the memoirs of marie antoinette-第76章

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geworth　put　on　his　pontifical　robes；　and　began　to　celebrate　mass。　　Clery　waited　on　him；　and　the　King　listened；　kneeling　with　the　greatest　devotion。　　He　then　received　the　communion　from　the　hands　of　M。　Edgeworth；　and　after　mass　rose　with　new　vigour；　and　awaited　with　composure　the　moment　for　going　to　the　scaffold。　　He　asked　for　scissors　that　Clery　might　cut　his　hair；　but　the　Commune　refused　to　trust　him　with　a　pair。

At　this　moment　the　drums　were　beating　in　the　capital。　　All　who　belonged　to　the　armed　sections　repaired　to　their　company　with　complete　submission。　It　was　reported　that　four　or　five　hundred　devoted　men；　were　to　make　a　dash　upon　the　carriage；　and　rescue　the　King。　　The　Convention；　the　Commune；　the　Executive　Council；　and　the　Jacobins　were　sitting。　　At　eight。　in　the　morning；　Santerre；　with　a　deputation　from　the　Commune；　the　department；　and　the　criminal　tribunal；　repaired　to　the　Temple。　　Louis　XVI。；　on　hearing　them　arrive；　rose　and　prepared　to　depart。　　He　desired　Clery　to　transmit　his　last　farewell　to　his　wife；　his　sister；　and　his　children；　he　gave　him　a　sealed　packet；　hair；　and　various　trinkets；　with　directions　to　deliver　these　articles　to　them。

　　　　　＇In　the　course　of　the　morning　the　King　said　to　me：　〃You　will　give　　　　　　this　seal　to　my　son　and　this　ring　to　the　Queen；　and　assure　her　that　　　　　　it　is　with　pain　I　part　with　it。　　This　little　packet　contains　the　　　　　　hair　of　all　my　family；　you　will　give　her　that；　too。　　Tell　the　Queen；　　　　　　my　dear　sister；　and　my　children；　that；　although　I　promised　to　see　　　　　　them　again　this　morning；　I　have　resolved　to　spare　them　the　pang　of　　　　　　so　cruel　a　separation。　　Tell　them　how　much　it　costs　me　to　go　away　　　　　　without　receiving　their　embraces　once　more！〃　　He　wiped　away　some　　　　　　tears；　and　then　added；　in　the　most　mournful　accents；　〃I　charge　you　　　　　　to　bear　them　my　last　farewell。〃CLERY。＇

He　then　clasped　his　hand　and　thanked　him　for　his　services。　　After　this　he　addressed　himself　to　one　of　the　municipal　officers；　requesting　him　to　transmit　his　last　will　to　the　Commune。　　This　officer；　who　had　formerly　been　a　priest；　and　was　named　Jacques　Roux；　brutally　replied　that　his　business　was　to　conduct　him　to　execution；　and　not　to　perform　his　commissions。　　Another　person　took　charge　of　it；　and　Louis；　turning　towards　the　party；　gave　with　firmness　the　signal　for　starting。

Officers　of　gendarmerie　were　placed　on　the　front　seat　of　the　carriage。　The　King　and　M。　Edgeworth　occupied　the　back。　　During　the　ride；　which　was　rather　long；　the　King　read　in　M。　Edgeworth's　breviary　the　prayers　for　persons　at　the　point　of　death；　the　two　gendarmes　were　astonished　at　his　piety　and　tranquil　resignation。　　The　vehicle　advanced　slowly；　and　amidst　universal　silence。　　At　the　Place　de　la　Revolution　an　extensive　space　had　been　left　vacant　about　the　scaffold。　　Around　this　space　were　planted　cannon；　the　most　violent　of　the　Federalists　were　stationed　about　the　scaffold；　and　the　vile　rabble；　always　ready　to　insult　genius；　virtue；　and　misfortune；　when　a　signal　is　given　it　to　do　so；　crowded　behind　the　ranks　of　the　Federalists；　and　alone　manifested　some　outward　tokens　of　satisfaction。

At　ten　minutes　past　ten　the　carriage　stopped。　　Louis　XVI。；　rising　briskly；　stepped　out　into　the　Place。　　Three　executioners　came　up；　he　refused　their　assistance；　and　took　off　his　clothes　himself。　　But；　perceiving　that　they　were　going　to　bind　his　hands；　he　made　a　movement　of　indignation；　and　seemed　ready　to　resist。　　M。　Edgeworth　gave　him　a　last　look；　and　said；　〃Suffer　this　outrage；　as　a　last　resemblance　to　that　God　who　is　about　to　be　your　reward。〃　　At　these　words　the　King　suffered　himself　to　be　bound　and　conducted　to　the　scaffold。　　All　at　once　Louis　hurriedly　advanced　to　address　the　people。　　〃Frenchmen；〃　said　he；　in　a　firm　voice；　〃I　die　innocent　of　the　crimes　which　are　imputed　to　me；　I　forgive　the　authors　of　my　death；　and　I　pray　that　my　blood　may　not　fall　upon　France。〃　　He　would　have　continued；　but　the　drums　were　instantly　ordered　to　beat：　their　rolling　drowned　his　voice；　the　executioners　laid　hold　of　him；　and　M。　Edgeworth　took　his　leave　in　these　memorable　words：　〃Son　of　Saint　Louis；　ascend　to　heaven！〃　　As　soon　as　the　blood　flowed；　furious　wretches　dipped　their　pikes　and　handkerchiefs　in　it；　then　dispersed　throughout　Paris；　shouting　〃Vive　la　Republique！　　Vive　la　Nation！〃　　and　even　went　to　the　gates　of　the　Temple　to　display　brutal　and　factious　joy。

　　　　　＇The　body　of　Louis　was；　immediately　after　the　execution；　removed　to　　　　　　the　ancient　cemetery　of　the　Madeleine。　　Large　quantities　of　　　　　　quicklime　were　thrown　into　the　grave；　which　occasioned　so　rapid　a　　　　　　decomposition　that；　when　his　remains　were　nought　for　in　1816；　it　was　　　　　　with　difficulty　any　part　could　be　recovered。　　Over　the　spot　where　he　　　　　　was　interred　Napoleon　commenced　the　splendid　Temple　of　Glory；　after　　　　　　the　battle　of　Jena；　and　the　superb　edifice　was　completed　by　the　　　　　　Bourbons；　and　now　forms　the　Church　of　the　Madeleine；　the　most　　　　　　beautiful　structure　in　Paris。　　Louis　was　executed　on　the　same　ground　　　　　　where　the　Queen；　Madame　Elisabeth；　and　so　many　other　noble　victims　　　　　　of　the　Revolution　perished；　where　Robespierre　and　Danton　afterwards　　　　　　suffered；　and　where　the　Emperor　Alexander　and　the　allied　sovereigns　　　　　　took　their　station；　when　their　victorious　troops　entered　Paris　in　　　　　　1814！　　The　history　of　modern　Europe　has　not　a　scene　fraught　with　　　　　　equally　interesting　recollections　to　exhibit。　　It　is　now　marked　by　　　　　　the　colossal　obelisk　of　blood…red　granite　which　was　brought　from　　　　　　Thebes；　in　Upper　Egypt；　in　1833；　by　the　French　Government。　　　　　　ALLISON。＇




　　　　　The　Royal　Prisoners。　Separation　of　the　Dauphin　from　His　Family。　　　　　　Removal　of　the　Queen。

On　the　morning　of　the　King's　execution；　according　to　the　narrative　of　Madame　Royale；　his　family　rose　at　six：　〃The　night　before；　my　mother　had　scarcely　strength　enough　to　put　my　brother　to　bed；　She　threw　herself；　dressed　as　she　was；　on　her　own　bed；　where　we　heard　her　shivering　with　cold　and　grief　all　night　long。　　At　a　quarter…past　six　the　door　opened；　we　believed　that　we　were　sent　for　to　the　King；　but　it　was　only　the　officers　looking　for　a　prayer…book　for　him。　　We　did　not；　however；　abandon　the　hope　of　seeing　him；　till　shouts　of　joy　from　the　infuriated　populace　told　us　that　all　was　over。　　In　the　afternoon　my　mother　asked　to　see　Clery；　who　probably　had　some　message　for　her；　we　hoped　that　seeing　him　would　occasion　a　burst　of　grief　which　might　relieve　the　state　of　silent　and　choking　agony　in　which　we　saw　her。〃　　The　request　was　refused；　and　the　officers　who　brought　the　refusal　said　Clery　was　in　〃a　frightful　state　of　despair〃　at　not　being　allowed　to　see　the　royal　family；　shortly　afterwards　he　was　dismissed　from　the　Temple。

〃We　had　now　a　little　more　freedom；〃　continues　the　Princess；　〃our　guards　even　believed　that　we　were　about　to　be　sent　out　of　France；　but　nothing　could　calm　my　mother's　agony；　no　hope　could　touch　her　heart；　and　life　or　death　became　indifferent　to　her。　　Fortunately　my　own　affliction　increased　my　illness　so　seriously　that　it　distracted　her　thoughts　。　　。　　。　　。　My　mother　would　go　no　more　to　the　garden；　because　she　must　have　passed　the　door　of　what　had　been　my　father's　room；　and　that　she　could　not　bear。　But　fearing　lest　want　of　air　should　prove　injurious　to　my　brother　and　me；　about　the　end　of　February　she　asked　permission　to　walk　on　the　leads　of　the　Tower；　and　it　was　granted。〃

The　Council　of　the　Commune；　becoming　aware　of　the　interest　which　these　sad　promenades　excited；　and　the　sympathy　with　which　they　were　observed　from　the　neighbouring　houses；　ordered　that　the　spaces　between　the　battlements　should　be　filled　up　with　shutters；　which　intercepted　the　view。　　But　while　the　rules　for　the　Queen's　captivity　were　again　made　more　strict；　some　of　the　municipal　commissioners　tried　slightly　to　alleviate　it；　and　by　means　of　M。　de　Hue；　who　was　at　liberty　in　Paris；　and　the　faithful　Turgi；　who　remained　in　the　Tower；　some　communications　passed　between　the　royal　family　and　their　friends。　　The　wife　of　Tison；　who　waited　on　the　Queen；　suspected　and　finally　denounced　these　more　lenient　guardians；＇Toulan；　Lepitre；　Vincent；　Bruno；　and　others。＇who　were　executed；　the　royal　prisoners　being　subjected　to　a　close　examination。

〃On　the　20th　of　April；〃　says　Madame　Royale；　〃my　mother　and　I　had　just　gone　to　bed　when　Hebert　arrived　with　several　municipals。　　We　got　up　hastily；　and　these　men　read　us　a　decree　of　the　Commune　directing　that　we　should　be　searched。　　My　poor　brother　was　asleep；　they　tore　him　from　his　bed　under　the　pretext　of　examining　it。　　My　mother　took　him　up；　shivering　with　cold。　　All　they　took　was　a　shopkeeper's　card　which　my　mother　had　happened　to　keep；　a　stick　of　sealing…wax　from　my　aunt；　and　from　me　'une　sacre　coeur　de　Jesus'　and　a　prayer　for　the　welfare　of　France。　　The　search　lasted　from　half…past　ten　at　night　till　four　o'clock　in　the　morning。〃

The　next　visit　of　the　officials　was　to　Madame　Elisabeth　alone；　they　found　in　her　room　a　hat　which　the　King　had　worn　during　his　imprisonment；　and　which　she　had　begged　him　to　give　her　as　a　souvenir。　　They　took　it　from　her　in　spite　of　her　entreaties。　　〃It　was　suspicious；〃　said　the　cruel　and　contemptible　tyrants。

The　Dauphin　became　ill　with　fever；　and　it　was　long　before　his　mother；　who　watched　by　him　night　and　day；　could　obtain　medicine　or　advice　for　him。　　When　Thierry　was　at　last　allowed　to　see　him　his　treatment　relieved　the　most　violent　symptoms；　but；　says　Madame　Royale；　〃his　health　was　never　reestablished。　　Want　of　air　and　exercise　did　him　great　mischief；　as　well　as　the　kind　of　life　which　this　poor　child　led；　who　at　eight　years　of　age　passed　his　days　amidst　the　tears　of　his　friends；　and　in　constant　anxiety　and　agony。〃

While　the　Dauphin's　health　was　causing　his　family　such　alarm；　they　were　deprived　of　the　services　of　Tison's　wife；　who　became　ill；　and　finally　insane；　and　was　removed　to　the　Hotel　Dieu；　where　her　ravings　were　reported　to　the　Assembly　and　made　the　ground　of　accusations　against　the　royal　prisoners。

　　　　　＇This　woman；　troubled　by　remorse；　lost　her　reason；　threw　herself　at　　　　　　the　feet　of　the　Queen；　implored　her　pardon；　and　disturbed　the　Temple　　　　　　for　many　days　with　the　sight　and　the　noise　of　her　madness。　　The　　　　　　Princesses；　forgetting　the　denunciations　of　this　unfortunate　being；　　　　　　in　consideration　of　her　repentance　and　insanity；　watched　over　her　by　　　　　　turns；　and　deprived　themselves　of　their　own　food　to　relieve　her。　　　　　　LAMARTINE；　〃History　of　the　Girondists；〃　vol。　iii。；　p。140。＇

No　woman　took　her　place；　and　the　Princesses　themselves　made　their　beds；　swept　their　rooms；　and　waited　upon　the　Queen。

Far　worse　punishments　than　menial　work　were　prepared　for　them。　　On　3d　July　a　decree　of　the　Convention　ordered　that　the　Dauphin　should　be　separated　from　his　family　and　〃placed　in　the　most　secure　apartment　of　the　Tower。〃　　As　soon　as　he　heard　this　decree　pronounced；　says　his　sister；　〃he　threw　himself　into　my　mother's　arms；　and　with　violent　cries　entreated　not　to　be　parted　from　her。　　My　mother　would　not　let　her　son　go；　and　she　actually　defended　against　the　efforts　of　the　officers　the　bed　in　which　she　had　placed　him。　　The　men　threatened　to　call　up　the　guard　and　use　violence。　　My　mother　exclaimed　that　they　had　better　kill　her　than　tear　her　child　from　her。　　At　last