第 60 节
作者:
雨帆 更新:2022-08-21 16:33 字数:9322
ey applied to the Queen。 Wagons; full of corn and flour;which had been brought into Versailles; formed a train escorted by grenadiers; and surrounded by women and bullies; some armed with pikes; and some carrying long branches of poplar。 At some distance this part of the procession had a most singular effect: it looked like a moving forest; amidst which shone pike…heads and gun…barrels。 In the paroxysms of their brutal joy the women stopped passengers; and; pointing to the King's carriage; howled in their ears: 〃Cheer up; friends; we shall no longer be in want of bread! We bring you the baker; the baker's wife; and the baker's little boy!〃 Behind his Majesty's carriage were several of his faithful Guards; some on foot; and some on horseback; most of them uncovered; all unarmed; and worn out with hunger and fatigue; the dragoons; the Flanders regiment; the hundred Swiss; and the National Guards preceded; accompanied; or followed the file of carriages。 I witnessed this heartrending spectacle; I saw the ominous procession。 In the midst of all the tumult; clamour; and singing; interrupted by frequent discharges of musketry; which the hand of a monster or a bungler might so easily render fatal; I saw the Queen preserving most courageous tranquillity of soul; and an air of nobleness and inexpressible dignity; and my eyes were suffused with tears of admiration and grief。〃Memoirs of Bertrand de Molleville。〃'
The progress of the procession was so slow that it was near six in the evening when this august family; made prisoners by their own people; arrived at the Hotel de Ville。 Bailly received them there; they were placed upon a throne; just when that of their ancestors had been overthrown。 The King spoke in a firm yet gracious manner; he said that he always came with pleasure and confidence among the inhabitants of his good city of Paris。 M。 Bailly repeated this observation to the representatives of the commune; who came to address the King; but he forgot the word confidence。 The Queen instantly and loudly reminded him of the omission。 The King and Queen; their children; and Madame Elisabeth; retired to the Tuileries。 Nothing was ready for their reception there。 All the living…rooms had been long given up to persons belonging to the Court; they hastily quitted them on that day; leaving their furniture; which was purchased by the Court。 The Comtesse de la Marck; sister to the Marechaux de Noailles and de Mouchy; had occupied the apartments now appropriated to the Queen。 Monsieur and Madame retired to the Luxembourg。
The Queen had sent for me on the morning of the 6th of October; to leave me and my father…in…law in charge of her most valuable property。 She took away only her casket of diamonds。 Comte Gouvernet de la Tour…du… Pin; to whom the military government of Versailles was entrusted 'pro tempore'; came and gave orders to the National Guard; which had taken possession of the apartments; to allow us to remove everything that we should deem necessary for the Queen's accommodation。
I saw her Majesty alone in her private apartments a moment before her departure for Paris; she could hardly speak; tears bedewed her face; to which all the blood in her body seemed to have rushed; she condescended to embrace me; gave her hand to M。 Campan to kiss; and said to us; 〃Come immediately and settle at Paris; I will lodge you at the Tuileries; come; and do not leave me henceforward; faithful servants at moments like these become useful friends; we are lost; dragged away; perhaps to death; when kings become prisoners they are very near it。〃
I had frequent opportunities during the course of our misfortunes of observing that the people never entirely give their allegiance to factious leaders; but easily escape their control when some cause reminds them of their duty。 As soon as the most violent Jacobins had an opportunity of seeing the Queen near at hand; of speaking to her; and of hearing her voice; they became her most zealous partisans; and even when she was in the prison of the Temple several of those who had contributed to place her there perished for having attempted to get her out again。
On the morning of the 7th of October the same women who the day before surrounded the carriage of the august prisoners; riding on cannons and uttering the most abusive language; assembled under the Queen's windows; upon the terrace of the Chateau; and desired to see her。 Her Majesty appeared。 There are always among mobs of this description orators; that is to say; beings who have more assurance than the rest; a woman of this description told the Queen that she must now remove far from her all such courtiers as ruin kings; and that she must love the inhabitants of her good city。 The Queen answered that she had loved them at Versailles; and would likewise love them at Paris。 〃Yes; yes;〃 said another; 〃but on the 14th of July you wanted to besiege the city and have it bombarded; and on the 6th of October you wanted to fly to the frontiers。〃 The Queen replied; affably; that they had been told so; and had believed it; that there lay the cause of the unhappiness of the people and of the best of kings。 A third addressed a few words to her in German: the Queen told her she did not understand it; that she had become so entirely French as even to have forgotten her mother tongue。 This declaration was answered with 〃Bravo!〃 and clapping of hands; they then desired her to make a compact with them。 〃Ah;〃 said she; 〃how can I make a compact with you; since you have no faith in that which my duty points out to me; and which I ought for my own happiness to respect?〃 They asked her for the ribbons and flowers out of her hat; her Majesty herself unfastened them and gave them; they were divided among the party; which for above half an hour cried out; without ceasing; 〃Marie Antoinette for ever! Our good Queen for ever!〃
Two days after the King's arrival at Paris; the city and the National Guard sent to request the Queen to appear at the theatre; and prove by her presence and the King's that it was with pleasure they resided in their capital。 I introduced the deputation which came to make this request。 Her Majesty replied that she should have infinite pleasure in acceding to the invitation of the city of Paris; but that time must be allowed her to soften the recollection of the distressing events which had just occurred; and from which she had suffered too much。 She added; that having come into Paris preceded by the heads of the faithful Guards who had perished before the door of their sovereign; she could not think that such an entry into the capital ought to be followed by rejoicings; but that the happiness she had always felt in appearing in the midst of the inhabitants of Paris was not effaced from her memory; and that she should enjoy it again as soon as she found herself able to do so。
Their Majesties found some consolation in their private life: from Madame's 'Madame; here; the Princesse Marie Thdr6se; daughter of Marie Antoinette。' gentle manners and filial affection; from the accomplishments and vivacity of the little Dauphin; and the attention and tenderness of the pious Princess Elisabeth; they still derived moments of happiness。 The young Prince daily gave proofs of sensibility and penetration; he was not yet beyond female care; but a private tutor; the Abbe Davout; gave him all the instruction suitable to his age; his memory was highly cultivated; and he recited verses with much grace and feeling。
'On the 19th of October; that is to say; thirteen days after he had taken up his abode at Paris; the King went; on foot and almost alone; to review some detachments of the National Guard。 After the review Louis XVI。 met with a child sweeping the street; who asked him for money。 The child called the King 〃M。 le Chevalier。〃 His Majesty gave him six francs。 The little sweeper; surprised at receiving so large a sum; cried out; 〃Oh! I have no change; you will give me money another time。〃 A person who accompanied the monarch said to the child; 〃Keep it all; my friend; the gentleman is not chevalier; he is the eldest of the family。〃NOTE BY THE EDITOR。'
The day after the arrival of the Court at Paris; terrified at hearing some noise in the gardens of the Tuileries; the young prince threw himself into the arms of the Queen; crying out; 〃Grand…Dieu; mamma! will it be yesterday over again?〃 A few days after this affecting exclamation; he went up to the King; and looked at him with a pensive air。 The King asked him what he wanted; he answered; that he had something very serious to say to him。 The King having prevailed on him to explain himself; the young Prince asked why his people; who formerly loved him so well; were all at once angry with him; and what he had done to irritate them so much。 His father took him upon his knees; and spoke to him nearly as follows: 〃I wished; child; to render the people still happier than they were; I wanted money to pay the expenses occasioned by wars。 I asked my people for money; as my predecessors have always done; magistrates; composing t