the memoirs of marie antoinette-第20节
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yesterday to speak to you of a minister to whom she must of course be attached； and whom his friends ardently desire to have near her； you are aware that we must give up all expectation of seeing the Duke at Court； you know the reasons why； but you do not know that the young Queen； having mentioned the conversation in question to me； it was my duty； both as her preceptor and her friend； to remonstrate severely with her on her indiscretion in communicating to you those particulars of which you are in possession。 I am now come to tell you that if you continue to avail yourself of the good nature of your mistress to initiate yourself in secrets of State； you will have me for your most inveterate enemy。 The Queen should find here no other confidant than myself respecting things that ought to remain secret。〃 M。 Campan answered that he did not covet the important and dangerous character at the new Court which the Abbe wished to appropriate； and that he should confine himself to the duties of his office； being sufficiently satisfied with the continued kindness with which the Queen honoured him。 Notwithstanding this； however； he informed the Queen； on the very same evening； of the injunction he had received。 She owned that she had mentioned their conversation to the Abbe； that he had indeed seriously scolded her； in order to make her feel the necessity of being secret in concerns of State； and she added； 〃The Abbe cannot like you； my dear Campan； he did not expect that I should； on my arrival in France； find in my household a man who would suit me so exactly as you have done。 I know that he has taken umbrage at it； that is enough。 I know； too； that you are incapable of attempting anything to injure him in my esteem； an attempt which would besides be vain； for I have been too long attached to him。 As to yourself； be easy on the score of the Abbe's hostility； which shall not in any way hurt you。〃
The Abbe de Vermond having made himself master of the office of sole confidant to the Queen； was nevertheless agitated whenever he saw the young King； he could not be ignorant that the Abbe had been promoted by the Duc de Choiseul； and was believed to favour the Encyclopedists； against whom Louis XVI。 entertained a secret prejudice； although he suffered them to gain so great an ascendency during his reign。 The Abbe had； moreover； observed that the King had never； while Dauphin； addressed a single word to him； and that he very frequently only answered him with a shrug of the shoulders。 He therefore determined on writing to Louis XVI。； and intimating that he owed his situation at Court solely to the confidence with which the late King had honoured him； and that as habits contracted during the Queen's education placed him continually in the closest intimacy with her； he could not enjoy the honour of remaining near her Majesty without the King's consent。 Louis XVI。 sent back his letter； after writing upon it these words： 〃I approve the Abbe de Vermond continuing in his office about the Queen。〃
CHAPTER V。
At the period of his grandfather's death； Louis XVI。 began to be exceedingly attached to the Queen。 The first period of so deep a mourning not admitting of indulgence in the diversion of hunting； he proposed to her walks in the gardens of Choisy； they went out like husband and wife； the young King giving his arm to the Queen； and accompanied by a very small suite。 The influence of this example had such an effect upon the courtiers that the next day several couples； who had long； and for good reasons； been disunited； were seen walking upon the terrace with the same apparent conjugal intimacy。 Thus they spent whole hours； braving the intolerable wearisomeness of their protracted tete…a…tetes； out of mere obsequious imitation。
The devotion of Mesdames to the King their father throughout his dreadful malady had produced that effect upon their health which was generally apprehended。 On the fourth day after their arrival at Choisy they were attacked by pains in the head and chest； which left no doubt as to the danger of their situation。 It became necessary instantly to send away the young royal family； and the Chateau de la Muette； in the Bois de Boulogne； was selected for their reception。 Their arrival at that residence； which was very near Paris； drew so great a concourse of people into its neighbourhood； that even at daybreak the crowd had begun to assemble round the gates。 Shouts of 〃Vive le Roi！〃 were scarcely interrupted for a moment between six o'clock in the morning and sunset。 The unpopularity the late King； had drawn upon himself during his latter years； and the hopes to which a new reign gives birth； occasioned these transports of joy。
A fashionable jeweller made a fortune by the sale of mourning snuff… boxes； whereon the portrait of the young Queen； in a black frame of shagreen； gave rise to the pun： 〃Consolation in chagrin。〃 All the fashions； and every article of dress； received names expressing the spirit of the moment。 Symbols of abundance were everywhere represented； and the head…dresses of the ladies were surrounded by ears of wheat。 Poets sang of the new monarch； all hearts； or rather all heads； in France were filled with enthusiasm。 Never did the commencement of any reign excite more unanimous testimonials of love and attachment。 It must be observed； however； that； amidst all this intoxication； the anti…Austrian party never lost sight of the young Queen； but kept on the watch； with the malicious desire to injure her through such errors as might arise from her youth and inexperience。
Their Majesties had to receive at La Muette the condolences of the ladies who had been presented at Court； who all felt themselves called on to pay homage to the new sovereigns。 Old and young hastened to present themselves on the day of general reception； little black bonnets with great wings； shaking heads； low curtsies； keeping time with the motions of the head； made； it must be admitted； a few venerable dowagers appear somewhat ridiculous； but the Queen； who possessed a great deal of dignity； and a high respect for decorum； was not guilty of the grave fault of losing the state she was bound to preserve。 An indiscreet piece of drollery of one of the ladies of the palace； however； procured her the imputation of doing so。 The Marquise de Clermont…Tonnerre； whose office required that she should continue standing behind the Queen； fatigued by the length of the ceremony； seated herself on the floor； concealed behind the fence formed by the hoops of the Queen and the ladies of the palace。 Thus seated； and wishing to attract attention and to appear lively； she twitched the dresses of those ladies； and played a thousand other tricks。 The contrast of these childish pranks with the solemnity which reigned over the rest of the Queen's chamber disconcerted her Majesty： she several times placed her fan before her face to hide an involuntary smile； and the severe old ladies pronounced that the young Queen had decided all those respectable persons who were pressing forward to pay their homage to her； that she liked none but the young； that she was deficient in decorum； and that not one of them would attend her Court again。 The epithet 'moqueuse' was applied to her； and there is no epithet less favourably received in the world。
The next day a very ill…natured song was circulated； the stamp of the party to which it was attributable might easily be seen upon it。 I remember only the following chorus：
〃Little Queen； you must not be So saucy； with your twenty years； Your ill…used courtiers soon will see You pass； once more； the barriers。 Fal lal lal； fal lal la。〃
The errors of the great； or those which ill…nature chooses to impute to them； circulate in the world with the greatest rapidity； and become historical traditions； which every one delights to repeat。
More than fifteen years after this occurrence I heard some old ladies in the most retired part of Auvergne relating all the particulars of the day of public condolence for the late King； on which； as they said； the Queen had laughed in the faces of the sexagenarian duchesses and princesses who had thought it their duty to appear on the occasion。
The King and the Princes； his brothers； determined to avail themselves of the advantages held out by inoculation； as a safeguard against the illness under which their grandfather had just fallen； but the utility of this new discovery not being then generally acknowledged in France； many persons were greatly alarmed at the step； those who blamed it openly threw all the responsibility of it upon the Queen； who alone； they said； could have ventured to give such rash advice； inoculation being at this time established in the Northern Courts。 The operation upon the King and his brothers； performed by Doctor Jauberthou； was fortunately quite successful。
When the convalescence of the Princes was perfectly established； the excursions to Marly became cheerful enough。 Parties on horseback and in calashes were formed continually。 The Queen was desirous to afford herself one very innocent gratification； she had never seen the day break；
