the memoirs of marie antoinette-第69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！
ting her she said； 〃Hers was one of the first heads turned by the rage for that mischievous philosophy； but her heart brought her back； and I again found a friend in her。〃
＇During the Reign of Terror I withdrew to the Chateau de Coubertin； near that of Dampierre。 The Duchesse de Luynes frequently came to ask me to tell her what the Queen had said about her at the Feuillans。 She would say as she went away； 〃I have often need to request you to repeat those words of the Queen。〃MADAME CAMPAN。＇
I asked the Queen what the ambassadors from foreign powers had done under existing circumstances。 She told me that they could do nothing； and that the wife of the English ambassador had just given her a proof of the personal interest she took in her welfare by sending her linen for her son。
I informed her that； in the pillaging of my house； all my accounts with her had been thrown into the Carrousel； and that every sheet of my month's expenditure was signed by her； sometimes leaving four or five inches of blank paper above her signature； a circumstance which rendered me very uneasy； from an apprehension that an improper use might be made of those signatures。 She desired me to demand admission to the committee of general safety； and to make this declaration there。 I repaired thither instantly and found a deputy； with whose name I have never become acquainted。 After hearing me he said that he would not receive my deposition； that Marie Antoinette was now nothing more than any other Frenchwoman； and that if any of those detached papers bearing her signature should be misapplied； she would have； at a future period； a right to lodge a complaint； and to support her declaration by the facts which I had just related。 The Queen then regretted having sent me； and feared that she had； by her very caution； pointed out a method of fabricating forgeries which might be dangerous to her； then again she exclaimed； 〃My apprehensions are as absurd as the step I made you take。 They need nothing more for our ruin； all has been told。〃
She gave us details of what had taken place subsequently to the King's arrival at the Assembly。 They are all well known； and I have no occasion to record them； I will merely mention that she told us； though with much delicacy； that she was not a little hurt at the King's conduct since he had quitted the Tuileries； that his habit of laying no restraint upon his great appetite had prompted him to eat as if he had been at his palace； that those who did not know him as she did； did not feel the piety and the magnanimity of his resignation； all which produced so bad an effect that deputies who were devoted to him had warned him of it； but no change could be effected。
I still see in imagination； and shall always see； that narrow cell at the Feuillans； hung with green paper； that wretched couch whence the dethroned； Queen stretched out her arms to us； saying that our misfortunes； of which she was the cause； increased her own。 There； for the last time； I saw the tears； I heard the sobs of her whom high birth； natural endowments； and； above all； goodness of heart； had seemed to destine to adorn any throne； and be the happiness of any people！ It is impossible for those who lived with Louis XVI。 and Marie Antoinette not to be fully convinced； while doing full justice to the King's virtues； that if the Queen had been from the moment of her arrival in France the object of the care and affection of a prince of decision and authority； she would have only added to the glory of his reign。
What affecting things I have heard the Queen say in the affliction caused her by the belief of part of the Court and the whole of the people that she did not love France！ How did that opinion shock those who knew her heart and her sentiments！ Twice did I see her on the point of going from her apartments in the Tuileries into the gardens； to address the immense throng constantly assembled there to insult her。 〃Yes；〃 exclaimed she； as she paced her chamber with hurried steps； 〃I will say to them Frenchmen； they have had the cruelty to persuade you that I do not love France！ I！ the mother of a Dauphin who will reign over this noble country！ I！ whom Providence has seated upon the most powerful throne of Europe！ Of all the daughters of Maria Theresa am I not that one whom fortune has most highly favoured？ And ought I not to feel all these advantages？ What should I find at Vienna？ Nothing but sepulchres！ What should I lose in France？ Everything which can confer glory！〃
I protest I only repeat her own words； the soundness of her judgment soon pointed out to her the dangers of such a proceeding。 〃I should descend from the throne；〃 said she； 〃merely； perhaps； to excite a momentary sympathy； which the factious would soon render more injurious than beneficial to me。〃
Yes； not only did Marie Antoinette love France； but few women took greater pride in the courage of Frenchmen。 I could adduce a multitude of proofs of this； I will relate two traits which demonstrate the noblest enthusiasm： The Queen was telling me that； at the coronation of the Emperor Francis II。； that Prince； bespeaking the admiration of a French general officer； who was then an emigrant； for the fine appearance of his troops； said to him； 〃There are the men to beat your sans culottes！〃 〃That remains to be seen； Sire；〃 instantly replied the officer。 The Queen added； 〃I don't know the name of that brave Frenchman； but I will learn it； the King ought to be in possession of it。〃 As she was reading the public papers a few days before the 10th of August； she observed that mention was made of the courage of a young man who died in defending the flag he carried； and shouting； 〃Vive la Nation！〃〃Ah！ the fine lad！〃 said the Queen； 〃what a happiness it would have been for us if such men had never left off crying； 〃Vive de Roi！〃
In all that I have hitherto said of this most unfortunate of women and of queens； those who did not live with her； those who knew her but partially； and especially the majority of foreigners； prejudiced by infamous libels； may imagine I have thought it my duty to sacrifice truth on the altar of gratitude。 Fortunately I can invoke unexceptionable witnesses； they will declare whether what I assert that I have seen and heard appears to them either untrue or improbable。
End of The Memoirs of Marie Antoinette； V6 by Madame Campan
MEMOIRS OF THE COURT OF MARIE ANTOINETTE； QUEEN OF FRANCE
Being the Historic Memoirs of Madam Campan； First Lady in Waiting to the Queen
BOOK 7。
CHAPTER IX。
The Queen having been robbed of her purse as she was passing from the Tuileries to the Feuillans； requested my sister to lend her twenty…five louis。
＇On being interrogated the Queen declared that these five and twenty louis had been lent to her by my sister； this formed a pretence for arresting her and me； and led to her death。MADAME CAMPAN。＇
I spent part of the day at the Feuillans； and her Majesty told me she would ask Potion to let me be with her in the place which the Assembly should decree for her prison。 I then returned home to prepare everything that might be necessary for me to accompany her。
On the same day （11th August）； at nine in the evening； I returned to the Feuillans。 I found there were orders at all the gates forbidding my being admitted。 I claimed a right to enter by virtue of the first permission which had been given to me； I was again refused。 I was told that the Queen had as many people as were requisite about her。 My sister was with her； as well as one of my companions； who came out of the prisons of the Abbaye on the 11th。 I renewed my solicitations on the 12th； my tears and entreaties moved neither the keepers of the gates； nor even a deputy； to whom I addressed myself。
I soon heard of the removal of Louis XVI。 and his family to the Temple。 I went to Potion accompanied by M。 Valadon； for whom I had procured a place in the post…office； and who was devoted to me。 He determined to go up to Potion alone； he told him that those who requested to be confined could not be suspected of evil designs； and that no political opinion could afford a ground of objection to these solicitations。 Seeing that the well…meaning man did not succeed； I thought to do more in person； but Petion persisted in his refusal； and threatened to send me to La Force。 Thinking to give me a kind of consolation； he added I might be certain that all those who were then with Louis XVI。 and his family would not stay with them long。 And in fact； two or three days afterwards the Princesse de Lamballe； Madame de Tourzel； her daughter； the Queen's first woman； the first woman of the Dauphin and of Madame； M。 de Chamilly； and M。 de Hue were carried off during the night and transferred to La Force。 After the departure of the King and Queen for the Temple； my sister was detained a prisoner in the apartments their Majesties had quitted for twenty…four hours。
From this time I was reduced to the misery of having no further intelligence of my august and unfortunate mistress but through the medium of the newspapers or the National Guard； who did duty at the Temple。
The King and Queen said nothing to me at the Feuillans about the portfolio which had been deposited with me； no doubt they expected to see me again。 The minister Roland and the deputies composing the provisional government were very intent on a search for papers belonging to their Majesties。 They had the whole of the Tuileries ransacked。 The infamous Robespierre bethought himself of M。 Campan； the Queen's private secretary； and said that his death was feigned； that he was living unknown in some obscure part of France； and was doubtless the depositary of all the important papers。 In a great portfolio belonging to the King there had been found a solitary letter from the Comte d'Artois； which； by its date； and the subjects of which it treated； indicated the existence of a continued correspondence。 （This letter appeared among the documents used on the trial of Louis XVI。） A former preceptor of my son's had studied with Robespierre； the latter； meeting him in the street； and knowing the connection which had subsisted between him and the family of M。 Campan； required him to say； upon his honour； whether he was certain of the death of the latter。 The man replied that M。 Campan had died at La Briche in 1791； and that he had seen him interred in the cemetery of Epinay。 〃well； then；〃 resumed Robespierre； 〃bring me the certificate of his burial at twelve to…morrow； it is a document for which I have pressing occasion。〃 Upon hearing the deputy's demand I instantly sent for a certificate of M。 Campan's burial； and Robespierre received it at nine o'clock the next morning。 But I considered that； in thinking of my father…in…law； they were coming very near me； the real depositary of these important papers。 I passed days and nights in considering what I could do for the best under such circumstances。
I was thus situated when the order to inform against those who had been denounced as suspected on the 10th of August led to domiciliary visits。 My servants were told that the people of the quarter in which I lived were talking much of the search that would be made
