marie antoinette and her son-第40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！


them　down。〃

〃Madame；〃　said　Lafayette；　turning　pale；　〃had　I　attempted　to　do　that；
your　majesty　would　not　have　found　refuge　in　this　chamber。　For　the
anger　of　the　mob　is　like　the　lightning　and　thunder　of　the　tempest；
it　heeds　neither　door　nor　bolt；　and　if　it　has　once　broken　loose；
nothing　can　restrain　or　stop　it。〃

〃Oh；〃　cried　the　queen；　with　a　mocking　laugh；　〃it　is　plain　that　Mr。
Lafayette　has　been　pursuing　his　studies　in　America；　at　the
university　of　revolutions。　He　speaks　of　the　people　with　a　deference
as　if　it　were　another　majesty　to　bow　to。〃

〃And　in　that　Lafayette　is　right；〃　said　the　king；　rising　and
approaching　them。　〃Hear　the　yell；　madame！　it　sounds　like　the　roaring
of　lions；　and　you　know；　Marie；　that　the　lion　is　called　the　king　of
beasts。　Tell　us；　general；　what　does　the　lion　want；　and　what　does　his
roaring　mean？〃

〃Sire；　the　enemies　of　the　royal　family；　the　agitators　and　rebels；
who　have　within　these　last　hours　come　from　Paris；　have　urged　on　the
people　afresh；　and　kindled　them　with　senseless　calumnies。　They　have
persuaded　the　people　that　your　majesty　has　summoned　hither　the
regiments　from　all　the　neighboring　stations；　that　you　are　collecting
an　army　to　put　yourself　at　its　head　and　march　against　Paris。〃

Louis　cast　a　significant　look　at　his　wife；　which　was　answered　with　a
proud　toss　of　her　head。

〃I　have　sought　in　vain；〃　continued　Lafayette；　〃to　make　the　poor；
misguided　men　conscious　of　the　impossibility　of　such　a　plan。〃

〃Yet；　sir；〃　broke　in　Marie　Antoinette；　fiercely；　〃the　execution　of
this　plan　would　save　the　crown　from　dishonor　and　humiliation！〃

〃Only；　madame；　that　it　is　exactly　the　execution　of　it　which　is
impossible；〃　answered　Lafayette；　gently　bowing。

〃If　you　could　give　wings　to　the　soldiers　of　the　various　garrisons
away　from　here；　the　plan　might　be　good；　and　the　army　might　save　the
country！　But　as；　unfortunately；　this　cannot　be；　we　must　think　of
other　means　of　help；　for　your　majesty　hears　the　danger　knocking　now
at　the　door；　and　we　must　do　with　pacificatory　measures　what　we
cannot　do　with　force。〃

〃How　will　you　use　pacificatory　measures；　sir？〃　asked　Marie
Antoinette；　angrily。

Lafayette　cast　upon　her　a　sad；　pained　look；　and　turned　to　the　king。
〃Sire；〃　said　he；　with　loud；　solemn　voice；　〃sire；　the　people　are
frightfully　carried　away。　Stimulating　speeches　have　driven　them　to
despair　and　to　madness。　It　is　only　with　difficulty　that　we　have
succeeded　in　keeping　the　mob　out　of　the　palace；　and　closing　the　door
again。　'Paris　shall　be　laid　in　ashes！'　is　the　horrible　cry　which
drives　all　these　hearts　to　rage；　and　to　which　they　give
unconditional　belief！〃

〃I　will　show　myself　to　the　people；〃　said　Louis。　〃I　will　tell　them
that　they　have　been　deceived。　I　will　give　them　my　royal　word　that　I
have　no　hostile　designs　whatever　against　Paris。〃

General　Lafayette　sighed；　and　dropped　his　head　heavily　upon　his
breast。

〃Do　you　counsel　me　not　to　do　this？〃　asked　the　king；　timidly。

〃Sire；〃　answered　the　general；　with　a　shrug；　〃the　people　are　now　in
such　an　excited；　unreasonable　state；　that　words　will　no　longer　be
sufficient　to　satisfy　them。　Your　majesty　might　assure　them　ever　so
solemnly　that　you　entertain　no　hostile　intentions　whatever　against
Paris；　and　that　you　will　not　call　outside　help　to　your　assistance；
and　the　exasperated　people　would　mistrust　your　assurances！　For　in
all　their　rage　the　people　have　a　distinct　consciousness　of　the
crimes　they　are　engaged　in　committing　in　creating　this　rebellion
against　the　crown；　and　they　know　that　it　were　not　human；　that　it
were　divine；　for　your　majesty　to　forgive　such　crimes；　and　therefore
they　would　not　credit　such　forgiveness。〃

〃How　well　General　Lafayette　knows　how　to　interpret　the　thoughts　of
this　fanatical　rabble；　whom　he　calls　'the　people！'　〃ejaculated　the
queen；　with　a　scornful　laugh。　At　this　instant　a　loud；　thundering　cry
was　heard　below；　and　thousands　upon　thousands　of　voices　shouted；
〃The　king！　We　want　to　see　the　king！〃

Louis's　face　lighted　up。　With　quick　step　he　hurried　to　the　window
and　raised　it。　The　people　did　not　see　him　at　once；　but　the　king　saw。
He　saw　the　immense　square　in　front　of　the　palace；　which　had　been
devoted　to　the　rich　equipages　of　the　nobility；　occupied　by　the
humbler　classesthe　troops　of　his　staff　marching　up　in　their　gala
uniformshe　saw　it　filled　with　a　dense　mass　of　men　whom　Lafayette
had　called　〃the　people；〃　whom　the　queen　had　termed　a　〃riotous
rabble；〃　surging　up　and　down；　head　pressed　to　head；　here　and　there
faces　distorted　with　rage；　eyes　blazing；　fists　clinched；　arms　bare；
and　pikes　glistening　in　the　morning　light；　while　a　great　roar；　like
that　which　comes　from　the　sea　in　a　tempest；　filled　the　air。

〃You　are　right；　Lafayette；〃　said　the　king；　who　looked　calmly　at　this
black　sea　of　human　life〃you　are　right；　this　is　the　people；　there
are　here　probably　twenty　thousand　men；　and　Heaven　defend　me　from
regarding　all　as　criminals　and　rabble！　I　believe〃

A　tremendous　shout　now　filled　the　air。　The　king　had　been　seen；　some
one　had　noticed　him　at　the　open　window；　and　now　all　heads　and　all
looks　were　directed　to　this　window；　and　twenty　thousand　voices
cried；　〃Long　live　the　king！　Long　live　the　king！〃

Louis　turned　with　a　proud；　happy　look　to　the　gentlemen　and　ministers
who　stood　near　him；　Marie　Antoinette　having　withdrawn　to　the
farthest　corner　of　the　room；　where；　throwing　her　arms　around　both　of
the　children；　and　drawing　them　to　her　bosom；　she　had　sunk　into　a
chair。

〃What　do　you　say　now；　gentlemen？〃　asked　the　king。

〃Did　they　not　want　to　make　me　believe　that　my　good　people　hate　their
king；　and　wish　him　ill？　But　when　I　show　myself　to　them；　hear　how
they　shout　to　greet　me！〃

〃To　Paris！〃　was　now　the　roar　of　the　mob　below。　〃We　want　the　king
should　go　to　Paris！〃

〃What　do　they　say？　What　do　they　want？〃　asked　Louis；　turning　to
Lafayette；　who　now　stood　close　beside　him。

〃Sire；　they　are　shouting　their　wishes　to　you；　that　you　and　the　royal
family　should　go　to　Paris。〃

〃And　you；　general；　what　do　you　say？〃　asked　the　king。

〃Sire；　I　have　taken　the　liberty　already　to　say　that　words　and
promises　are　of　no　more　avail　to　quiet　this　raving；　maddened　people；
and　to　make　them　believe　that　you　have　no　hostile　designs　against
Paris。〃

〃But　if　I　go　to　Paris　and　reside　there　for　a　time；　it　is　your
opinion；　as　I　understand　it；　that　the　people　would　be　convinced　that
I　have　no　evil　intentions　against　the　citythat　I　should　not
undertake　to　destroy　the　city　in　which　I　might　live。　That　is　your
meaning；　is　it　not？〃

〃Yes；　sire；　that　is　what　I　wanted　to　say。〃

〃To　Paris；　to　Paris！〃　thundered　up　from　below。　〃The　king　shall　go　to
Paris！〃

Louis　withdrew　from　the　window　and　joined　the　circle　of　his
ministers；　who；　with　their　pale　faces；　surrounded　him。

〃Gentlemen；〃　said　the　king；　〃you　are　my　counsellors。　Well；　give　me
your　counsel。　Tell　me　now　what　I　shall　do　to　restore　peace　and
quiet。〃

But　no　one　replied。　Perplexed　and　confused　they　looked　down　to　the
ground；　and　only　Necker　found　courage　to　answer　the　king　after　a
long　pause。

〃Sire；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　a　question　that　might　be　considered　for　days
which　your　majesty　has　submitted　to　us；　and　on　its　answer　depends；
perhaps；　the　whole　fate　of　the　monarchy。　But；　as　you　wish　to　know
the　opinions　of　your　ministers；　I　will　venture　to　give　mine：　that　it
would　be　the　safest　and　most　expedient　course　for　your　majesty　to
comply　with　the　wishes　of　the　people；　and　go　to　Paris！〃

〃I　supposed　so；〃　whispered　the　king；　dropping　his　head。

〃To　Paris！〃　cried　the　queen；　raising　her　head。　〃It　is　impossible。
You　cannot　be　in　earnest　in　being　willing　to　go　of　your　own　accord
down　into　the　abyss　of　revolution；　in　order　to　be　destroyed　there！
To　Paris！〃

〃To　Paris！〃　was　the　thundering　cry　from　below；　as　if　the　words　of
the　queen　had　awakened　a　fearful；　thousand…voiced　echo。　〃To　Paris！
The　king　and　the　queen　shall　go　to　Paris！〃

〃And　never　come　from　there！〃　cried　the　queen；　with；　bursting　tears。

〃Speak；　Lafayette！〃　cried　the　king。　〃What　do　you　think？〃

〃Sire；　I　think　that　there　is　only　one　way　to　restore　peace　and　to
quiet　the　people；　and　that　is；　for　your　majesty　to　go　to…day　with
the　royal　family　to　Paris。〃

〃It　is　my　view；　too；〃　said　Louis；　calmly。　〃Then　go；　Lafayette；　tell
the　people　that　the　king　and　queen；　together　with　the　dauphin　and
the　princess；　will　journey　today　to　Paris。〃

The　simple　and　easily　spoken　words　had　two　very　different　effects　in
the　cabinet　on　those　who　heard　them。　Some　faces　lightened　up　with
joy；　some　grew　pale　with　alarm；　there　were　sighs　of　despair；　and
cries　of　fresh　hope。　Every　one　felt　that　this　was　a　crisis　in　the
fate　of　the　royal　familysome　thinking　that　it　would　bring
disaster；　others　deliverance。

The　queen　alone　put　on　now　a　grave；　decided　look；　a　lofty　pride
lighted　up　her　high　brow；　and　with　an　almost　joyful　expression　she
looked　at　her　husband；　who　had　been　induced　to　do　somethingat
least；　to　take　a　decisive　step。

〃The　king　has　spoken；〃　she　said；　amid　the　profoundest　silence；　〃and
it　becomes　us　to　obey　the　will　of　the　king；　and　to　be　subject　to　it。
Madame　de　Campan；　make　all　the　preparations　for　my　departure；　and　do
it　in　view　of　a　long　stay　in　Paris！〃

〃Now；　Lafayette；〃　asked　the　king；　as　the　general　still　delayed　in
the　room；　〃why　do　you　not　hasten　to　announce　my　will　to　the　people？〃

〃Sire；〃　answered　Lafayette；　solemnly；　〃there　are　moments　when　a
people　can　only　be　pacified　by　the　voice　either　of　God　or　of　its
king；　and　where　every　other　human　voice　is　overwhelmed　by　the
thunder　of　the　storm！〃

〃And　you　think　that　this　is　such　a　moment？〃　asked　the　king。　〃You
think　that　I　ought　myself　to　announce　to　the　people　what　I　mean　to
do？〃

Lafayette　bowed　and　pointed　to　the　window；　which　shook　even　then
with　the　threatening　cry；　〃The　king！　We　will　see　the　king！　He　shall
go　to　Paris！　The　king；　the　king！〃

Louis　listened　awhile　in　thoughtful　silence　to　this　thundering
shout；　which　was　at　once　so　full　of　majesty　and　horror；　then　he
quickly　raised　his　head。

〃I　will　follow　your　advice；　general；〃　said　he；　calmly。　〃I　will
announce　my　decision　to　the　people。　Give　me　your　hand；　madame；　we
will　go　into　the　balcony…room。　And　you；　gentlemen；　follow　me！〃

The　queen　took　the　hand　of　her　husband　without　a　word；　and　gave　the
other　to　the　little　dauphin；　who　timidly　clung　to　her；　while　her
daughter　Therese　quietly　and　composedly　walked　near　them。




BOOK　III


CHAPTER　XIV。

TO　PARIS。


Without　speaking　a　word；　and　with　hasty　steps；　the　royal　couple；
followed　by　the　ministers　and　courtiers；　traversed　the　two　adjoining
apartments；　and　entered　the　balcony…room；　which；　situated　at　the
centre　of　the　main　building；　commanded　a　wide　view　of　the　inner
court　and　the　square　in　front　of　it。

The　valet　Hue　hastened；　at　a　motion　from　the　king；　to　throw　open　the
great　folding　doors；　and　the　king；　parting　with　a　smile　from　Marie
Antoinette；　stepped　out　upon　the　balcony。　In　an　instant；　as　if　the
arm　of　God　had　been　extended　and　laid　upon　this　raging　sea；　the
roaring　ceased；　then；　as　soon　as　the　king　was　recognized；　a
multitudinous　shout　went　up；　increasing　every　moment；　and　sending
its　waves　beyond　the　square；　out　into　the　adjoining　streets。