marie antoinette and her son-第41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！


multitudinous　shout　went　up；　increasing　every　moment；　and　sending
its　waves　beyond　the　square；　out　into　the　adjoining　streets。

〃The　king！　Long　live　the　king！〃

Louis；　pale　with　emotion　and　with　tears　in　his　eyes；　went　forward　to
the　very　edge　of　the　balcony；　and；　as　a　sign　that　he　was　going　to
speak；　raised　both　hands。　The　motion　was　understood；　and　the　loud
cries　were　hushed　which　now　and　then　burst　from　the　mighty　mass　of
people。　Then　above　the　heads　of　the　thousands　there　who　gazed
breathlessly　up；　sounded　the　loud；　powerful　voice　of　the　king。

〃I　will　give　my　dear　people　the　proof　that　my　fatherly　heart　is
distrusted　without　reason。　I　will　journey　to…day　with　the　queen　and
my　children　to　Paris；　and　there　take　up　my　residence。　Return
thither；　my　children；　I　shall　follow　you　in　a　few　hours　and　come　to
Paris！〃

Then；　while　the　people　were　breaking　out　into　a　cry　of　joy；　and　were
throwing　arms；　caps；　and　clothes　up　into　the　air；　Louis　stepped　back
from　the　balcony　into　the　hall。

Instantly　there　arose　a　new　cry　below。　〃The　queen　shall　show
herself！　We　want　to　see　the　queen！　The　queen！　the　queen！　the　queen！〃

And　in　tones　louder；　and　more　commanding；　and　more　terrible　every
moment；　the　summons　came　in　through　the　balcony　door。

The　queen　took　her　two　children　by　the　hand　and　advanced　a　step　or
two；　but　the　king　held　her　back。

〃Do　not　go；　Marie；〃　he　cried；　with　trembling　voice　and　anxious　look。
〃No；　do　not　go。　It　is　such　a　fearful　sight；　this　raging　mass　at
one's　feet；　it　confuses　one's　senses。　Do　not　go；　Marie！〃

But　the　cry　below　had　now　expanded　into　the　volume　of　a　hurricane；
and　made　the　very　walls　of　the　palace　shake。

〃You　hear　plainly；　sire；〃　cried　Marie　Antoinette；　〃there　is　just　as
much　danger　whether　we　see　or　do　not　see　it。　Let　me　do；　therefore；
what　you　have　done！　Come；　children！〃

And　walking　between　the　two　little　ones；　the　queen　stepped　out　upon
the　balcony　with　a　firm　step　and　raised　head；　followed　by　the　king；
who　placed　himself　behind　Marie　Antoinette；　as　if　he　were　a　sentinel
charged　with　the　duty　of　protecting　her　life。

But　the　appearance　of　the　whole　royal　family　did　not　produce　the
effect　which　Louis　had；　perhaps；　anticipated。　The　crowd　did　not　now
break　out　into　snouts　of　joy。

They　cried　and　roared　and　howled：　〃The　queen　alone！　No　children！　We
want　no　one　but　the　queen！　Away　with　the　children！〃

It　was　all　in　vain　that　Louis　advanced　to　the　edge　of　the　platform；
in　vain　that　he　raised　his　arms　as　if　commanding　silence。　The　sound
of　his　voice　was　lost　in　the　roar　of　the　mob；　who；　with　their
clinched　fists；　their　pikes　and　other　weapons；　their　horrid　cry；　so
frightened　the　dauphin　that　he　could　not　restrain　his　tears。

The　royal　family　drew　back　and　entered　the　apartment　again；　where
they　were　received　by　the　pale；　trembling；　speechless；　weeping
courtiers　and　servants。

But　the　mob　below　were　not　pacified。　They　appeared　as　though　they
were　determined　to　give　laws　to　the　king　and　queen；　and　demand
obedience　from　them。

〃The　queen！　we　will　see　the　queen！〃　was　the　cry　again　and　again。
〃The　queen　shall　show　herself！〃

〃Well；　be　it　so！〃　cried　Marie　Antoinette；　with　cool　decision；　and；
pressing　through　the　courtiers；　who　wanted　to　restrain　her；　and　even
impatiently　thrusting　back　the　king；　who　implored　her　not　to　go；　she
stepped　out　upon　the　balcony。　Alone；　without　any　one　to　accompany
her；　and　having　only　the　protection　which　the　lion…tamer　has　when　he
enters　the　cage　of　the　fierce　monstersthe　look　of　the　eye　and　the
commanding　mien！

And　the　lion　appeared　to　be　subdued；　his　fearful　roar　suddenly
ceased；　and　in　astonishment　all　these　thousands　gazed　up　at　the
queen；　the　daughter　of　the　Caesars；　standing　above　in　proud
composure；　her　arms　folded　upon　her　breast；　and　looking　down　with
steady　eye　into　the　yawning　and　raging　abyss。

The　people；　overcome　by　this　royal　composure；　broke　into　loud　shouts
of　applause；　and；　during　the　continuance　of　these　thousand…voiced
bravos；　the　queen；　with　a　proud　smile　upon　her　lips；　stepped　back
from　the　balcony　into　the　chamber。

The　dauphin　flew　to　her　with　open　arms　and　climbed　up　her　knee。
〃Mamma　queen；　my　dear　mamma　queen；〃　cried　he；　〃stay　with　me；　don't
go　out　again　to　these　dreadful　men；　I　am　afraid　of　themoh；　I　am
afraid！〃

Marie　Antoinette　took　the　little　boy　in　her　arms；　and　with　her　cold；
pale　lips　pressed　a　kiss　upon　his　forehead。　For　one　instant　it
seemed　as　if　she　felt　herself　overcome　by　the　fearful　scene　through
which　she　had　just　passedas　if　the　tears　which　were　confined　in
her　heart　would　force　themselves　into　her　eyes。　But　Marie　Antoinette
overcame　this　weakness　of　the　woman；　for　she　felt　that　at　this　hour
she　could　only　be　a　queen。

With　the　dauphin　in　her　arms；　and　pressing　him　closely　to　her　heart；
she　advanced　to　the　king；　who；　in　order　not　to　let　his　wife　see　the
tears　which　flooded　his　face；　had　withdrawn　to　the　adjoining
apartment　and　was　leaning　against　the　door。

〃Sire；〃　said　Marie　Antoinette；　entering　the　room；　and　presenting　the
dauphin　to　him；　〃sire；　I　conjure　you　that；　in　this　fearful　hour；　you
will　make　one　promise　to　me。〃

〃What　is　it；　Marie？〃　asked　the　king；　〃what　do　you　desire？〃

〃Sire；　by　all　that　is　dear　to　you　and　me；〃　continued　the　queen；　〃by
the　welfare　and　safety　of　France；　by　your　own　and　by　the　safety　of
this　dear　child；　your　successor；　I　conjure　you　to　promise　me　that；
if　we　ever　must　witness　such　a　scene　of　horror　again；　and　if　you
have　the　means　to　escape　it；　you　will　not　let　the　opportunity　pass；〃
＇Footnote：　The　very　words　of　the　queen。See　Beauchesne；　〃Louis
XVI。；　sa　Vie；〃　etc。；　p　145。＇

The　king；　deeply　moved　by　the　noble　and　glowing　face　of　the　queen；
by　the　tones　of　her　voice；　and　by　her　whole　expression；　turned　away。
He　wanted　to　speak；　but　could　not；　tears　choked　his　utterance；　and；
as　if　he　were　ashamed　of　his　weakness；　he　pushed　the　queen　and　the
dauphin　back　from　him；　hastened　through　the　room；　and　disappeared
through　the　door　on　the　opposite　side。

Marie　Antoinette　looked　with　a　long；　sad　face　after　him；　and　then
returned　to　the　balcony…room。　A　shudder　passed　through　her　soul；　and
a　dark；　dreadful　presentiment　made　her　heart　for　an　instant　stop
beating。　She　remembered　that　this　chamber　in　which　she　had　that　day
suffered　such　immeasurable　painthat　this　chamber；　which　now　echoed
the　cries　of　a　mob　that　had　this　day　for　the　first　time　prescribed
laws　to　a　queen；　had　been　the　dying…chamber　of　Louis　XIV。　＇Footnote：
Historical。See　Goncourt；　〃Marie　Antoinette；〃　p。　195。＇　A　dreadful
presentiment　told　her　that　this　day　the　room　had　become　the　dying…
chamber　of　royalty。

Like　a　pale；　bloody　corpse；　the　Future　passed　before　her　eyes；　and；
with　that　lightning　speed　which　accompanies　moments　of　the　greatest
excitement；　all　the　old　dark　warnings　came　back　to　her　which　she　had
previously　encountered。　She　thought　of　the　picture　of　the　slaughter
of　the　babes　at　Bethlehem；　which　decorated　the　walls　of　the　room　in
which　the　dauphin　passed　his　first　night　on　French　soil；　then　of
that　dreadful　prophecy　which　Count　do　Cagliostro　had　made　to　her　on
her　journey　to　Paris；　and　of　the　scaffold　which　he　showed　her。　She
thought　of　the　hurricane　which　had　made　the　earth　shake　and　turn　up
trees　by　their　roots；　on　the　first　night　which　the　dauphin　had
passed　in　Versailles。　She　thought　too　of　the　dreadful　misfortune
which　on　the　next　day　happened　to　hundreds　of　men　at　the　fireworks
in　Paris；　and　cost　them　their　lives。　She　recalled　the　moment　at　the
coronation　when　the　king　caught　up　the　crown　which　the　papal　nuncio
was　just　on　the　point　of　placing　on　his　head；　and　said　at　the　same
time；

〃It　pricks　me。〃　＇Footnote：　Historical。＇And　now　it　seemed　to　her　to
be　a　new；　dreadful　reason　for　alarm；　that　the　scene　of　horror；　which
she　had　just　passed　through；　should　take　place　in　the　dying…chamber
of　that　king　to　whom　France　owed　her　glory　and　her　greatness。

〃We　are　lost；　lost！〃　she　whispered　to　herself。　〃Nothing　can　save　us。
There　is　the　scaffold！〃

〃With　a　silent　gesture；　and　a　gentle　inclination　of　her　head；　the
queen　took　her　leave　of　all　present；　and　returned　to　her　own
apartments；　which　were　now　guarded　by　Lafayette's　soldiers；　and
which　now　conveyed　no　hint　of　the　scene　of　horror　which　had
transpired　there　a　few　hours　before。

Some　hours　later　two　cannon　were　discharged　upon　the　great　square
before　the　palace。　They　announced　to　the　city　of　Versailles　that　the
king；　the　queen；　and　their　children；　had　just　left　the　proud　palace…
…were　then　leaving　the　solitary　residence　at　Versaillesnever　to
return！

From　the　lofty　tower　of　the　church　of　St。　Louis；　in　which　recently
the　opening　of　the　States…General　had　been　celebrated；　the　bell　was
just　then　striking　the　first　hour　after　mid…day；　when　the　carriage
drove　out　of　the　great　gate　through　which　the　royal　family　must　pass
on　its　way　to　Paris。　A　row　of　other　carriages　formed　the　escort　of
the　royal　equipage。　They　were　intended　for　the　members　of　the
States…General。　For　as　soon　as　the　journey　of　the　king　to　Paris　was
announced；　the　National　Assembly　decreed　that　it　regarded　itself　as
inseparably　connected　with　the　person　of　the　king；　and　that　it　would
follow　him　to　Paris。　A　deputation　had　instantly　repaired　to　the
palace；　to　communicate　this　decree　to　the　king；　and　had　been
received　by　Louis　with　cordial　expressions　of　thanks。

Marie　Antoinette；　however；　had　received　the　tidings　of　these
resolves　of　the　National　Assembly　with；　a　suspicious　smile；　and　an
angry　flash　darted　into　her　eyes。

〃And　so；　the　gentlemen　of　the　Third　Estate　have　gained　their　point！〃
cried　she；　in　wrath。　〃They　alone　have　produced　this　revolt；　in　order
that　the　National　Assembly　may　have　a　pretext　for　going　to　Paris。
Now；　they　have　reached　their　goal！　Yet　do　not　tell　me　that　the
revolution　is　ended　here。　On　the　contrary；　the　hydra　will　now　put
forth　all　its　heads；　and　will　tear　us　in　pieces。　But；　very　well！　I
would　rather　be　torn　to　pieces　by　them　than　bend　before　them！〃

And；　with　a　lofty　air　and　calm　bearing；　Marie　Antoinette　entered　the
great　coach　in　which　the　royal　family　was　to　make　the　journey　to
Paris。　Near　her　sat　the　king；　between　them　the　dauphin。　Opposite　to
them；　on　the　broad；　front　seat；　were　their　daughter　Therese；　the
Princess　Elizabeth；　and　Madame　de　Tourzel；　governess　of　the　royal
children。　Behind　them；　in　a　procession；　whose　end　could　not　be　seen；
followed　an　artillery　train；　then　the　mob；　armed　with　pikes；　and
other　weapons…men　covered　with　blood　and　dust；　women　with
dishevelled　hair　and　torn　garments；　the　most　of　them　drunken　with
wine；　exhausted　by　watching　during　the　night；　shouting　and　yelling；
and　singing　low　songs；　or　mocking　the　royal　family　with　scornful
words。　Behind　these　wild　masses　came　two　hundred　gardes　du　corps
without　weapons；　hats；　and　shoulder…straps；　every　one　escorted　by
two　grenadiers；　and　they　were　followed　by　some　soldiers　of　the　Swiss
guard　and　the　Flanders　regiment。　In　the　midst　of　this　train　rattled
loaded　cannon；　each　one　accompanied　by　two　soldiers。　But　still　more
fearful　than　the　retinue　of　the　royal　equipage　were　the　heralds　who
preceded　itheralds　consisting　of　the　most　daring　and　defiant　of
these　men