the memoirs of marie antoinette-第112章
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ter the house opposite the church to draw up the declaration of interment。 It was nearly nine o'clock； and still daylight。
Release of Madame Royale。Her Marriage to the Duc d'Angouleme。 Return to France。Death。
The last person to hear of the sad events in the Temple was the one for whom they had the deepest and most painful interest。 After her brother's death the captivity of Madame Royale was much lightened。 She was allowed to walk in the Temple gardens； and to receive visits from some ladies of the old Court； and from Madame de Chantereine； who at last； after several times evading her questions； ventured cautiously to tell her of the deaths of her mother； aunt； and brother。 Madame Royale wept bitterly； but had much difficulty in expressing her feelings。 〃She spoke so confusedly；〃 says Madame de la Ramiere in a letter to Madame de Verneuil； 〃that it was difficult to understand her。 It took her more than a month's reading aloud； with careful study of pronunciation； to make herself intelligible；so much had she lost the power of expression。〃 She was dressed with plainness amounting to poverty； and her hands were disfigured by exposure to cold and by the menial work she had been so long accustomed to do for herself； and which it was difficult to persuade her to leave off。 When urged to accept the services of an attendant； she replied； with a sad prevision of the vicissitudes of her future life； that she did not like to form a habit which she might have again to abandon。 She suffered herself； however； to be persuaded gradually to modify her recluse and ascetic habits。 It was well she did so； as a preparation for the great changes about to follow。
Nine days after the death of her brother； the city of Orleans interceded for the daughter of Louis XVI。； and sent deputies to the Convention to pray for her deliverance and restoration to her family。 Names followed this example； and Charette； on the part of the Vendeans； demanded； as a condition of the pacification of La Vendee； that the Princess should be allowed to join her relations。 At length the Convention decreed that Madame Royale should be exchanged with Austria for the representatives and ministers whom Dumouriez had given up to the Prince of Cobourg； Drouet； Semonville； Maret； and other prisoners of importance。 At midnight on 19th December； 1795； which was her birthday； the Princess was released from prison； the Minister of the Interior； M。 Benezech； to avoid attracting public attention and possible disturbance； conducting her on foot from the Temple to a neighbouring street； where his carriage awaited her。 She made it her particular request that Gomin； who had been so devoted to her brother； should be the commissary appointed to accompany her to the frontier； Madame de Soucy； formerly under…governess to the children of France； was also in attendance； and the Princess took with her a dog named Coco； which had belonged to Louis XVI。
＇The mention of the little dog taken from the Temple by Madame Royale reminds me how fond all the family were of these creatures。 Each Princess kept a different kind。 Mesdames had beautiful spaniels； little grayhounds were preferred by Madame Elisabeth。 Louis XVI。 was the only one of all his family who had no dogs in his room。 I remember one day waiting in the great gallery for the King's retiring； when he entered with all his family and the whole pack； who were escorting him。 All at once all the dogs began to bark； one louder than another； and ran away； passing like ghosts along those great dark rooms； which rang with their hoarse cries。 The Princesses shouting； calling them； running everywhere after them； completed a ridiculous spectacle； which made those august persons very merry。 D'HEZECQUES； p。 49。＇
She was frequently recognised on her way through France； and always with marks of pleasure and respect。
It might have been supposed that the Princess would rejoice to leave behind her the country which had been the scene of so many horrors and such bitter suffering。 But it was her birthplace； and it held the graves of all she loved； and as she crossed the frontier she said to those around her； 〃I leave France with regret； for I shall never cease to consider it my country。〃 She arrived in Vienna on 9th January； 1796； and her first care was to attend a memorial service for her murdered relatives。 After many weeks of close retirement she occasionally began to appear in public； and people looked with interest at the pale； grave； slender girl of seventeen； dressed in the deepest mourning； over whose young head such terrible storms had swept。 The Emperor wished her to marry the Archduke Charles of Austria； but her father and mother had； even in the cradle； destined her hand for her cousin； the Duc d'Angouleme； son of the Comte d'Artois； and the memory of their lightest wish was law to her。
Her quiet determination entailed anger and opposition amounting to persecution。 Every effort was made to alienate her from her French relations。 She was urged to claim Provence； which had become her own if Louis XVIII。 was to be considered King of France。 A pressure of opinion was brought to bear upon her which might well have overawed so young a girl。 〃I was sent for to the Emperor's cabinet；〃 she writes； 〃where I found the imperial family assembled。 The ministers and chief imperial counsellors were also present 。 。 。 。 When the Emperor invited me to express my opinion； I answered that to be able to treat fittingly of such interests I thought； I ought to be surrounded not only by my mother's relatives； but also by those of my father 。 。 。 。 Besides； I said； I was above all things French； and in entire subjection to the laws of France； which had rendered me alternately the subject of the King my father； the King my brother； and the King my uncle； and that I would yield obedience to the latter； whatever might be his commands。 This declaration appeared very much to dissatisfy all who were present； and when they observed that I was not to be shaken； they declared that my right being independent of my will； my resistance would not be the slightest obstacle to the measures they might deem it necessary to adopt for the preservation of my interests。〃
In their anxiety to make a German princess of Marie Therese； her imperial relations suppressed her French title as much as possible。 When； with some difficulty； the Duc de Grammont succeeded in obtaining an audience of her； and used the familiar form of address； she smiled faintly； and bade him beware。 〃Call me Madame de Bretagne； or de Bourgogne； or de Lorraine；〃 she said； 〃for here I am so identified with these provinces ＇which the Emperor wished her to claim from her uncle Louis XVIII。＇ that I shall end in believing in my own transformation。〃 After these discussions she was so closely watched； and so many restraints were imposed upon her； that she was scarcely less a prisoner than in the old days of the Temple； though her cage was this time gilded。 Rescue； however； was at hand。
In 1798 Louis XVIII。 accepted a refuge offered to him at Mittau by the Czar Paul； who had promised that he would grant his guest's first request； whatever it might be。 Louis begged the Czar to use his influence with the Court of Vienna to allow his niece to join him。 〃Monsieur； my brother；〃 was Paul's answer； 〃Madame Royale shall be restored to you； or I shall cease to be Paul I。〃 Next morning the Czar despatched a courier to Vienna with a demand for the Princess； so energetically worded that refusal must have been followed by war。 Accordingly； in May； 1799； Madame Royale was allowed to leave the capital which she had found so uncongenial an asylum。
In the old ducal castle of Mittau； the capital of Courland； Louis XVIII。 and his wife； with their nephews； the Ducs d'Angouleme
＇The Duc d'Angonleme was quiet and reserved。 He loved hunting as means of killing time； was given to early hours and innocent pleasures。 He was a gentleman； and brave as became one。 He had not the 〃gentlemanly vices〃 of his brother； and was all the better for it。 He was ill educated； but had natural good sense； and
