marie antoinette and her son-第36章

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minister　of　the　interior；　with　a　division　of　the　guards　in　the　inner
court　of　the　palace。　She　inspired　the　timid　women　with　hope。　She
smiled　at　her　children；　who；　timid　and　anxious　at　the　confusion
which　surrounded　them；　fled　to　the　queen　for　refuge；　and　clung　to
her。

Darker　and　darker　grew　the　reports　that　came　meanwhile　to　the
palace。　They　were　the　storm…birds；　so　to　speak；　that　precede　the
tempest。　They　announced　the　near　approach　of　the　people　of　Paris；　of
the　women；　who　were　no　longer　unarmed；　and　who　had　been　joined　by
thousands　of　the　National　Guard；　who；　in　order　to　give　the　train　of
women　a　more　imposing　appearance；　had　brought　two　cannon　with　them；
and　who；　armed　with　knives　and　guns；　pikes　and　axes；　and　singing
wild　war…songs；　were　marching　on　as　the　escort　of　the　women。

The　queen　heard　all　without　alarm；　without　fear。　She　commanded　the
women；　who　stood　around　her　weeping　and　wringing　their　hands；　to
withdraw　to　their　own　apartments；　and　protect　the　dauphin　and　the
princess；　to　lock　the　doors　behind　them　and　to　admit　no　oneno　one；
excepting　herself。　She　took　leave　of　the　children　with　a　kiss；　and
bade　them　be　fearless　and　untroubled。　She　did　not　look　at　them　as
the　women　took　them　away。　She　breathed　firmly　as　the　doors　closed
behind　them。

〃Now　I　have　courage　to　bear　every　thing；〃　she　said　to　St。　Priest。
〃My　children　are　in　safety！　Would　only　that　the　king　were　here！〃

At　the　same　instant　the　door　opened　and　the　king　entered。　Marie
Antoinette　hastened　to　meet　him；　threw　herself　with　a　cry　of　joy
into　his　arms；　and　rested　her　head；　which　had　before　been　erect　with
courage；　heavily　on　his　shoulder。

〃Oh；　sire；　my　dear　sire！　thank　God　that　you　are　here。　Now　I　fear
nothing　more！　You　will　not　suffer　us　to　perish　in　misery！　You　will
breathe　courage　into　these　despairing　ones；　and　tell　the
inexperienced　what　they　have　to　do。　Sire；　Paris　is　marching　against
us；　but　with　us　there　are　God　and　France。　You　will　defend　the　honor
of　France　and　your　crown　against　the　rebels？〃

The　king　answered　confusedly；　and　as　if　in　a　yielding　frame　of　mind。
〃We　must　first　hear　what　the　people　want；〃　he　said；　〃we　must　not
approach　them　threateningly；　we　must　first　discuss　matters　with
them。〃

〃Sire；〃　answered　the　queen；　in　amazement；　〃to　discuss　with　the
rebels　now　is　to　imply　that　they　are　in　the　right；　and　you　will　not；
you　cannot　do　that！〃

〃I　will　consult　with　my　advisers；〃　said　the　king；　pointing　at　the
ministers；　who；　summoned　by　St。　Priest；　were　then　entering　the　room。

But　what　a　consultation　was　that！　Every　one　made　propositions；　and
yet　no　one　knew　what　to　do。　No　one　would　take　the　responsibility　of
the　matter　upon　himself；　and　yet　every　one　felt　that　the　danger
increased　every　minute。　But　what　to　do？　That　was　the　question　which
no　one　was　able　to　answer；　and　before　which　the　king　was　mute。　Not
so　the　queen；　however。

〃Sire！〃　cried　she；　with　glowing　cheeks；　〃sire；　you　have　to　save　the
realm；　and　to　defend　it　from　revolution。　The　contest　is　here；　and　we
cannot　withdraw　from　it。　Call　your　guards；　put　yourself　at　their
head；　and　allow　me　to　remain　at　your　side。　We　ought　not　to　yield　to
revolution；　and　if　we　cannot　control　it；　we　should　suffer　it　to
enter　the　palace　of　the　kings　of　France　only　over　our　dead　bodies。
Sire；　we　must　either　live　as　kings；　or　know　how　to　die　as　kings！〃

But　Louis　replied　to　this　burst　of　noble　valor　in　a　brave　woman's
soul；　only　with　holding　back　and　timidity。　Plans　were　made　and　cast
aside。　They　went　on　deliberating　till　the　wild　yells　of　the　people
were　heard　even　within　the　palace。

The　queen；　pale　and　yet　calm；　had　withdrawn　to　the　adjoining
apartment。　There　she　leaned　against　the　door　and　listened　to　the
words　of　the　ministers；　and　to　the　new　reports　which　were　all　the
time　coming　in　from　the　streets。

The　crowd　had　reached　Versailles；　and　was　streaming　through　the
streets　of　the　city　in　the　direction　of　the　palace。　The　National
Guard　of　Versailles　had　fraternized　with　the　Parisians。　Some
scattered　soldiers　of　the　royal　guard　had　been　threatened　and
insulted；　and　even　dragged　from　their　horses！

The　queen　heard　all；　and　heard　besides　the　consultation　of　the　king
and　his　ministersstill　coming　to　no　decisive　results；　doubting　and
hesitating；　while　the　fearful　crisis　was　advancing　from　the　street。

Already　musket…shots　were　heard　on　the　great　square　in　front　of　the
palace；　wild　cries；　and　loud；　harsh　voices。　Marie　Antoinette　left
her　place　at　the　door　and　hurried　to　the　window；　where　a　view　could
be　had　of　the　whole　square。　She　saw　the　dark　dust…cloud　which　hung
over　the　road　to　Paris；　she　saw　the　unridden　horses；　running　in
advance　of　the　crowd；　their　riders；　members　of　the　royal　guard；
having　been　killed；　she　heard　the　raging　discords；　which　surged　up
to　the　palace　like　a　wave　driven　by　the　wind；　she　saw　this　black；
dreadful　wave　sweep　along　the　Paris　road；　roaring　as　it　went。

What　a　fearful　mass！　Howling；　shrieking　women；　with　loosened　hair；
and　with　menacing　gestures；　extended　their　naked　arms　toward　the
palace　defiantly；　their　eyes　naming；　their　mouths　overflowing　with
curses。　Wild　men's　figures；　with　torn　blouses；　the　sleeves　rolled　up
over　dusty　and　dirty　arms；　and　bearing　pikes；　knives；　and　guns；　here
and　there　members　of　the　National　Guard　marching　with　them　arm　in
arm；　pressed　on　toward　the　palace。　Sometimes　shrieks　and　yells；
sometimes　coarse　peals　of　laughter；　or　threatening　cries；　issued
from　the　confused　crowd。　Nearer　and　nearer　surged　the　dreadful　wave
of　destruction　to　the　royal　palace。　Now　it　has　reached　it。　Maddened
fists　pounded　upon　the　iron　gates　before　the　inner　court；　and
threatening　voices　demanded　entrance：　hundreds　and　hundreds　of　women
shrieked　with　wild　gestures：

〃We　want　to　come　in！　We　want　to　speak　with　the　baker！　We　will　eat
the　queen's　guts　if　we　cannot　get　any　thing　else　to　eat！〃

And　thousands　upon　thousands　of　women's　voices　repeated〃Yes；　we
will　eat　the　queen's　guts；　if　we　get　nothing　else　to　eat！〃

Marie　Antoinette　withdrew　from　the　window；　her　bearing　was　grave　and
defiant；　a　laugh　of　scorn　played　over　her　proudly…drawn…up　upper…
lip；　her　head　was　erect；　her　step　decisive；　dignified。

She　went　again　to　the　king　and　his　ministers。　〃Sire；〃　said　she；　〃the
people　are　here。　It　is　now　too　late　to　supplicate　them；　as　you
wanted　to　do。　Nothing　remains　for　you　except　to　defend　yourself；　and
to　save　the　crown　for　your　son　the　dauphin；　even　if　it　falls　from
your　own　head。〃

〃It　remains　for　us；〃　answered　the　king；　gravely；　〃to　bring　the
people　back　to　a　sense　of　duty。　They　are　deceived　about　us。　They　are
excited。　We　will　try　to　conciliate　them；　and　to　show　them　our
fatherly　interest　in　them。〃

The　queen　stared　in　amazement　at　the　pleasant；　smiling　face　of　the
king；　then；　with　a　loud　cry　of　pain；　which　escaped　from　her　breast
like　the　last　gasp　of　a　dying　man；　she　turned　around；　and　went　up　to
the　Prince　de　Luxemburg；　the　captain　of　the　guard；　who　just　then
entered　the　hall。

〃Do　you　come　to　tell　us　that　the　people　have　taken　the　palace？〃
cried　the　queen；　with　an　angry　burst　from　her　very　soul。

〃Madame；〃　answered　the　prince；　〃had　that　been　the　case；　I　should　not
have　been　here　alive。　Only　over　my　body　will　the　rabble　enter　the
palace。〃

〃Ah；〃　muttered　Marie　Antoinette　to　herself；　〃there　are　men　in
Versailles　yet；　there　are　brave　men　yet　to　defend　us！〃

〃What　news　do　you　bring；　captain？〃　asked　the　king；　stepping　up。

〃Sire；　I　am　come　to　receive　your　commands；〃　answered　the　prince；
bowing　respectfully。　〃This　mob　of　shameless　shrews　is　growing　more
maddened；　more　shameless　every　moment。　Thousands　and　thousands　of
arms　are　trying　the　gates；　and　guns　are　fired　with　steady　aim　at　the
guards。　I　beg　your　majesty　to　empower　me　to　repel　this　attack　of　mad
women！〃

〃What　an　idea；　captain！〃　cried　Louis；　shrugging　his　shoulders。
〃Order　to　attack　a　company　of　women！　You　are　joking；　prince！〃
＇Footnote：　The　king's　own　words。See　Weber；　〃Memoires；〃　vol。　t；　p。
433。＇

And　the　king　turned　to　Count　de　la　Marck；　who　was　entering　the　room。
〃You　come　with　new　news。　What　is　it；　count？〃

〃Sire；　the　women　are　most　desirous　of　speaking　with　your　majesty；
and　presenting　their　grievances。〃

〃I　will　hear　them；〃　cried　the　king；　eagerly。　〃Tell　the　women　to
choose　six　of　their　number　and　bring　them　into　my　cabinet。　I　will　go
there　myself。〃

〃Sire；　you　are　going　to　give　audience　to　revolution；〃　cried　Marie
Antoinette；　seizing　the　arm　of　the　king；　who　was　on　the　point　of
leaving　the　room。　〃I　conjure　you；　my　husband；　do　not　be　overpowered
by　your　magnanimous　heart！　Let　not　the　majesty　of　the　realm　be
defiled　by　the　raging　hands　of　these　furies！　Remain　here。　Oh；　sire；
if　my　prayers；　my　wishes　have　any　power　with　you；　remain　here！　Send
a　minister　to　treat　with　these　women　in　your　name。　But　do　not
confront　their　impudence　with　the　dignity　of　the　crown。　Sire；　to
give　them　audience　is　to　give　audience　to　revolution；　and　from　the
hour　when　it　takes　place；　revolution　has　gained　the　victory　over　the
kingly　authority！　Do　not　go；　oh　do　not　go！〃

〃I　have　given　my　word；〃　answered　Louis；　gently。　〃I　have　sent　word　to
the　women　that　I　would　receive　them；　and　they　shall　not　say　that　the
first　time　they　set　foot　in　the　palace　of　their　king；　they　were
deceived　by　him。　And　see；　there　comes　the　count　to　take　me！〃

And　the　king　followed　with　hasty　step　Count　de　la　Marck；　who　just
then　appeared　at　the　door。

Six　women　of　wild　demeanor；　with　dusty；　dirty　clothes；　their　hair
streaming　out　from　their　round　white　caps；　were　assembled　in　the
cabinet　of　the　king；　and　stared　at　him　with　defiant　eyes　as　he
entered。　But　his　gentle　demeanor　and　pleasant　voice　appeared　to
surprise　them；　and　Louise　Chably；　the　speaker；　who　had　selected　the
women；　found　only　timid；　modest　words；　with　which　to　paint　to　the
king　the　misfortune；　the　need；　and　the　pitiable　condition　of　the
people；　and　with　which　to　entreat　his　pity　and　assistance。

〃Ah；　my　children；〃　answered　the　king　with　a　sigh；　〃only　believe　me；
it　is　not　my　fault　that　you　are　miserable；　and　I　am　still　more
unhappy　than　you。　I　will　give　directions　to　Corbeil　and　D'Estampes；
the　controllers　of　the　grain…stores；　to　give　out　all　that　they　can
spare。　If　my　commands　had　always　been　obeyed；　it　would　be　better
with　us　all！　If　I　could　do　every　thing；　could　see　to　it　that　my
commands　were　everywhere　carried　into　effect；　you　would　not　be
unhappy；　and　you　must　confess；　at　least；　that　your　king　loves　you　as
a　father　his　children；　and　that　nothing　lies　so　closely　at　his　heart
as　your　welfare。　Go；　my　children；　and　tell　your　friends　to　prove
worthy　of　the　love　of　their　king；　and　to　return　peaceably　to　Paris。〃
＇Footnote：　The　king's　own　words。See。　A。　de　Beauchesne；　〃Louis
XVI。。　sa　Vie；　son　Agonie；　〃etc。；　vol。　i。；　p。　43。＇

〃Long　live　the　king！　Long　live　our　father！〃　cried　the　touched　and
pacified　women；　as　trembling　and　with　tears　in　their　eyes；　they　left
the　royal　cabinet；　in　order　to　go　to　the　women　below；　and　announce
to　them　what　the　king　had　said。

But　the　royal　words　found　no　response　among　the　excited　masses。　〃We
are　hungry；　we　want　bread；〃　shouted　the　women。　〃We　are　not　going　to
live　on　words　any　more。　The　king　sha