constant succession of speakers from the 28th to the 31st。 Vergniaud at length ascended the tribune for the first time； and an extraordinary eagerness was manifested to hear the Girondists express their sentiments by the lips of their greatest orator。
The speech of Vergniaud produced a deep impression on all his hearers。 Robespierre was thunderstruck by his earnest and； persuasive eloquence。 Vergniaud； however； had but shaken； not convinced； the Assembly； which wavered between the two parties。 Several members were successively heard； for and against the appeal to the people。 Brissot； Gensonne； Petion； supported it in their turn。 One speaker at length had a decisive influence on the question。 Barere； by his suppleness； and his cold and evasive eloquence； was the model and oracle of the centre。 He spoke at great length on the trial； reviewed it in all its bearingsof facts； of laws； and of policyand furnished all those weak minds； who only wanted specious reasons for yielding； with motives for the condemnation of the King。 From that moment the unfortunate King was condemned。 The discussion lasted till the 7th； and nobody would listen any longer to the continual repetition of the same facts and arguments。 It was therefore declared to be closed without opposition； but the proposal of a fresh adjournment excited a commotion among the most violent； and ended in a decree which fixed the 14th of January for putting the questions to the vote。
Meantime the King did not allow the torturing suspense to disturb his outward composure； or lessen his kindness to those around him。 On the morning after his second appearance at the bar of the Convention； the commissary Vincent； who had undertaken secretly to convey to the Queen a copy of the King's printed defence； asked for something which had belonged to him； to treasure as a relic； the King took off his neck handkerchief and gave it him； his gloves he bestowed on another municipal； who had made the same request。 〃On January 1st；〃 says Clery； 〃I approached the King's bed and asked permission to offer him my warmest prayers for the end of his misfortunes。 'I accept your good wishes with affection；' he replied； extending his hand to me。 As soon as he had risen； he requested a municipal to go and inquire for his family； and present them his good wishes for the new year。 The officers were moved by the tone in which these words； so heartrending considering the position of the King； were pronounced 。 。 。 。 The correspondence between their Majesties went on constantly。 The King being informed that Mad
