the memoirs of marie antoinette-第104章
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omise 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 listened； kneeling with the greatest devotion。 He then received the communion from the hands of M。 Edgeworth； and after mass rose with new vigour； and awaited with composure the moment for going to the scaffold。 He asked for scissors that Clery might cut his hair； but the Commune refused to trust him with a pair。
At this moment the drums were beating in the capital。 All who belonged to the armed sections repaired to their company with complete submission。 It was reported that four or five hundred devoted men； were to make a dash upon the carriage； and rescue the King。 The Convention； the Commune； the Executive Council； and the Jacobins were sitting。 At eight。 in the morning； Santerre； with a deputation from the Commune； the department； and the criminal tribunal； repaired to the Temple。 Louis XVI。； on hearing them arrive； rose and prepared to depart。 He desired Clery to transmit his last farewell to his wife； his sister； and his children； he gave him a sealed packet； hair； and various trinkets； with directions to deliver these articles to them。
＇In the course of the morning the King said to me： 〃You will give this seal to my son and this ring to the Queen； and assure her that it is with pain I part with it。 This little packet contains the hair of all my family； you will give her that； too。 Tell the Queen； my dear sister； and my children； that； although I promised to see them again this morning； I have resolved to spare them the pang of so cruel a separation。 Tell them how much it costs me to go away without receiving their embraces once more！〃 He wiped away some tears； and then added； in the most mournful accents； 〃I charge you to bear them my last farewell。〃CLERY。＇
He then clasped his hand and thanked him for his services。 After this he addressed himself to one of the municipal officers； requesting him to transmit his last will to the Commune。 This officer； who had formerly been a priest； and was named Jacques Roux； brutally replied that his business was to conduct him to execution； and not to perform his commissions。 Another person took charge of it； and Louis； turning towards the party； gave with firmness the signal for starting。
Officers of gendarmerie were placed on the front seat of the carriage。 The King and M。 Edgeworth occupied the back。 During the ride； which was rather long； the King read in M。 Edgeworth's breviary the prayers for persons at the point of death； the two gendarmes were astonished at his piety and tranquil resignation。 The vehicle advanced slowly； and amidst universal silence。 At the Place de la Revolution an extensive space had been left vacant about the scaffold。 Around this space were planted cannon； the most violent of the Federalists were stationed about the scaffold； and the vile rabble； always ready to insult genius； virtue； and misfortune； when a signal is given it to do so； crowded behind the ranks of the Federalists； and alone manifested some outward tokens of satisfaction。
At ten minutes past ten the carriage stopped。 Louis XVI。； rising briskly； stepped out into the Place。 Three executioners came up； he refused their assistance； and took off his clothes himself。 But； perceiving that they were going to bind his hands； he made a movement of indignation； and seemed ready to resist。 M。 Edgeworth gave him a last look； and said； 〃Suffer this outrage； as a last resemblance to that God who is about to be your reward。〃 At these words the King suffered himself to be bound and conducted to the scaffold。 All at once Louis hurriedly advanced to address the people。 〃Frenchmen；〃 said he； in a firm voice； 〃I die innocent of the crimes which are imputed to me； I forgive the authors of my death； and I pray that my blood may not fall upon France。〃 He would have continued； but the drums were instantly ordered to beat： their rolling drowned his voice； the executioners laid hold of him； and M。 Edgeworth took his leave in these memorable words： 〃Son of Saint Louis； ascend to heaven！〃 As soon as the blood flowed； furious wretches dipped their pikes and handkerchiefs in it； then dispersed throughout Paris； shouting 〃Vive la Republique！ Vive la Nation！〃 and even went to the gates of the Temple to display brutal and factious joy。
＇The body of Louis was； immediately after the execution； removed to the ancient cemetery of the Madeleine。 Large quantities of quicklime were thrown into the grave； which occasioned so rapid a decomposition that； when his remains were nought for in 1816； it was with difficulty any part could be recovered。 Over the spot where he was interred Napoleon commenced the splendid Temple of Glory； after the battle of Jena； and the superb edifice was completed by the Bourbons； and now forms the Church of the Madeleine； the most beautiful structure in Paris。 Louis was executed on the same ground where the Queen； Madame Elisabeth； and so many other noble victims of the Revolution perished； where Robespierre and Danton afterwards suffered； and where the Emperor Alexander and the allied sovereigns took their station； when their victorious troops entered Paris in 1814！ The history of modern Europe has not a scene fraught with equally interesting recollections to exhibit。 It is now marked by the colossal obelisk of blood…red granite which was brought from Thebes； in Upper Egypt； in 1833； by the French Government。 ALLISON。＇
The Royal Prisoners。 Separation of the Dauphin from His Family。 Removal of the Queen。
On the morning of the King's execution； according to the narrative of Madame Royale； his family rose at six： 〃The night before； my mother had scarcely strength enough to put my brother to bed； She threw herself； dressed as she was； on her own bed； where we heard her shivering with cold and grief all night long。 At a quarter…past six the door opened； we believed that we were sent for to the King； but it was only the officers looking for a prayer…book for him。 We did not； however； abandon the hope of seeing him； till shouts of joy from the infuriated populace told us that all was over。 In the afternoon my mother asked to see Clery； who probably had some message for her； we hoped that seeing him would occasion a burst of grief which might relieve the state of silent and choking agony in which we saw her。〃 The request was refused； and the officers who brought the refusal said Clery was in 〃a frightful state of despair〃 at not being allowed to see the royal family； shortly afterwards he was dismissed from the Temple。
〃We had now a little more freedom；〃 continues the Princess； 〃our guards even believed that we were about to be sent out of France； but nothing could calm my mother's agony； no hope could touch her heart； and life or death became indifferent to her。 Fortunately my own affliction increased my illness so seriously that it distracted her thoughts 。 。 。 。 My mother would go no more to the garden； because she must have passed the door of what had been my father's room； and that she could
