marie antoinette and her son-第54节

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for　the　king　to　claim　his　own　right；　and　to　keep　out　of　his　property
those　who　insult　him。〃

〃Your　majesty；　the　king　is；　unfortunately；　not　free　to　make　use　of
this　right；　as　you　call　it。〃

〃You　will　not　say；　sir；　that　if　it　pleases　the　king　not　to　allow
evil…disposed　persons　to　enter　the　park　of　the　Tuileries；　he　has　not
the　right　to　close　the　gates？〃

〃Madame；　I　must　indeed　take　the　privilege　of　saying　so；〃　answered　M。
de　Bailly；　with　a　gentle　obeisance。　〃King　Henry　IV。　gave　the
Parisians　the　perpetual　privilege　of　having　the　park　of　the
Tuileries　open　to　them　always；　and　free　to　be　used　in　their　walks。
The　palace　of　the　Tuileries　was；　as　your　majesty　knows；　originally
built　by　Queen　Catherine　de　Medicis；　after　the　death　of　her　husband；
for　the　home　of　her　widowhood。　All　sorts　of　stories　were　then
current　about　the　uncanny　things　which　were　said　to　occur　in　the
park　of　the　Tuileries。　They　told　about　laboratories　in　which　Queen
Catherine　prepared　her　poisons；　of　a　pavilion　in　which　there　was　a
martyr's　chamber；　of　subterranean　cells　for　those　who　had　been
buried　alive；　and　all　these　dreadful　stories　made　such　an　impression
that　no　one　dared　approach　this　place　of　horrors　after　sunset。　But
when　Queen　Catherine　had　left　Paris；　and　King　Henry　IV。　resided　in
the　Louvre；　he　had　this　dreaded　Tuileries　garden；　with　all　its
horrors；　opened　to　the　Parisians；　and　out　of　the　queen's　garden　he
made　one　for　the　people；　in　order　that　the　curse　which　rested　upon
it　might　be　changed　into　a　blessing。〃

〃And　now　you　suppose；　Mr。　Mayor；　that　it　would　change　the　blessing
into　a　curse　again；　if　we　should　want　to　close　the　gates　that　Henry
IV。　opened？〃

〃I　do　fear　it；　madame；　and　therefore　venture　to　ask　that　the　right
to　enter　the　Tuileries　gardens　may　not　be　taken　from　the　people；　nor
their　enjoyment　interfered　with。〃

〃Not　the　people's　enjoyment；　only　ours；　is　to　be　interfered　with；〃
cried　Marie　Antoinette；　bitterly。　〃They　are　doubtless　right　who　call
the　people　now　the　real　king　of　France；　but　they　forget　that　this
new　king　has　usurped　the　throne　only　by　treachery；　rebellion；　and
murder；　and　that　the　wrath　of　God　and　the　justice　of　man　'will　one
day　hurl　him　down　into　the　dust　at　our　feet。　In　this　day　I　hope；　and
until　then　I　will　bear　in　patience　and　with　unshaken　courage　what
fate　may　lay　upon　me。　The　wickedness　and　brutality　of　men　shall　at
least　not　intimidate　me；　and　fear　shall　not　humiliate　me　to　the
state　of　a　prisoner　who　takes　her　walks　under　the　protection　of　M。
de　Lafayette；　the　general　of　the　people；　at　appointed　hours。〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　cried　Lafayette；　turning　pale。

〃What　is　your　pleasure？〃　interrupted　the　queen；　with　a　proud
movement　of　her　head。　〃You　were　a　gentleman；　and　knew　the　customs
and。　mode　of　our　court　before　you　went　to　America。　Has　the　want　of
manners　there　so　disturbed　your　memory　that　you　do　not　know　that　it
is　not　permitted　to　speak　in　the　presence　of　the　queen　without　being
asked　or　permitted　by　her　to　do　so？〃

〃General；〃　cried　the　dauphin；　at　this　instant；　with　loud；　eager
voice；　running　forward　to　Lafayette；　and　extending　to　him　his　little
hand〃　general；　I　should　like　to　salute　you。　Mamma　told　me　that　I
must　be　kind　to　all　those　who　are　good　to　us　and　love　us；　and　just
as　you　were　coming　in　with　this　gentleman；　mamma　told　me　that
General　Lafayette　does　not　belong　to　our　enemies；　but　means　well　to
us。　Let　me；　therefore；　greet　you　kindly　and　give　you　my　hand。〃　And
while　saying　so　and　smiling　kindly　at　the　general；　he　raised　his
great　blue　eyes　to　the　face　of　his　mother　an　instant　with　a
supplicatory　expression。

Lafayette　took　the　extended　hand　of　the　prince；　and　a　flush　of　deep
emotion　passed　over　his　face　that　was　just　before　kindling　with
anger。　As　if　touched　with　reverence　and　astonishment；　he　bent　his
knee　before　this　child；　whose　countenance　beamed　with　innocence；
love；　and　goodness；　and　pressed　to　his　lips　the　little　hand　that
rested　in　his　own。

〃My　prince；〃　said　be；　deeply　moved；　〃you　have　just　spoken　to　me　with
the　tongue　of　an　angel；　and　I　swear　to　you；　and　to　your　exalted
royal　mother；　that　I　will　never　forget　this　moment；　that　I　will
remember　it　so　long　as　I　live。　The　kiss　which　I　have　impressed　upon
the　hand　of　my　future　king　is　at　once　the　seal　of　the　solemn　vow；
and　the　oath　of　unchangeable　fidelity　and　devotion　which　I
consecrate　to　my　king　and　to　the　whole　royal　family；　and　in　which
nothing　shall　make　me　waver；　nothing；　not　even　the　anger　and　the
want　of　favor　of　my　exalted　queen。　Dauphin　of　France；　you　have　to…
day　gained　a　soldier　for　your　throne　who　is　prepared　to　shed　his
last　drop　of　blood　for　you　and　your　house；　and　on　whose　fidelity　and
devotion　you　may　continually　count。〃

With　tears　in　his　eyes；　his　brave；　noble　face　quivering　with
emotion；　Lafayette　looked　at　the　child　that　with　cheeks　all　aglow
and　with　a　pleasant　smile　was　gazing　with　great；　thoughtful　child's
eyes　up　to　the　strong　man；　who　placed　himself　so　humbly　and
devotedly　at　his　feet。　Behind　him　stood　M。　de　Bailly；　with　bended
head　and　folded　hands；　listening　with　solemn　thoughtfulness　to　the
words　of　the　general；　upon　whose　strong　shoulders　the　fate　of　the
monarchy　rested；　and　who；　at　this　time；　was　the　mightiest　and　most
conspicuous　man　in　France；　because　the　National　Guard　of　Paris　was
still　obedient　to　him；　and　followed　his　commands。

Close　by　the　dauphin　stood　the　queen；　in　her　old；　proud　attitude；
but　upon　her　face　a　striking　change　had　taken　place。　The　expression
of　anger　and　suspicion　which　it　had　before　displayed　had　not
completely　disappeared。　The　cloud　which　had　gathered　upon　her　lofty
forehead　was　dissipated；　and　her　face　shone　out　bright　and　clear。
The　large；　grayish…blue　eyes；　which　before　had　shot　angry　darts；　now
glowed　with　mild　fire；　and　around　her　lips　played　an　instant　that
fair；　pleasant　smile　which；　in　her　happier　days；　had　often　moved　the
favorites　of　the　queen　to　verses　of　praise；　and　which　her　enemies
had　so　often　made　a　reproach　to　her。

When　the　general　ceased　there　was　silencethat　eloquent；　solemn
silence　which　accompanies　those　moments　in　which　the　Genius　of
History　hovers　over　the　heads　of　men；　and；　touching　them　with　its
pinions；　ties　their　tongues　and　opens　the　eyes　of　the　spirit；　so
that　they　can　look　into　the　future；　and；　with　presaging　horror；　read
all　the　secrets　of　coming　time　as　by　a　flash　of　lightning。

Such　a　critical　moment　in　history　was　that　in　which　Lafayette；　at
the　feet　of　the　dauphin；　swore　eternal　fidelity　to　the　monarchy　of
France　in　the　presence　of　the　unfortunate　mayor　of　Paris；　who　was
soon　to　seal　his　loyalty　with　his　own　blood；　and　in　presence　of　the
queen；　whose　lofty　character　was　soon　to　make　her　a　martyr。

The　moments　passed　by；　then　Marie　Antoinette　bowed　to　Lafayette　with
her　gracious　smile。

〃Rise；　general；〃　she　said；　in　gentle　tones；　〃God　has　heard　your
oath；　and　I　accept　it　in　the　name　of　the　French　monarchy；　my
husband；　my　son；　and　myself。　I　shall　always　continue　mindful　of　it；
and　I　hope　that　you　will　also。　And　I　beg　you；　too；〃　she　continued；
in　a　low　voice；　and　with　a　deep　flush　upon　her　face；　〃I　beg　you　to
forgive　me　if　I　have　hitherto　cast　unworthy　reproaches　upon　you。　I
have　lived　through　so　many　sad　and　dreadful　days；　that　it　will　be
set　down　to　my　favor　if　my　nerves　are　agitated　and　easily　excited。　I
shall　probably　learn　to　accept　evil　days　with　calmness；　and　to　bow
my　head　patiently　beneath　the　yoke　which　my　enemies　are　laying　upon
me！　But　still　I　feel　the　injury；　and　the　proud　habits　of　my　birth
and　life　war　against　it。　But　only　wait；　and　I　shall　become
accustomed　to　it。〃

While　saying　this　she　stooped　down　to　the　dauphin　and　kissed　his
golden　hair。　A　tear　fell　from　her　eyes　upon　the　forehead　of　her　son；
and　glittered　there　like　a　star　fallen　from　heaven。　Marie　Antoinette
did　not　see　it；　did　not　know　that　the　tear　which　she　was　trying　to
conceal　was　now　glistening　on　the　brow　of　her　sonon　that　brow
which　was　never　to　wear　any　other　diadem　than　the　one　that　the　tears
of　love　placed　on　his　innocent　head。

〃Heaven　defend　your　majesty　ever　being　compelled　to　become
accustomed　to　insult！〃　cried　Lafayette；　deeply　moved。　〃I　hope　we
have　seen　our　worst　days；　and　that　after　the　tempest　there　will　be
sunshine　and　bright　weather　again。　The　people　will　look　back　with
shame　and　regret　upon　the　wild　and　stormy　scenes　to　which　they　have
allowed　themselves　to　be　drawn　by　unprincipled　agitators；　they　will
bow　in　love　and　obedience　before　the　royal　couple　who；　with　so　much
confidence　and　devotion；　leave　their　beautiful；　retired　home　at
Versailles；　in　order　to　comply　with　the　wish　of　the　people　and　come
to　Paris。　Will　your　majesty　have　the　goodness　to　ask　the　mayor　of
Paris；　and　he　will　tell　you；　madame；　how　deeply　moved　all　the　good
citizens　of　Paris　are　at　the　truly　noble　spirit　which　prompted　you
to　refuse　to　initiate　an　investigation　respecting　the　night　of
horrors　at　Versailles；　and　to　bring　the　ringleaders　to　justice。〃

〃Is　it　true；　M。　de　Bailly？〃　asked　the　queen；　eagerly。　〃Was　my
decision　approved？　Have　I　friends　still　among　the　people　of　Paris？〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　answered　M。　de　Bailly；　bowing　low；　〃all　good
citiz