the memoirs of marie antoinette-第75章
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。 The correspondence between their Majesties went on constantly。 The King being informed that Madame Royale was ill； was very uneasy for some days。 The Queen； after begging earnestly； obtained permission for M。 Brunnier； the medical attendant of the royal children； to come to the Temple。 This seemed to quiet him。〃
The nearer the moment which was to decide the King's fate approached； the greater became the agitation in； Paris。 〃A report was circulated that the atrocities of September were to be repeated there； and the prisoners and their relatives beset the deputies with supplications that they would snatch them from destruction。 The Jacobins； on their part； alleged that conspiracies were hatching in all quarters to save Louis XVI。 from punishment； and to restore royalty。 Their anger； excited by delays and obstacles； assumed a more threatening aspect； and the two parties thus alarmed one another by supposing that each harboured sinister designs。〃
On the 14th of January the Convention called for the order of the day； being the final judgment of Louis XVI。
〃The sitting of the Convention which concluded the trial；〃 says Hazlitt； 〃lasted seventy…two hours。 It might naturally be supposed that silence； restraint； a sort of religious awe； would have pervaded the scene。 On the contrary； everything bore the marks of gaiety； dissipation； and the most grotesque confusion。 The farther end of the hall was converted into boxes； where ladies； in a studied deshabille； swallowed ices； oranges； liqueurs； and received the salutations of the members who went and came； as on ordinary occasions。 Here the doorkeepers on the Mountain side opened and shut the boxes reserved for the mistresses of the Duc d'Orleans； and there； though every sound of approbation or disapprobation was strictly forbidden； you heard the long and indignant 'Ha； ha's！' of the mother…duchess； the patroness of the bands of female Jacobins； whenever her ears were not loudly greeted with the welcome sounds of death。 The upper gallery； reserved for the people； was during the whole trial constantly full of strangers of every description； drinking wine as in a tavern。
Bets were made as to the issue of the trial in all the neighbouring coffee…houses。 Ennui； impatience； disgust sat on almost every countenance。 The figures passing and repassing； rendered more ghastly by the pallid lights； and who in a slow； sepulchral voice pronounced only the wordDeath； others calculating if they should have time to go to dinner before they gave their verdict； women pricking cards with pins in order to count the votes； some of the deputies fallen asleep； and only waking up to give their sentence；all this had the appearance rather of a hideous dream than of a reality。〃
The Duc d'Orleans； when called on to give his vote for the death of his King and relation； walked with a faltering step； and a face paler than death itself； to the appointed place； and there read these words： 〃Exclusively governed by my duty； and convinced that all those who have resisted the sovereignty of the people deserve death； my vote is for death！〃 Important as the accession of the first Prince of the blood was to the Terrorist faction； his conduct in this instance was too obviously selfish and atrocious not to excite a general feeling of indignation； the agitation of the Assembly became extreme； it seemed as if by this single vote the fate of the monarch was irrevocably sealed。
The President having examined the register； the result of the scrutiny was proclaimed as follows
Against an appeal to the people。。。。。。。。。。。 480 For an appeal to the people。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 283
Majority for final judgment。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 197
The President having announced that he was about to declare the result of the scrutiny； a profound silence ensued； and he then gave in the following declaration： that； out of 719 votes； 366 were for DEATH； 319 were for imprisonment during the war； two for perpetual imprisonment； eight for a suspension of the execution of the sentence of death until after the expulsion of the family of the Bourbons； twenty…three were for not putting him to death until the French territory was invaded by any foreign power； and one was for a sentence of death； but with power of commutation of the punishment。
After this enumeration the President took off his hat； and； lowering his voice； said： 〃In consequence of this expression of opinion I declare that the punishment pronounced by the National Convention against Louis Capet is DEATH！〃
Previous to the passing of the sentence the President announced on the part of the Foreign Minister the receipt of a letter from the Spanish Minister relative to that sentence。 The Convention； however； refused to hear it。 ＇It will be remembered that a similar remonstrance was forwarded by the English Government。＇
M。 de Malesherbes； according to his promise to the King； went to the Temple at nine o'clock on the morning of the 17th？。
＇Louis was fully prepared for his fate。 During the calling of the votes he asked M。 de Malesherbes； 〃Have you not met near the Temple the White Lady？〃〃 What do you mean？〃 replied he。 〃Do you not know；〃 resumed the King with a smile； 〃that when a prince of our house is about to die； a female dressed in white is seen wandering about the palace？ My friends；〃 added he to his defenders； 〃I am about to depart before you for the land of the just； but there； at least； we shall be reunited。〃 In fact； his Majesty's only apprehension seemed to be for his family。ALISON。＇
〃All is lost；〃 he said to Clery。 〃The King is condemned。〃 The King； who saw him arrive； rose to receive him。
＇When M。 de Malesherbes went to the Temple to announce the result of the vote； he found Louis with his forehead resting on his hands； and absorbed in a deep reverie。 Without inquiring concerning his fate； he said： 〃For two hours I have been considering whether； during my whole reign； I have voluntarily given any cause of complaint to my subjects； and with perfect sincerity I declare that I deserve no reproach at their hands； and that I have never formed a wish but for their happiness。〃 LACRETELLE。＇
M。 de Malesherbes； choked by sobs； threw himself at his feet。 The King raised him up and affectionately embraced him。 When he could control his voice； De Malesherbes informed the King of the decree sentencing him to death； he made no movement of surprise or emotion； but seemed only affected by the distress of his advocate； whom he tried to comfort。
On the 20th of January； at two in the afternoon； Louis XVI。 was awaiting his advocates； when he heard the approach of a numerous party。 He stopped with dignity at the door of his apartment； apparently unmoved： Garat then told him sorrowfully that he was commissioned to communicate to him the decrees of the Convention。 Grouvelle； secretary of the Executive Council； read them to him。 The first declared Louis XVI。 guilty of treason against the general safety of the State； the second condemned him to death； the third rejected any appeal to the people； and the fourth and last ordered his execution in twenty…four hours。 Louis； looking calmly round； took the paper from Grouvelle； and read Garat a letter； in which he demanded from the Convention three days to prepare for death； a confessor to assist him in his last moments； liberty to see his family； and permission for them to leave France。 Garat took the letter； promising to submit it immediately to the Convention。
Louis XVI。 then went back into his room with great composure； ordered his dinner； and ate as usual。 There were no knives on the table； and his attendants refused to let him have any。 〃Do they think me so cowardly；〃 he exclaimed； 〃as to lay violent hands on myself？ I am innocent； and I am not afraid to die。〃
The Convention refused the delay； but granted some other demands which he had made。 Garat sent for Edgeworth de Firmont； the ecclesiastic whom Louis XVI。 had chosen； and took him in his own carriage to the Temple。 M。 Edgeworth； on being ushered into the presence of the King； would have thrown himself at his feet； but Louis instantly raised him； and both shed tears of emotion。 He then； with eager curiosity； asked various questions concerning the clergy of France； several bishops； and particularly the Archbishop of Paris； requesting him to assure the latter that he died faithfully attached to his communion。The clock having struck eight； he rose； begged M。 Edgeworth to wait； and retired with emotion； saying that he was going to see his family。 The municipal officers； unwilling to lose sight of the King； even while with his family； had decided that he should see them in the dining…room； which had a glass door； through which they could watch all his motions without hearing what he said。 At half… past eight the door opened。 The Queen； holding the Dauphin by the hand； Madame Elisabeth； and Madame Royale rushed sobbing into the arms of Louis XVI。 The door was closed； and the municipal officers； Clery； and M。 Edgeworth placed themselves behind it。 During the first moments； it was but a scene of confusion and despair。 Cries and lamentations prevented those who were on the watch from distinguishing anything。 At length the conversation became more calm； and the Princesses； still holding the King clasped in their arms； spoke with him in a low tone。 〃He related his trial to my mother；〃 says Madame Royale； 〃apologising for the wretches who had condemned him。 He told her that he would not consent to any attempt to save him； which might excite disturbance in the country。 He then gave my brother some religious advice； and desired him； above all； to forgive those who caused his death； and he gave us his blessing。 My mother was very desirous that the whole family should pass the night with my father； but he opposed this； observing to her that he much needed some hours of repose and quiet。〃 After a long conversation； interrupted by silence and grief； the King put an end to the painful meeting； agreeing to see his family again at eight the next morning。 〃Do you promise that you will？〃 earnestly inquired the Princesses。 〃Yes； yes；〃 sorrowfully replied the King。〃
＇But when we were gone；〃 says his daughter； 〃he requested that we might not be permitted to return； as our presence afflicted him too much。〃＇
At this moment the Queen held him by one arm； Madame Elisabeth by the other； while Madame Royale clasped him round the waist； and the Dauphin stood before him； with one hand in that of his mother。 At the moment of retiring Madame Royale fainted； she was carried away； and the King returned to M。 Edgeworth deeply depressed by this painful interview。 The King retired to rest about midnight； M。 Edgeworth threw himself upon a bed； and Clery took his place near the pillow of his master。
Next morning； the 21st of January； at five； the King awoke； called Clery； and dressed with great calmness。 He congratulated himself on having recovered his strength by sleep。 Clery kindled a fire；； and moved a chest of drawers； out of which he formed an altar。 M。 Edgeworth put on his pontifical robes； and began to celebrate mass。 Clery waited on him； and the King
