the memoirs of marie antoinette-第68章
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fly to the frontiers。〃 The Queen replied； affably； that they had been told so； and had believed it； that there lay the cause of the unhappiness of the people and of the best of kings。 A third addressed a few words to her in German： the Queen told her she did not understand it； that she had become so entirely French as even to have forgotten her mother tongue。 This declaration was answered with 〃Bravo！〃 and clapping of hands； they then desired her to make a compact with them。 〃Ah；〃 said she； 〃how can I make a compact with you； since you have no faith in that which my duty points out to me； and which I ought for my own happiness to respect？〃 They asked her for the ribbons and flowers out of her hat； her Majesty herself unfastened them and gave them； they were divided among the party； which for above half an hour cried out； without ceasing； 〃Marie Antoinette for ever！ Our good Queen for ever！〃
Two days after the King's arrival at Paris； the city and the National Guard sent to request the Queen to appear at the theatre； and prove by her presence and the King's that it was with pleasure they resided in their capital。 I introduced the deputation which came to make this request。 Her Majesty replied that she should have infinite pleasure in acceding to the invitation of the city of Paris； but that time must be allowed her to soften the recollection of the distressing events which had just occurred； and from which she had suffered too much。 She added； that having come into Paris preceded by the heads of the faithful Guards who had perished before the door of their sovereign； she could not think that such an entry into the capital ought to be followed by rejoicings； but that the happiness she had always felt in appearing in the midst of the inhabitants of Paris was not effaced from her memory； and that she should enjoy it again as soon as she found herself able to do so。
Their Majesties found some consolation in their private life： from Madame's ＇Madame； here； the Princesse Marie Thdr6se； daughter of Marie Antoinette。＇ gentle manners and filial affection； from the accomplishments and vivacity of the little Dauphin； and the attention and tenderness of the pious Princess Elisabeth； they still derived moments of happiness。 The young Prince daily gave proofs of sensibility and penetration； he was not yet beyond female care； but a private tutor； the Abbe Davout； gave him all the instruction suitable to his age； his memory was highly cultivated； and he recited verses with much grace and feeling。
＇On the 19th of October； that is to say； thirteen days after he had taken up his abode at Paris； the King went； on foot and almost alone； to review some detachments of the National Guard。 After the review Louis XVI。 met with a child sweeping the street； who asked him for money。 The child called the King 〃M。 le Chevalier。〃 His Majesty gave him six francs。 The little sweeper； surprised at receiving so large a sum； cried out； 〃Oh！ I have no change； you will give me money another time。〃 A person who accompanied the monarch said to the child； 〃Keep it all； my friend； the gentleman is not chevalier； he is the eldest of the family。〃NOTE BY THE EDITOR。＇
The day after the arrival of the Court at Paris； terrified at hearing some noise in the gardens of the Tuileries； the young prince threw himself into the arms of the Queen； crying out； 〃Grand…Dieu； mamma！ will it be yesterday over again？〃 A few days after this affecting exclamation； he went up to the King； and looked at him with a pensive air。 The King asked him what he wanted； he answered； that he had something very serious to say to him。 The King having prevailed on him to explain himself； the young Prince asked why his people； who formerly loved him so well； were all at once angry with him； and what he had done to irritate them so much。 His father took him upon his knees； and spoke to him nearly as follows： 〃I wished； child； to render the people still happier than they were； I wanted money to pay the expenses occasioned by wars。 I asked my people for money； as my predecessors have always done； magistrates； composing the Parliament； opposed it； and said that my people alone had a right to consent to it。 I assembled the principal inhabitants of every town； whether distinguished by birth； fortune； or talents； at Versailles； that is what is called the States General。 When they were assembled they required concessions of me which I could not make； either with due respect for myself or with justice to you； who will be my successor； wicked men inducing the people to rise have occasioned the excesses of the last few days； the people must not be blamed for them。〃
The Queen made the young Prince clearly comprehend that he ought to treat the commanders of battalions； the officers of the National Guard； and all the Parisians who were about him； with affability； the child took great pains to please all those people； and when he had had an opportunity of replying obligingly to the mayor or members of the commune he came and whispered in his mother's ear； 〃Was that right？〃
He requested M。 Bailly to show him the shield of Scipio； which is in the royal library； and M。 Bailly asking him which he preferred； Scipio or Hannibal； the young Prince replied； without hesitation； that he preferred him who had defended his own country。 He gave frequent proofs of ready wit。 One day； while the Queen was hearing Madame repeat her exercises in ancient history； the young Princess could not at the moment recollect the name of the Queen of Carthage； the Dauphin was vexed at his sister's want of memory； and though he never spoke to her in the second person singular； he bethought himself of the expedient of saying to her； 〃But 'dis donc' the name of the Queen； to mamma； 'dis donc' what her name was。〃
Shortly after the arrival of the King and his family at Paris the Duchesse de Luynes came； in pursuance of the advice of a committee of the Constitutional Assembly； to propose to the Queen a temporary retirement from France； in order to leave the constitution to perfect itself； so that the patriots should not accuse her of influencing the King to oppose it。 The Duchess knew how far the schemes of the conspirers extended； and her attachment to the Queen was the principal cause of the advice she gave her。 The Queen perfectly comprehended the Duchesse de Luynes's motive； but replied that she would never leave either the King or her son； that if she thought herself alone obnoxious to public hatred she would instantly offer her life as a sacrifice；but that it was the throne which was aimed at； and that； in abandoning the King； she should be merely committing an act of cowardice； since she saw no other advantage in it than that of saving her own life。
One evening； in the month of November； 1790； I returned home rather late； I there found the Prince de Poix； he told me he came to request me to assist him in regaining his peace of mind； that at the commencement of the sittings of the National Assembly he had suffered himself to be seduced into the hope of a better order of things； that he blushed for his error； and that he abhorred plans which had already produced such fatal results； that he broke with the reformers for the rest of his life； that he had given in his resignation as a deputy of the National Assembly； and； finally； that he was anxious that the Queen should not sleep in ignorance of his sentiments。 I undertook his commission； and acquitted myself of it in the best way I could； but I was totally unsuccessful。 The Prince de Poix remained at Court； he there suffered many mortifications； never ceasing to serve the King in the most dangerous commissions with that zeal for which his house has always been distinguished。
When the King； the Queen； and the children were suitably established at the Tuileries； as well as Madame Elisabeth and the Princesse de Lamballe； the Queen resumed her usual habits； she employed her mornings in superintending the education of Madame； who received all her lessons in her presence； and she herself began to work large pieces of tapestry。 Her mind was too much occupied with passing events and surrounding dangers to admit her
