the memoirs of marie antoinette-第102章
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to request of you；〃 he said； 〃to make a painful sacrifice； strike out of your pleading the peroration。 It is enough for me to appear before such judges； and show my entire innocence； I will not move their feelings。〃LACRETELLE。＇
At half…past nine in the morning the whole armed force was in motion to conduct him from the Temple to the Feuillans； with the same precautions and in the same order as had been observed on the former occasion。 Riding in the carriage of the Mayor； he conversed； on the way； with the same composure as usual； and talked of Seneca； of Livy； of the hospitals。 Arrived at the Feuillans； he showed great anxiety for his defenders； he seated himself beside them in the Assembly； surveyed with great composure the benches where his accusers and his judges sat； seemed to examine their faces with the view of discovering the impression produced by the pleading of M。 de Seze； and more than once conversed smilingly with Tronchet and Malesherbes。 The Assembly received his defence in sullen silence； but without any tokens of disapprobation。
Being afterwards conducted to an adjoining room with his counsel； the King showed great anxiety about M。 de Seze； who seemed fatigued by the long defence。 While riding back to the Temple he conversed with his companions with the same serenity as he had shown on leaving it。
No sooner had the King left the hall of the Convention than a violent tumult arose there。 Some were for opening the discussion。 Others； complaining of the delays which postponed the decision of this process； demanded the vote immediately； remarking that in every court； after the accused had been heard； the judges proceed to give their opinion。 Lanjuinais had from the commencement of the proceedings felt an indignation which his impetuous disposition no longer suffered him to repress。 He darted to the tribune； and； amidst the cries excited by his presence； demanded the annulling of the proceedings altogether。 He exclaimed that the days of ferocious men were gone by； that the Assembly ought not to be so dishonoured as to be made to sit in judgment on Louis XVI。； that no authority in France had that right； and the Assembly in particular had no claim to it； that if it resolved to act as a political body； it could do no more than take measures of safety against the ci…devant King； but that if it was acting as a court of justice it was overstepping all principles； for it was subjecting the vanquished to be tried by the conquerors； since most of the present members had declared themselves the conspirators of the 10th of August。 At the word 〃conspirators〃 a tremendous uproar arose on all aides。 Cries of 〃Order！〃〃To the Abbaye！〃〃Down with the Tribune！〃 were heard。 Lanjuinais strove in vain to justify the word 〃conspirators；〃 saying that he meant it to be taken in a favourable sense； and that the 10th of August was a glorious conspiracy。 He concluded by declaring that he would rather die a thousand deaths than condemn； contrary to all laws； even the most execrable of tyrants。
A great number of speakers followed； and the confusion continually increased。 The members； determined not to hear any more； mingled together； formed groups； abused and threatened one another。 After a tempest of an hour's duration； tranquillity was at last restored； and the Assembly； adopting the opinion of those who demanded the discussion on the trial of Louis XVI。； declared that it was opened； and that it should be continued； to the exclusion of all other business； till sentence should be passed。
The discussion was accordingly resumed on the 27th； and there was a constant succession of speakers from the 28th to the 31st。 Vergniaud at length ascended the tribune for the first time； and an extraordinary eagerness was manifested to hear the Girondists express their sentiments by the lips of their greatest orator。
The speech of Vergniaud produced a deep impression on all his hearers。 Robespierre was thunderstruck by his earnest and； persuasive eloquence。 Vergniaud； however； had but shaken； not convinced； the Assembly； which wavered between the two parties。 Several members were successively heard； for and against the appeal to the people。 Brissot； Gensonne； Petion； supported it in their turn。 One speaker at length had a decisive influence on the question。 Barere； by his suppleness； and his cold and evasive eloquence； was the model and oracle of the centre。 He spoke at great length on the trial； reviewed it in all its bearingsof facts； of laws； and of policyand furnished all those weak minds； who only wanted specious reasons for yielding； with motives for the condemnation of the King。 From that moment the unfortunate King was condemned。 The discussion lasted till the 7th； and nobody would listen any longer to the continual repetition of the same facts and arguments。 It was therefore declared to be closed without opposition； but the proposal of a fresh adjournment excited a commotion among the most violent； and ended in a decree which fixed the 14th of January for putting the questions to the vote。
Meantime the King did not allow the torturing suspense to disturb his outward composure； or lessen his kindness to those around him。 On the morning after his second appearance at the bar of the Convention； the commissary Vincent； who had undertaken secretly to convey to the Queen a copy of the King's printed defence； asked for something which had belonged to him； to treasure as a relic； the King took off his neck handkerchief and gave it him； his gloves he bestowed on another municipal； who had made the same request。 〃On January 1st；〃 says Clery； 〃I approached the King's bed and asked permission to offer him my warmest prayers for the end of his misfortunes。 'I accept your good wishes with affection；' he replied； extending his hand to me。 As soon as he had risen； he requested a municipal to go and inquire for his family； and present them his good wishes for the new year。 The officers were moved by the tone in which these words； so heartrending considering the position of the King； were pronounced 。 。 。 。 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； drinkin
