the memoirs of marie antoinette-第13节
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all； she received from the King； M。 Le Roi calculates； about twelve and a half millions of livres。 On the death of Louis XV。 she had to retire first to the Abbey of Pont…aux…Dames； near Meaux； then she was allowed to go to her small house at St。 Vrain； near Arpajon； and； finally； in 1775； to her chateau at Louveciennes。 Much to her credit be it said； she retained many of her friends； and was on the most intimate terms till his death with the Duc de Brissac （Louis Hercule Timoldon de Cosse…Brissac）； who was killed at Versailles in the massacre of the prisoners in September； 1792； leaving at his death a large legacy to her。 Even the Emperor Joseph visited her。 In 1791 many of her jewels were stolen and taken to England。 This caused her to make several visits to that country； where she gained her suit。 But these visits； though she took every precaution to legalise them； ruined her。 Betrayed by her servants； among them by Zamor； the negro page； she was brought before the Revolutionary tribunal； and was guillotined on 8th December； 1793； in a frenzy of terror； calling for mercy and for delay up to the moment when her head fell。
The men of ambition who were labouring to overthrow the Duc de Choiseul strengthened themselves by their concentration at the house of the favourite； and succeeded in their project。 The bigots； who never forgave that minister the suppression of the Jesuits； and who had always been hostile to a treaty of alliance with Austria； influenced the minds of Mesdames。 The Duc de La Vauguyon； the young Dauphin's governor； infected them with the same prejudices。
Such was the state of the public mind when the young Archduchess Marie Antoinette arrived at the Court of Versailles； just at the moment when the party which brought her there was about to be overthrown。
Madame Adelaide openly avowed her dislike to a princess of the House of Austria； and when M。 Campan； my father…in…law； went to receive his orders； at the moment of setting off with the household of the Dauphiness； to go and receive the Archduchess upon the frontiers； she said she disapproved of the marriage of her nephew with an archduchess； and that； if she had the direction of the matter； she would not send for an Austrian。
CHAPTER II。
MARIE ANTOINETTE JOSEPHE JEANNE DE LORRAINE； Archduchess of Austria； daughter of Francois de Lorraine and of Maria Theresa； was born on the 2d of November； 1755； the day of the earthquake at Lisbon； and this catastrophe； which appeared to stamp the era of her birth with a fatal mark； without forming a motive for superstitious fear with the Princess； nevertheless made an impression upon her mind。 As the Empress already had a great number of daughters； she ardently desired to have another son； and playfully wagered against her wish with the Duc de Tarouka； who had insisted that she would give birth to an archduke。 He lost by the birth of the Princess； and had executed in porcelain a figure with one knee bent on the earth； and presenting tablets； upon which the following lines by Metastasio were engraved：
I lose by your fair daughter's birth Who prophesied a son； But if she share her mother's worth； Why； all the world has won！
The Queen was fond of talking of the first years of her youth。 Her father； the Emperor Francis； had made a deep impression upon her heart； she lost him when she was scarcely seven years old。 One of those circumstances which fix themselves strongly in the memories of children frequently recalled his last caresses to her。 The Emperor was setting out for Innspruck； he had already left his palace； when he ordered a gentleman to fetch the Archduchess Marie Antoinette； and bring her to his carriage。 When she came； he stretched out his arms to receive her； and said； after having pressed her to his bosom； 〃I wanted to embrace this child once more。〃 The Emperor died suddenly during the journey； and never saw his beloved daughter again。
The Queen often spoke of her mother； and with profound respect； but she based all her schemes for the education of her children on the essentials which had been neglected in her own。 Maria Theresa； who inspired awe by her great qualities； taught the Archduchesses to fear and respect rather than to love her； at least I observed this in the Queen's feelings towards her august mother。 She therefore never desired to place between her own children and herself that distance which had existed in the imperial family。 She cited a fatal consequence of it； which had made such a powerful impression upon her that time had never been able to efface it。
The wife of the Emperor Joseph II。 was taken from him in a few days by an attack of smallpox of the most virulent kind。 Her coffin had recently been deposited in the vault of the imperial family。 The Archduchess Josepha； who had been betrothed to the King of Naples； at the instant she was quitting Vienna received an order from the Empress not to set off without having offered up a prayer in the vault of her forefathers。 The Archduchess； persuaded that she should take the disorder to which her sister…in…law had just fallen a victim； looked upon this order as her death…warrant。 She loved the young Archduchess Marie Antoinette tenderly； she took her upon her knees； embraced her with tears； and told her she was about to leave her； not for Naples； but never to see her again； that she was going down then to the tomb of her ancestors； and that she should shortly go again there to remain。 Her anticipation was realised； confluent smallpox carried her off in a very few days； and her youngest sister ascended the throne of Naples in her place。
The Empress was too much taken up with high political interests to have it in her power to devote herself to maternal attentions。 The celebrated Wansvietten； her physician； went daily； to visit the young imperial family； and afterwards to Maria Theresa； and gave the most minute details respecting the health of the Archdukes and Archduchesses； whom she herself sometimes did not see for eight or ten days at a time。 As soon as the arrival of a stranger of rank at Vienna was made known； the Empress brought her family about her； admitted them to her table； and by this concerted meeting induced a belief that she herself presided over the education of her children。
The chief governesses； being under no fear of inspection from Maria Theresa； aimed at making themselves beloved by their pupils by the common and blamable practice of indulgence； so fatal to the future progress and happiness of children。 Marie Antoinette was the cause of her governess being dismissed； through a confession that all her copies and all her letters were invariably first traced out with pencil； the Comtesse de Brandes was appointed to succeed her； and fulfilled her duties with great exactness and talent。 The Queen looked upon having been confided to her care so late as a misfortune； and always continued upon terms of friendship with that lady。 The education of Marie Antoinette was certainly very much neglected。 With the exception of the Italian language； all that related to belles lettres； and particularly to history； even that of her own country； was almost entirely unknown to her。 This was soon found out at the Court of France； and thence arose the generally received opinion that she was deficient in sense。 It will be seen in the course of these 〃Memoirs〃 whether that opinion was well or ill founded。 The public prints； however； teemed with assertions of the superior talents of Maria Theresa's children。 They often noticed the answers which the young Princesses gave in Latin to the harangues addressed to them； they uttered them； it is true； but without understanding them； they knew not a single word of that language。
Mention was one day made to the Queen of a drawing made by her； and presented by the Empress to M。 Gerard； chief clerk of Foreign Affairs； on the occasion of his going to Vienna to draw up the articles for her marriage…contract。 〃I should blush；〃 said she； 〃if that proof of the quackery of my education were shown to me。 I do not believe that I ever put a pencil to that drawing。〃 However； what had been taught her she knew perfectly well。 Her facility of learning was inconceivable； and if all her teachers had been as well informed and as faithful to their duty as the Abbe Metastasio； who taught her Italian； she would have attained as great a superiority in the other branches of her education。 The Queen spoke that language with grace and ease； and translated the most difficult poets。 She did not write French correctly； but she spoke it with the greatest fluency； and even affected to say that she had lost German。 In fact she attempted in 1787 to learn her mother…tongue； and took lessons assiduously for six weeks； she was obliged to relinquish them； finding all the difficulties which a Frenchwoman； who should take up the study too late； would have to encounter。 In the same manner she gave up English； which I had taught her for some time； and in which she had made rapid progress。 Music was the accomplishment in which the Queen most delig
