the memoirs of marie antoinette-第93章
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iring。 （See Thiers's 〃Revolution Francaise；〃 vol。 i。； chap。 xi。） Bonaparte's opinion of the mob may be judged by his remarks on the 20th June； 1792； when； disgusted at seeing the King appear with the red cap on his head； he exclaimed； 〃Che coglione！ Why have they let in all that rabble？ Why don't they sweep off 400 or 500 of them with the cannon？ The rest would then set off。〃 （〃Bourrienne；〃 vol。 i。； p。13； Bentley； London； 1836。） Bonaparte carried out his own plan against a far stronger force of assailants on the Jour des Sections； 4th October； 1795。＇
The Marseillais began by driving from their posts several Swiss； who yielded without resistance； a few of the assailants fired upon them； some of the Swiss officers； seeing their men fall； and perhaps thinking the King was still at the Tuileries； gave the word to a whole battalion to fire。 The aggressors were thrown into disorder； and the Carrousel was cleared in a moment； but they soon returned； spurred on by rage and revenge。 The Swiss were but eight hundred strong； they fell back into the interior of the Chateau； some of the doors were battered in by the guns； others broken through with hatchets； the populace rushed from all quarters into the interior of the palace； almost all the Swiss were massacred； the nobles； flying through the gallery which leads to the Louvre； were either stabbed or shot； and the bodies thrown out of the windows。
M。 Pallas and M。 de Marchais； ushers of the King's chamber； were killed in defending the door of the council chamber； many others of the King's servants fell victims to their fidelity。 I mention these two persons in particular because； with their hats pulled over their brows and their swords in their hands； they exclaimed； as they defended themselves with unavailing courage； 〃We will not survive！this is our post； our duty is to die at it。〃 M。 Diet behaved in the same manner at the door of the Queen's bedchamber； he experienced the same fate。 The Princesse de Tarente had fortunately opened the door of the apartments； otherwise； the dreadful band seeing several women collected in the Queen's salon would have fancied she was among us； and would have immediately massacred us had we resisted them。 We were； indeed； all about to perish； when a man with a long beard came up； exclaiming； in the name of Potion； 〃Spare the women； don't dishonour the nation！〃 A particular circumstance placed me in greater danger than the others。 In my confusion I imagined； a moment before the assailants entered the Queen's apartments； that my sister was not among the group of women collected there； and I went up into an 'entresol'； where I supposed she had taken refuge； to induce her to come down； fancying it safer that we should not be separated。 I did not find her in the room in question； I saw there only our two femmes de chambre and one of the Queen's two heyducs； a man of great height and military aspect。 I saw that he was pale； and sitting on a bed。 I cried out to him； 〃Fly！ the footmen and our people are already safe。〃〃I cannot；〃 said the man to me； 〃I am dying of fear。〃 As he spoke I heard a number of men rushing hastily up the staircase； they threw themselves upon him； and I saw him assassinated。
I ran towards the staircase； followed by our women。 The murderers left the heyduc to come to me。 The women threw themselves at their feet； and held their sabres。 The narrowness of the staircase impeded the assassins； but I had already felt a horrid hand thrust into my back to seize me by my clothes； when some one called out from the bottom of the staircase； 〃What are you doing above there？ We don't kill women。〃 I was on my knees； my executioner quitted his hold of me； and said； 〃Get up； you jade； the nation pardons you。〃
The brutality of these words did not prevent my suddenly experiencing an indescribable feeling which partook almost equally of the love of life and the idea that I was going to see my son； and all that was dear to me； again。 A moment before I had thought less of death than of the pain which the steel； suspended over my head； would occasion me。 Death is seldom seen so close without striking his blow。 I heard every syllable uttered by the assassins； just as if I had been calm。
Five or six men seized me and my companions； and； having made us get up on benches placed before the windows； ordered us to call out； 〃The nation for ever！〃
I passed over several corpses； I recognised that of the old Vicomte de Broves； to whom the Queen had sent me at the beginning of the night to desire him and another old man in her name to go home。 These brave men desired I would tell her Majesty that they had but too strictly obeyed the King's orders in all circumstances under which they ought to have exposed their own lives in order to preserve his； and that for this once they would not obey； though they would cherish the recollection of the Queen's goodness。
Near the grille； on the side next the bridge； the men who conducted me asked whither I wished to go。 Upon my inquiring； in my turn； whether they were at liberty to take me wherever I might wish to go； one of them； a Marseillais； asked me； giving me at the same time a push with the butt end of his musket； whether I still doubted the power of the people？ I answered 〃No；〃 and I mentioned the number of my brother…in…law's house。 I saw my sister ascending the steps of the parapet of the bridge； surrounded by members of the National Guard。 I called to her； and she turned round。 〃Would you have her go with you？〃 said my guardian to me。 I told him I did wish it。 They called the people who were leading my sister to prison； she joined me。
Madame de la Roche…Aymon and her daughter； Mademoiselle Pauline de Tourzel； Madame de Ginestoux； lady to the Princesse de Lamballe； the other women of the Queen； and the old Comte d'Affry； were led off together to the Abbaye。
Our progress from the Tuileries to my sister's house was most distressing。 We saw several Swiss pursued and killed； and musket…shots were crossing each other in all directions。 We passed under the walls of the Louvre； they were firing from the parapet into the windows of the gallery； to hit the knights of the dagger； for thus did the populace designate those faithful subjects who had assembled at the Tuileries to defend the King。
The brigands broke some vessels of water in the Queen's first antechamber； the mixture of blood and water stained the skirts of our white gowns。 The poissardes screamed after us in the streets that we were attached to the Austrian。 Our protectors then showed some consideration for us； and made us go up a gateway to pull off our gowns； but our petticoats being too short； and making us look like persons in disguise； other poissardes began to bawl out that we were young Swiss dressed up like women。 We then saw a tribe of female cannibals enter the street； carrying the head of poor Mandat。 Our guards made us hastily enter a little public…house； called for wine； and desired us to drink with them。 They assured the landlady that we were their sisters； and good patriots。 Happily the Marseillais had quitted us to return to the Tuileries。 One of the men who remained with us said to me in a low voice： 〃I am a gauze…worker in the faubourg。 I was forced to march； I am not for all this； I have not killed anybody； and have rescued you。 You ran a great risk when we met the mad women who are carrying Mandat's head。 These horrible women said yesterday at midnight； upon the site of the Bastille； that they must have their revenge for the 6th of October； at Versailles； and that they had sworn to kill the Queen and all the women attached to her； the danger of the action saved you all。〃
As I crossed the Carrousel； I saw my house in flames； but as soon as the first moment of affright was over； I thought no more of my personal misfortunes。 My ideas turned solely upon the dreadful situation of the Queen。
On reaching my sister's we found all our family in despair； believing they should never see us again。 I could not remain in her house； some of the mob； collected round the door； exclaimed that Marie Antoinette's confidante was in the house； and that they must have he
