marie antoinette and her son-第65章

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to　hear　his　reply。　He　stoutly　denied　haying　entertained　such
relations　with　foreign　princes；　he　declared；　with　a　solemn　oath；
that　he　had　declined　all　overtures　from　such　quarters；　because　he
had　seen　that；　in　order　to　free　an　imprisoned　king；　France　itself
must　be　threatened。

The　chiefs　of　the　revolution　meant　to　find　him　guilty。　Louis　Capet
must　be　put　out　of　the　way；　in　order　that　Robespierre　and　Marat；
Danton；　Petion；　and　their　friends；　might　reach　unlimited　power。

There　may　have　been　several　in　the　Convention　who　shrank　from　this
last　consequence　of　their　doings；　but　they　did　not　venture　to　raise
their　voices；　they　chimed　in　with　the　terrorism　which　the　leaders　of
the　revolution　exercised　upon　the　Convention。　They　knew　that　behind
these　leaders　stood　the　savage　masses　of　the　streets；　armed　with
hatred　against　monarchy　and　the　aristocracy；　and　ready　to　tear　in
pieces　any　one　as　an　enemy　of　the　country　who　ventured　to　join　the
number　of　those　who　were　under　the　ban　and　the　sentence　of　the
popular　hate。

Still　there　were　some　courageous；　faithful　servants　of　the　king　who
ventured　to　take　his　part　even　there。　Louis　had　now　been　summoned　to
the　bar　as　an　accused　person；　and　the　Convention　had　transformed
itself　into　a　tribunal　whose　function　was　to　pass　judgment　on　the
guilt　or　innocence　of　the　king！

In　order　to　satisfy　all　the　forms　of　the　law；　the　king　should　have
had　an　advocate　allowed　him；　and　the　benefit　of　legal　counsel。　The
Convention　demanded　that　those　who　were　ready　to　undertake　this　task
should　send　in　their　names。　It　was　a　form　deemed　safe　to　abide　by；
because　it　was　believed　that　there　would　be　no　one　who　would　venture
to　enter　upon　so　momentous　and　perilous　a　duty。

But　there　were　such；　nevertheless。　There　were　still　courageous　and
noble　men　who　pitied　the　forsaken　king；　and　who　wanted　to　try　to
save　him；　not　willing　to　see　him　atone　for　the　debts　of　his
predecessors；　and　bleed　for　the　sins　of　his　fathers。　And　scarcely
had　the　consent　of　the　Convention　been　announced；　that　Louis　Capet
should　have　three　advocates　for　his　defence；　when　from　Paris　and　all
the　minor　cities　letters　came　in　from　men　who　declared　themselves
ready　to　undertake　the　defence　of　the　king。

Even　from　foreign　lands　there　came　letters　and　appeals　in　behalf　of
the　deposed　monarch。　One　of　them；　written　in　spirited　and　glowing
language；　conjured　France　not　to　soil　its　noble　young　freedom　by　the
dreadful　murder　of　an　innocent　man；　who　had　committed　no　other
offence　than　that　he　was　the　son　of　his　fathers；　the　heir　of　their
crown　and　their　remissness。　It　was　written　by　a　German　poet；
Frederick　Schiller。　＇Footnote：　Schiller's　defence　of　the　king　is
preserved　in　the　national　archivesSee　Beauchesue　vol。　i。；　p。　366。＇

From　the　many　requests　to　serve　as　his　advocates；　Louis　chose　only
two　to　defend　him。　The　first　of　these　was　his　former　minister；　the
philosopher　Lamoignon　des　Malesherbes；　then　the　advocate　Trouchet；
and　finally；　at　the　pressing　request　of　Malesherbes；　the
distinguished　young　advocate　Deseges。　To　those　three　men　was
committed　the　trust　of　defending　the　king　against　the　dreadful
charge　of　treason　to　his　country；　to　be　substantiated　by　hundreds
and　hundreds　of　letters　and　documents。

After　the　preliminary　investigations　were　closed；　the　public　charge
was　made　in　the　Convention；　which　still　held　its　sessions　in　the
Manage。　To　this　building；　situated　near　the　Tuileries；　the　king；
accompanied　by　his　three　defenders　and　two　municipal　defenders；　and
surrounded　by　National　Guards；　was　conducted　from　the　Temple。　The
people　danced　around　the　carriage　with　wild　shouts　of　joy　and　curses
of　the　king。　Within　the　vehicle　sat　Louis；　completely　calm　and　self…
possessed。

〃This　man　must　be　filled　with　a　singular　fanaticism；〃　said
Colombeau；　one　of　the　leading　officials；　in　the　report　which　he　gave
to　the　Convention　of　the　ride。　〃It　is　otherwise　inexplicable　how
Louis　could　be　so　calm；　since　he　had　so　much　reason　to　fear。　After
we　had　all　entered　the　carriage；　and　were　driving　through　the
streets；　Louis　entered　upon　conversation；　which　soon　turned　upon
literature；　and　especially　upon　some　Latin　authors。　He　gave　his
judgments　with　remarkable　correctness　and　insight；　and　it　appeared
to　me　that　he　took　pleasure　in　showing　his　learning。　One　of　us　said
that　he　did　not　enjoy　Seneca；　because　his　love　for　riches　stood　in
marked　contrast　with　his　pretended　philosophy；　and　because　it　could
not　easily　be　forgiven　him　that　before　the　senate　he　apologized　for
the　crimes　of　Nero。　This　reflection　did　not　seem　to　affect　Louis　in
the　least。　When　we　spoke　of　Livy；　Capet　said　that　he　seemed　to　have
taken　satisfaction　in　composing　great　speeches　which　were　never
uttered　to　any　other　audience　than　that　which　was　reached　from　his
study…table；　'for；'　he　added；　'it　is　impossible　that　generals　really
delivered　such　long　speeches　in　front　of　their　armies。'　He　then
compared　Livy　with　Tacitus；　and　thought　that　the　latter　was　far
superior　to　the　former　in　point　of　style。〃　＇Footnote：　See
Beauchesne；　vol。　i。；　p。　396。＇　The　king　went　on　talking　about　Latin
authors　while　the　carriage　was　carrying　him　through　the　roaring　mob
to　the　Convention；　which　Desege　addressed　in　his　defence　in　these
courageous　words：　〃I　look　for　judges　among　you；　but　see　only
accusers。〃

The　king　was　completely　calm；　yet　he　knew　that　his　life　was
threatened；　and　that　he　was　standing　before　a　tribunal　of　death。　As
on　the　day　when　he　was　first　taken　to　the　Convention；　he　requested
Malesherbes　to　forward　a　note　to　the　priest　whose　attendance　he
desired；　and　who　he　believed　would　not　deny　his　presence　and
attentions。　His　name　was　Edgewarth　de　Pirmont。　The　time　was　not
distant　when　not　the　services　of　advocates　were　wanted　by　the　king；
but　exclusively　those　of　the　priest。

The　sentence　of　death　was　pronounced　on　January　26；　1793。　Louis
received　it　calmly；　and　desired　merely　to　see　his　family；　to　have　a
confessor　come　to　him；　and　to　prepare　himself　for　his　death。

During　these　dreadful　weeks　Marie　Antoinette　was　separated　from　her
husband；　alone　with　her　children；　who　no　longer　were　able　to　smile；
but　who　sat　day　after　day　with　fixed　eyes　and　silent　lips。　The　queen
knew　that　the　king　had　been　accused；　had　made　a　private　reply　to　the
charges　brought　against　him；　and　had　been　brought　before　the
Convention。　But　not　a　word；　not　a　syllable　of　the　trial　which
followed；　reached　her。　Madame　Tison；　the　female　dragon　who　guarded
her；　watched　her　too　well　for　any　tidings　to　reach　her。

At　last；　however；　the　word　was　brought　which　the　heart　of　the　queen
had　so　long　anticipated　tremblingly；　for　which　she　had　prepared
herself　during　the　long　nights　with　tears　and　prayers；　and　which　now
filled　her　with　grief；　anger；　and　despair。　The　king　was　condemned　to
death！　He　wanted　only　to　see　his　family；　to　take　his　leave　of　them！

The　Convention　had　granted　this　privilege　to　him；　and　had　even　gone
so　far　in　its　grace　as　to　permit　the　family　to　be　without　the
presence　of　witnesses。　The　meeting　was　appointed；　however；　in　the
little　dining…room　of　the　king；　because　a　glass　door　led　into　the
adjoining　room；　and　the　officials　could　then　look　in　upon　the　royal
family。　The　functionary　had　withdrawn　in　order　to　conduct　the　queen；
the　children；　and　the　king's　sister　from　the　upper　tower。　The　king
was　awaiting　them；　walked　disquietly　up　and　down；　and　then　directed
Clery；　who　was　arranging　the　little　room；　to　set　the　round　table；
which　was　in　the　middle　of　the　apartment；　on　one　side；　and　then　to
bring　in　a　carafe　of　water　and　some　glasses。　〃But；〃　he　added；
considerately；　〃not　ice…water；　for　the　queen　cannot　bear　it；　and　she
might　be　made　unwell　by　it。〃

But　all　at　once　the　king　grew　pale；　and；　standing　still；　he　laid　his
hand　upon　his　loudly…beating　heart。　He　had　heard　the　voice　of　the
queen。

The　door　opened　and　they　came　inall　his　dear　ones。　The　queen　led
the　dauphin　by　the　hand；　Madame　Elizabeth　walked　with　the　Princess
Theresa。

The　king　went　toward　them　and　opened　his　arms　to　them。　They　all
pressed　up　to　him　and　clasped　him　in　their　midst；　while　loud　sobs
and　heart…rending　cries　filled　the　room。　Behind　the　door　were　the
officials；　but　they　could　not　look　in　upon　the　scene；　for　their　own
eyes　were　filled　with　tears。　In　the　king's　cabinet；　not　far　away；
the　Abbe　Edgewarth　de　Firmont　was　upon　his　knees；　praying　for　the
unfortunates　whose　wails　and　groans　reached　even　him。

Gradually　the　sobs　died　away。　They　took　their　placesthe　queen　at
the　left　of　her　husband；　Madame　Elizabeth；　his　sister；　at　his　right；
opposite　to　him；　his　daughter；　Maria　Theresa；　and　between　his　knees
the　dauphin；　looking　up　into　his　father's　face　with　widely…opened
eyes　and　a　sad　smile。

Louis　was　the　first　to　speak。　He　told　them　of　his　trial；　and　of　the
charges　which　they　had　brought　against　him。　But　his　words　were
gentle　and　calm；　and　he　expressed　his　pity　for　the　〃poor；　misled
men〃　who　had　condemned　him。　He　asked　his　family；　too；　to　forgive
them。　They　answered　him　only　with　sobs；　embraces；　tears；　and　kisses。

Then　all　was　still。　The　officials　heard　not　a　word；　but　they　saw　the
queen；　with　her　children　and　sister…in…law；　sink　upon　their　knees；
while　the　king；　standing　erect　in　the　midst　of　the　group；　raised　his
hands　and　blessed　them　in　gentle；　noble　words；　which　touched　the
heart　of　the　Abbe　Edgewarth；　who　was　kneeling　behind　the　door　of　the
neighboring　cabinet。

The　king　then　bade　the　family　rise；　took　them　again　in　his　arms；　and
kissed　the　queen；　who；　pale　and　trembling；　clung　to　him；　and　whose
quivering　lips　were　not　able　to　restrain　a　word　of　denunciation　of
those　who　had　condemned　him。

〃I　have　forgiven　them；〃　said　the　king；　seriously。　〃I　have　written　my
will；　and　in　it　you　will　read　that　I　pardon　them；　and　that　I　ask　you
to　do　the　same。　Promise　me；　Marie；　that　you　will　never　think　how　you
may　avenge　my　death。〃

A　smile　full　of　sadness　and　despair　flitted　over　the　pale　lips　of
the　queen。

〃I　shall　never　be　in　a　situation　to　take　vengeance　upon　them；〃　she
said。　〃But；〃　she　added　quickly；　〃even　if　I　should　ever　be　able；　and
the　power　should　be　in　my　hands；　I　promise　that　I　will　exact　no
vengeance　for　this　deed。〃

The　king　stooped　down　and　imprinted　a　kiss　upon　her　forehead。

〃I　thank　you；　Marie；　and　I　know　that　you　all；　my　dear　ones；　will
sacredly　regard　my　last　testament；　and　that　my　wishes　and　words　will
be　engraven　on　your　hearts。　But；　my　son〃and　he　took　the　dauphin
upon　his　knee；　and　looked　down　into　his　face　tenderly〃you　are
still　a　child；　and　might　forget。　You　have　heard　what　I　have　said；
but　as　an　oath　is　more　sacred　than　a　word；　raise　your　hand　and　swear
to　me　you　will　fulfil　my　wish　and　forgive　all　our　enemies。〃

The　boy；　turning　his　great　blue　eyes　fixedly　on　the　king；　and　his
lips　trembling　with　emotion；　raised　his　right　hand；　and　even　the
officials　in　the　next　room　could　distinctly　hear　the　sweet　child's
voice　repeating　the　words：　〃I　swear　to　you；　papa　king；　that　I　will
forgive　all　our　enemies；　and　will　do　no　harm　to　those　who　are　going
to　kill　my　dear　father！〃

A　shudder　passed　through　the　hearts　of　the　men　in　the　next　room；
they　drew　back　from　the　door　with　pale　faces。　It　seemed