marie antoinette and her son-第58章

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silly　to　cry　before　people　who　mean　ill　to　us。　But　I　am　still　a　poor
little　boy；　and　my　tears　are　stronger　than　I。　And　so　I　want　you；
mamma；　not　to　let　me　go　to　the　garden　any　more。　Moufflet　and　I　would
a　great　deal　rather　play　in　my　room。　Come　here；　Moufflet；　make　your
compliments　to　the　queen；　and　salute　her　like　a　regular　grenadier。〃

And　smiling；　he　caught　the　little　dog　by　the　fore…paws；　and　made　him
stand　up　on　his　hind　legs；　and　threatened　Moufflet　with　his　hand
till　he　made　him　stand　erect　and　let　his　fore　feet　hang　down　very
respectfully。

The　queen　looked　down　with　a　smile　at　the　couple；　and　laughed　aloud
when　the　dauphin；　still　waving　his　hand　threateningly　to　compel　the
dog　to　stand　as　he　was；　jumped　up；　ran　to　the　table；　caught　up　a
paper　cap；　which　he　had　made　and　painted　with　red　stripes；　and　put
it　on　Moufflet's　head；　calling　out　to　him：　〃Mr。　Jacobin；　behave
respectfully！　Make　your　salutations　to　her　majesty　the　queen！〃

After　that　day；　the　dauphin　did　not　go　into　his　garden　again；　and
the　park　of　the　Tuileries　was　now　the　exclusive　property　of　the
populace；　that　took　possession　of　it　with　furious　eagerness。

The　songs　of　the　revolution；　the　wild　curses　of　the　haters　of
royalty；　the　coarse　laughter　and　shouting　of　the　rabblethese　were
the　storm　birds　which　were　beating　at　the　windows　of　the　royal
apartments。

Marie　Antoinette　had　still　one　source　of　enjoyment　left　to　her　in
her　sufferings；　her　correspondence　with　her　absent　friends；　and　the
Duchess　de　Polignac　before　all　others。　Once　in　a　while　there　was　a
favorable　opportunity　to　send　a　letter　by　the　hands　of　some　faithful
friend　around　her；　and　the　queen　had　then　the　sad　satisfaction　at
least　of　being　able　to　express　to　some　sympathizing　heart　what　she
was　undergoing；　without　fearing　that　these　complaints　would　be　read
by　her　enemies；　as　was　the　case　with　all　letters　which　were　sent　by
post。

One　of　these　letters　to　the　Duchess　de　Polignac；　which　history　has
preserved；　gives　a　faithful　and　touching　picture　of　the　sorrows　and
grief　of　the　queen。　A　translation　of　it　runs　thus：

〃I　cannot　deny　myself　the　pleasure　of　embracing　you；　my　dear　heart；
but　it　must　be　done　quickly；　for　the　opportunity　is　a　passing　one；
although　a　certain　one。　I　can　only　write　a　word；　which　will　be
forwarded　to　you　with　a　large　package。　We　are　guarded　like
criminals；　and　this　restraint　is　truly　dreadfully　hard　to　bear！
constantly　too　apprehensive　for　one　another；　not　to　be　able　to
approach　the　window　without　being　loaded　with　insults；　not　to　be
able　to　take　the　poor　children　out　into　the　air　without　exposing　the
dear　innocents　to　reproaches；　what　a　situation　is　ours；　my　dear
heart！　And　when　you　think　that　I　suffer　not　for　myself　alone；　but
have　to　tremble　for　the　king　as　well；　and　for　our　friends　who　are
with　us；　you　will　see　that　the　burden　is　well…nigh　unbearable！　But；
as　I　have　told　you　before；　you　absent　ones；　you　keep　me　up。　Adieu；
dear　heart；　let　us　hope　in　God；　who　looks　into　our　consciences；　and
who　knows　whether　we　are　not　animated　by　the　truest　love　for　this
land。　I　embrace　you！

〃P。　S。The　king　has　just　come　in　and　wants　to　add　a　word。〃

〃I　will　only　say；　duchess；　that　you　are　not　forgotten；　that　we
regret　receiving　so　few　letters　from　you；　and　that；　whether　near　or
far　away；　you　and　yours　are　always　loved。　Louis。〃　＇Footnote：
Beauchesne　〃Louis　XVII；〃　vol。　1。；　p。　143。＇

Not　to　be　able　to　show　one's　self　near　the　window　without　being
showered　with　insults！　Yes；　and　even　into　the　very　middle　of　her
room　they　followed　her。　Even　when　sitting　far　away　from　the　window；
she　could　not　help　hearing　the　loud　cries　which　were　thundered　out
on　the　pavement　below；　as　the　hucksters　offered　to　the　laughing
crowd　the　infamous　pamphlet；　written　with　a　poisoned　pen；　and
entitled　〃The　Life　of　Marie　Antoinette。〃

At　times　her　anger　mastered　her；　her　eyes　flashed；　her　figure　was
straightened　up；　and　the　suffering　martyr　was　transformed　for　an
instant　into　the　proud；　commanding　queen。

〃I　will　not　bear　it！〃　she　cried；　walking　up　and　down　with　great
strides；　〃I　will　speak　to　them；　they　shall　not　insult　me　without
hearing　my　justification。　Yes；　I　will　go　down　to　these　people；　who
call　me　a　foreigner。　I　will　say　to　them；　'Frenchmen；　people　have　had
the　want　of　feeling　to　tell　you　that　I　do　not　love　France；　I；　the
mother　of　a　dauphin；　I'〃　＇Footnote：　The　queen's　own　words。…See
Campan；　〃Memoires；〃　vol。　II。　＇

But　her　voice　choked　in　her　tears；　and　she　fled　to　the　extreme　end
of　the　room；　fell　sobbing　on　her　knees；　and　held　both　her　hands　to
her　ears；　in　order　not　to　hear　the　dreadful　insults　which　came　up
from　below　and　through　her　windows。

Thus；　amid　trials　which　renewed　themselves　daily；　the　months　passed
by。　The　queen　had　no　longer　any　hope。　She　had　given　up　every　thing；
even　the　hope　of　an　honorable　end；　of　a　death　such　as　becomes　a
queen；　proud　and　dignified　beneath　the　ruins　of　a　palace　laid　low　by
an　exasperated　populace。　She　knew　that　the　king　would　never　bring
himself　to　meet　such　a　death；　that　his　weakness　would　yield　to　all
humiliation；　and　his　good…nature　resist　all　measures　that　might
perhaps　bring　help。　She　had　sought　in　vain　to　inspire　him　with　her
zeal。　Louis　was　a　good　man；　but　a　bad　king；　his　was　not　a　nature　to
rule　and　govern；　but　rather　to　serve　as　the　scape…goat　for　the　sins
of　his　fathers；　and　to　fall　as　a　victim　for　the　misdeeds　which　his
ancestors　had　committed；　and　through　which　they　had　excited　the
wrath　of　the　people；　the　divine　Nemesis　that　never　sleeps。

The　queen　knew　and　felt　this；　and　this　knowledge　lay　like　a　mourning
veil　over　her　whole　thought　and　being；　filling　her　at　times　with　a
moody　resignation；　and　at　times　with　a　swiftly…kindling　and　wrathful
pain。

〃I　am　content　that　we　be　the　victims；〃　cried　she；　wringing　her
hands；　〃but　I　cannot　bear　to　think　that　my　children　too　are　to　be
punished　for　what　they　have　not　committed。〃

This　thought　of　her　children　was　the　pillar　which　always　raised　the
queen　up　again；　when　the　torture　of　her　daily　life　cast　her　to　the
ground。　She　would；　she　must　live　for　her　children。　She　must；　so　long
as　a　breath　remained　in　her；　devote　all　her　powers　to　retain　for　her
son　the　dauphin　at　least　the　crown　beneath　whose　burden　his　father
sank。　She　wanted　nothing　more　for　herself；　all　for　her　son　alone。

There　were　still　true　friends　who　wanted　to　save　the　queen。　Secret
tidings　came　to　her　that　all　was　ready　for　her　escape。　It　was
against　her　that　the　popular　rage　was　chiefly　directed；　and　her　life
was　even　threatened。　Twice　had　the　attempt　been　made　to　kill　the
queen；　and　the　most　violent　denunciations　of　the　populace　were
directed　against　her。　It　was　therefore　the　queen　whom　her　friends
wanted　most　to　save。　Every　thing　was　prepared　for　the　flight；　true
and　devoted　friends　were　waiting　for　her；　ready　to　conduct　her　to
the　boundaries　of　France；　where　she　should　meet　deputies　sent　by　her
nephew；　the　Emperor　Francis。　The　plan　was　laid　with　the　greatest
care；　nothing　but　the　consent　of　the　queen　was　needed　to　bring　it　to
completion；　and　save　her　from　certain　destruction。　But　Marie
Antoinette　withheld　her　acquiescence。　〃It　is　of　no　consequence　about
my　life；〃　she　said。　〃I　know　that　I　must　die；　and　I　am　prepared　for
it。　If　the　king　and　my　children　cannot　escape　with　me；　I　remain；　for
my　place　is　at　the　side　of　my　husband　and　my　children。〃

At　last　the　king　himself；　inspired　by　the　courage　and　energy　of　his
wife；　ventured　to　oppose　the　decisions　and　decrees　of　the　all…
powerful　Assembly。　It　had　put　forth　two　new　decrees。　It　had　resolved
upon　the　deportation　of　all　priests　beyond　the　limits　of　France；　and
also　upon　the　establishment　of　a　camp　of　twenty　thousand　men　on　the
Rhine　frontier。　With　the　latter　there　had　been　coupled　a　warning；
threatening　with　death　all　who　should　spend　any　time　abroad；　and
engage　in　any　armed　movement　against　their　own　country。

To　both　these　decrees　Louis　refused　his　sanction；　both　he　vetoed　on
the　20th　of　June；　1792。

The　populace；　which　thronged　the　doors　of　the　National　Assembly　in
immense　masses；　among　whom　the　emissaries　of　revolution　had　been
very　active；　received　the　news　of　the　king's　veto　with　a　howl　of
rage。　The　storm…birds　of　revolution　flew　through　the　streets；　and
shouted　into　all　the　windows：　〃The　country　is　in　danger！　The　king
has　been　making　alliances　abroad。　The　Austrian　woman　wants　to　summon
the　armies　of　her　own　land　against　France；　and　therefore　the　king
has　vetoed　the　decree　which　punishes　the　betrayers　of　their　country。
A　curse　on　M。　Veto！　Down　with　Madame　Veto！　That　is　the　cry　to…day
for　the　revolutionary　party。　A　curse　on　M。　Veto！　Down　with　Madame
Veto！〃

The　watch…cry　rolled　like　a　peal　of　thunder　through　all　the　streets
and　into　all　the　houses；　and；　while　within　their　closed　doors；　and
in　the　stillness　of　their　own　homes；　the　well…disposed　praised　the
king　for　having　the　courage　to　protect　the　priests　and　the　emigres；
the　evil…disposed　bellowed　out　their　curses　through　all　the　streets；
and　called　upon　the　rabble　to　avenge　themselves　upon　Monsieur　and
Madame　Veto。

Nobody　prevented　this。　The　National　Assembly　let　every　thing　go
quietly　on；　and　waited　with　perfect　indifference　to　see　what　the
righteous　anger　of　the　people　should　resolve　to　do。

Immense　masses　of　howling；　shrieking　people　rolled　up；　on　the
afternoon　of　the　20th　of　June；　to　the　Tuileries；　where　no
arrangements　had　been　made　for　defence；　the　main　entrances　not　even
being　protected　that　day　by　the　National　Guard。

The　king　gave　orders；　therefore；　that　the　great　doors　should　be
opened；　and　the　people　allowed　to　pass　in　unhindered。

In　a　quarter　of　an　hour　all　the　staircases；　corridors；　and　halls
were　filled　by　a　howling；　roaring　crowd；　the　room　of　the　king　alone
was　locked；　and　in　this　apartment　were　the　royal　family　and　a　few
faithful　friendsthe　king；　bland　and　calm　as　ever；　the　queen；　pale；
firm；　uncomplaining；　Madame　Elizabeth；　with　folded　hands；　praying；
the　two　children　drawing　closely　together；　softly　weeping；　and　yet
suppressing　their　sobs；　because　the　queen　had；　in　a　whisper；
commanded　them　to　keep　still。

A　little　company　of　faithful　servants　filled　the　background　of　the
room；　and　listened　with　suspended　breath　to　the　axe…strokes　with
which　the　savage　crowd　broke　down　the　doors；　and　heard　the
approaching　cries　of　the　multitude。

At　last　a　division　of　the　National　Guard　reached　the　palace；　too
late　to　drive　the　people　out；　but　perhaps　in　season　to　protect　the
royal　family。　The　door　of　the　royal　apartment　was　opened　to　the
second　officer　of　the　National　Guard；　M。　Acloque。　He　burst　in；　and
kneeling　before　the　king；　conjured　him；　with　tears　in　his　eyes；　to
show　himself　to　the　people；　and　by　his　presence　to　calm　the　savage
multitude。

By　this　time　the　two　children　were　no　longer　able　to　control　their
feelings　and　suppress　their　fear。　The　dauphin　burst　into　tears　and
loud　cries；　he　clung　affrighted　to　the　dress　of　his　mother；　he
implored　her　with　the　most　moving　tones　to　take　him　away；　and　go
with　him　to　his　room。　Marie　Antoinette　stooped　down　to　the　poor
little　fellow；　and　pressed　him　and　Theresa；　who　was　weeping　calmly；
to　her　heart；　whispering　a　few