the memoirs of marie antoinette-第25章
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ny marked countenance to new dramatic works。 She reserved her patronage for musical composers； and in a few years their art arrived at a perfection it had never before attained in France。
It was solely to gratify the Queen that the manager of the Opera brought the first company of comic actors to Paris。 Gluck； Piccini； and Sacchini were attracted there in succession。 These eminent composers were treated with great distinction at Court。 Immediately on his arrival in France； Gluck was admitted to the Queen's toilet； and she talked to him all the time he remained with her。 She asked him one day whether he had nearly brought his grand opera of 〃Armide 〃 to a conclusion； and whether it pleased him。 Gluck replied very coolly； in his German accent； 〃Madame； it will soon be finished； and really it will be superb。〃 There was a great outcry against the confidence with which the composer had spoken of one of his own productions。 The Queen defended him warmly； she insisted that he could not be ignorant of the merit of his works； that he well knew they were generally admired； and that no doubt he was afraid lest a modesty； merely dictated by politeness； should look like affectation in him。
＇Gluck often had to deal with self…sufficiency equal to his own。 He was very reluctant to introduce long ballets into 〃Iphigenia。〃 Vestris deeply regretted that the opera was not terminated by a piece they called a chaconne； in which he displayed all his power。 He complained to Gluck about it。 Gluck； who treated his art with all the dignity it merits； replied that in so interesting a subject dancing would be misplaced。 Being pressed another time by Vestris on the same subject； 〃A chaconne！ A chaconne！〃 roared out the enraged musician； 〃we must describe the Greeks； and had the Greeks chaconnes？〃 〃They had not？〃 returned the astonished dancer； 〃why； then； so much the worse for them！〃NOTE BY THE EDITOR。
The Queen did not confine her admiration to the lofty style of the French and Italian operas； she greatly valued Gretry's music； so well adapted to the spirit and feeling of the words。 A great deal of the poetry set to music by Gretry is by Marmontel。 The day after the first performance of 〃Zemira and Azor；〃 Marmontel and Gretry were presented to the Queen as she was passing through the gallery of Fontainebleau to go to mass。 The Queen congratulated Gretry on the success of the new opera； and told him that she had dreamed of the enchanting effect of the trio by Zemira's father and sisters behind the magic mirror。 Gretry； in a transport of joy； took Marmontel in his arms； 〃Ah！ my friend；〃 cried he； 〃excellent music may be made of this。〃〃And execrable words；〃 coolly observed Marmontel； to whom her Majesty had not addressed a single compliment。
The most indifferent artists were permitted to have the honour of painting the Queen。 A full…length portrait； representing her in all the pomp of royalty； was exhibited in the gallery of Versailles。 This picture； which was intended for the Court of Vienna； was executed by a man who does not deserve even to be named； and disgusted all people of taste。 It seemed as if this art had； in France； retrograded several centuries。
The Queen had not that enlightened judgment； or even that mere taste； which enables princes to foster and protect great talents。 She confessed frankly that she saw no merit in any portrait beyond the likeness。 When she went to the Louvre； she would run hastily over all the little 〃genre〃 pictures； and come out； as she acknowledged； without having once raised her eyes to the grand compositions。
There is no good portrait of the Queen； save that by Werthmuller； chief painter to the King of Sweden； which was sent to Stockholm； and that by Madame Lebrun； which was saved from the revolutionary fury by the commissioners for the care of the furniture at Versailles。
＇A sketch of very great interest made when the Queen was in the Temple and discovered many years afterwards there； recently reproduced in the memoirs of the Marquise de Tourzel （Paris； Plon）； is the last authentic portrait of the unhappy Queen。 See also the catalogue of portraits made by Lord Ronald Gower。＇
The composition of the latter picture resembles that of Henriette of France； the wife of the unfortunate Charles I。； painted by Vandyke。 Like Marie Antoinette； she is seated； surrounded by her children； and that resemblance adds to the melancholy interest raised by this beautiful production。
While admitting that the Queen gave no direct encouragement to any art but that of music； I should be wrong to pass over in silence the patronage conferred by her and the Princes； brothers of the King； on the art of printing。
＇In 1790 the King gave a proof of his particular good…will to the bookselling trade。 A company consisting of the first Parisian booksellers； being on the eve of stopping payment； succeeded in laying before the King a statement of their distressed situation。 The monarch was affected by it； he took from the civil list the sum of which the society stood in immediate need； and became security for the repayment of the remainder of the 1；200；000 1ivres； which they wanted to borrow； and for the repayment of which he fixed no particular time。＇
To Marie Antoinette we are indebted for a splendid quarto edition of the works of Metastasio； to Monsieur； the King's brother； for a quarto Tasso； embellished with engravings after Cochin； and to the Comte d'Artois for a small collection of select works； which is considered one of the chef d'oeuvres of the press of the celebrated Didot。
In 1775； on the death of the Marechal du Muy； the ascendency obtained by the sect of innovators occasioned M。 de Saint…Germain to be recalled to Court and made Minister of War。 His first care was the destruction of the King's military household establishment； an imposing and effectual rampart round the sovereign power。
When Chancellor Maupeou obtained from Louis XV。 the destruction of the Parliament and the exile of all the ancient magistrates； the Mousquetaires were charged with the execution of the commission for this purpose； and at the stroke of midnight； the presidents and members were all arrested； each by two Mousquetaires。 In the spring of 1775 a popular insurrection had taken place in consequence of the high price of bread。 M。 Turgot's new regulation； which permitted unlimited trade in corn； was either its cause or the pretext for it； and the King's household troops again rendered the greatest services to public tranquillity。
I have never be enable to discover the true cause of the support given to M。 de Saint…Germain's policy by the Queen； unless in the marked favour shown to the captains and officers of the Body Guards； who by this reduction became the only soldiers of their rank entrusted with the safety of the sovereign； or else in the Queen's strong prejudice against the Duc d'Aiguillon； then commander of the light…horse。 M。 de Saint… Germain； however； retained fifty gens d'armes and fifty light…horse to form a royal escort on state occasions； but in 1787 the King reduced both these military bodies。 The Queen then said with satisfaction that at last she should see no more red coats in the gallery of Versailles。
From 1775 to 1781 were the gayest years of the Queen's life。 In the little journeys to Choisy； performances frequently took place at the theatre twice in one day： grand opera and French or Italian comedy at the usual hour； and at eleven at night they returned to the theatre for parodies in which the best actors of the Opera presented themselves in whimsical parts and costumes。 The celebrated dancer Guimard always took the leading characters in the latter performance； she danced better than she acted； her extreme leanness； and her weak； hoarse voice added to the burlesque in the parodied characters of Ernelinde and Iphigenie。
The most magnificent fete ever given to the Queen was one prepared for her by Monsieur； the King's brother； at Brunoy。 That Prince did me the honour to admit me； and I followed her Majesty into the gardens； where she found in the first copse knights in full armour asleep at the foot of trees； on which hung their spears and shields。 The absence of the beauties who had incited the nephews of Charlemagne and the gallants of that period to lofty deeds was supposed to occasion this lethargic slumber。 But when the Queen appeared at the entrance of the copse they were on foot in an instant； and melodious voices announced their eagerness to display their valour。 They then hastened into a vast arena； magnificently decorated in the exact style of the ancient tournaments。 Fifty dancers dressed as pages presented to the knights twenty…five superb black horses； and twenty…five of a dazzling whiteness； all most richly caparisoned。 The party led by Augustus Vestris wore the Queen's colours。 Picq； balletmaster at the Russian Court； commanded the opposing band。 There was running at the negro's head； tilting； and； lastly； combats 'a outrance'； perfectly well imitated。 Although the spectators were aware that the Queen's colours could not but be victorious； they did not the less enjoy the apparent uncertainty。
Nearly all the agreeable women of Paris were ranged upon the steps which surrounded the area of the tourney。 The Queen； surrounded by the royal family and the whole Court； was placed beneath an elevated canopy。 A play； followed by a ballet…pantomime and a ball； terminated the fete。 Fireworks and illuminations were not spared。 Finally； from a prodigiously high scaffold； placed on a rising ground； the words 'Vive Louis！ Vive Marie Antoinette！' were shown in the air in the midst of a very dark but calm night。
Pleasure was the sole pursuit of every one of this young family； with the exception of the King。 Their love of it was perpetually encouraged by a crowd of those officious people who； by anticipating the desires and even the passions of princes； find means of showing their zeal； and hope to gain or maintain favour for themselves。
Who would have dared to check the amusements of a queen； young； lively； and handsome？ A mother or a husband alone would have had the right to do it； and the King threw no impediment in the way of Marie Antoinette's inclinations。 His long indifference had been followed by admiration and love。 He was a slave to all the wishes of the Queen； who； delighted with the happy change in the heart and habits of the King； did not sufficiently conceal the ascendency she was gaining over him。
The King went to bed every night at eleven precisely； he was very methodical； and nothing was allowed to interfere with his rules。 The noise which the Queen unavoidably made when she returned very late from the evenings which she spent with the Princesse de Gugmenee or the Duc de Duras； at last annoyed the King； and it was amicably agreed that the Queen should apprise him when she intended to sit up late。 He then began to sleep in his own apartment； which had never before happened from the time of their marriage。
During the winter the Queen attended the Opera balls with a single lady of the palace； and always found there Monsieur an
