the memoirs of marie antoinette-第36节
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re false than those calumnies。 It must be confessed； however； that such meetings were liable to ill consequences。 I ventured to say as much to the Queen； and informed her that one evening； when her Majesty beckoned to me to go and speak to her； I thought I recognised on the bench on which she was sitting two women deeply veiled； and keeping profound silence； that those women were the Comtesse du Barry and her sister…in…law； and that my suspicions were confirmed； when； at a few paces from the seat； and nearer to her Majesty； I met a tall footman belonging to Madame du Barry； whom I had seen in her service all the time she resided at Court。
My advice was disregarded。 Misled by the pleasure she found in these promenades； and secure in the consciousness of blameless conduct； the Queen would not see the lamentable results which must necessarily follow。 This was very unfortunate； for besides the mortifications they brought upon her； it is highly probable that they prompted the vile plot which gave rise to the Cardinal de Rohan's fatal error。
Having enjoyed these evening promenades about a month； the Queen ordered a private concert within the colonnade which contained the group of Pluto and Proserpine。 Sentinels were placed at all the entrances； and ordered to admit within the colonnade only such persons as should produce tickets signed by my father…in…law。 A fine concert was performed there by the musicians of the chapel and the female musicians belonging to the。 Queen's chamber。 The Queen went with Mesdames de Polignac； de Chalon； and d'Andlau； and Messieurs de Polignac； de Coigny； de Besenval； and de Vaudreuil； there were also a few equerries present。 Her Majesty gave me permission to attend the concert with some of my female relations。 There was no music upon the terrace。 The crowd of inquisitive people； whom the sentinels kept at a distance from the enclosure of the colonnade； went away highly discontented； the small number of persons admitted no doubt occasioned jealousy； and gave rise to offensive comments which were caught up by the public with avidity。 I do not pretend to apologise for the kind of amusements with which the Queen indulged herself during this and the following summer； the consequences were so lamentable that the error was no doubt very great； but what I have said respecting the character of these promenades may be relied on as true。
When the season for evening walks was at an end； odious couplets were circulated in Paris； the 'Queen was treated in them in the most insulting manner； her situation ranked among her enemies persons attached to the only prince who for several years had appeared likely to give heirs to the crown。 People uttered the most inconsiderate language； and those improper conversations took place in societies wherein the imminent danger of violating to so criminal an extent both truth and the respect due to sovereigns ought to have been better understood。 A few days before the Queen's confinement a whole volume of manuscript songs； concerning her and all the ladies about her remarkable for rank or station was； thrown down in the oiel…de…boeuf。＇A large room at Versailles lighted by a bull's…eye window； and used as a waiting…room。＇ This manuscript was immediately put into the hands of the King； who was highly incensed at it； and said that he had himself been at those promenades； that he had seen nothing connected with them but what was perfectly harmless； that such songs would disturb the harmony of twenty families in the Court and city； that it was a capital crime to have made any against the Queen herself； and that he wished the author of the infamous libels to be discovered and punished。 A fortnight afterwards it was known publicly that the verses were by M。 Champcenetz de Riquebourg； who was not even reprimanded。
＇The author of a great many songs； some of which are very well written。 Lively and satirical by nature； he did not lose either his cheerfulness or his carelessness before the revolutionary tribunal。 After hearing his own sentence read； he asked his judges if he might not be allowed to find a substitute。MADAME CAMPAN。＇
I knew for a certainty that the King spoke to M。 de Maurepas； before two of his most confidential servants； respecting the risk which he saw the Queen ran from these night walks upon the terrace of Versailles； which the public ventured to censure thus openly； and that the old minister had the cruelty to advise that she should be suffered to go on； she possessed talent； her friends were very ambitious； and longed to see her take a part in public affairs； and to let her acquire the reputation of levity would do no harm。 M。 de Vergennes was as hostile to the Queen's influence as M。 de Maurepas。 It may therefore be fairly presumed； since the Prime Minister durst point out to his King an advantage to be gained by the Queen's discrediting herself； that he and M。 de Vergennes employed all means within the reach of powerful ministers in order to ruin her in the opinion of the public。
The Queen's accouchement approached； Te Deums were sung and prayers offered up in all the cathedrals。 On the 11th of December； 1778； the royal family； the Princes of the blood； and the great officers of State passed the night in the rooms adjoining the Queen's bedchamber。 Madame； the King's daughter； came into the world before mid…day on the 19th of December。＇Marie Therese Charlotte （1778…1861）； Madame Royale； married in 1799 Louis； Duc d'Angouleme； eldest son of the Comte d'Artois。＇ The etiquette of allowing all persons indiscriminately to enter at the moment of the delivery of a queen was observed with such exaggeration that when the accoucheur said aloud； 〃La Reine va s'accoucher；〃 the persons who poured into the chamber were so numerous that the rush nearly destroyed the Queen。 During the night the King had taken the precaution to have the enormous tapestry screens which surrounded her Majesty's bed secured with cords； but for this they certainly would have been thrown down upon her。 It was impossible to move about the chamber； which was filled with so motley a crowd that one might have fancied himself in some place of public amusement。 Two Savoyards got upon the furniture for a better sight of the Queen； who was placed opposite the fireplace。
The noise and the sex of the infant； with which the Queen was made acquainted by a signal previously agreed on； as it is said； with the Princesse do Lamballe； or some error of the accoucheur； brought on symptoms which threatened fatal consequences； the accoucheur exclaimed； 〃Give her airwarm watershe must be bled in the foot！〃 The windows were stopped up； the King opened them with a strength which his affection for the Queen gave him at the moment。 They were of great height； and pasted over with strips of paper all round。 The basin of hot water not being brought quickly enough； the accoucheur desired the chief surgeon to use his lancet without waiting for it。 He did so； the blood streamed out freely； and the Queen opened her eyes。 The Princesse de Lamballe was carried through the crowd in a state of insensibility。 The valets de chambre and pages dragged out by the collar such inconsiderate persons as would not leave the room。 This cruel custom was abolished afterwards。 The Princes of the family； the Princes of the blood； the chancellor； and the ministers are surely sufficient to attest the legitimacy of an hereditary prince。 The Queen was snatched from the very jaws of death； she was not conscious of having been bled； and on being replaced in bed asked why she had a linen bandage upon her foot。
The delight which succeeded the moment of fear was equally lively and sincere。 We were all embracing each other； and shedding tears of joy。 The Comte d'Esterhazy and the Prince de Poix； to whom I was the first to announce that the Queen was restored to life； embraced me in the midst of the cabinet of nobles。 We little imagined； in our happiness at her escape from death； for how much more terrible a fate our beloved Princess was reserved。
NOTE。 The two following specimens of the Emperor Joseph's correspondence forcibly demonstrate the vigour； shrewdness； and originality of his mind； and complete the portrait left of him by Madame Campan。
Few sovereigns have given their reasons for refusing appointments with the fullness and point of the following letter
To a Lady。
MADAM。I do not think that it is amongst the duties of a monarch to grant places to one of his subjects merely because he is a gentleman。 That； however； is the inference from the request you have made to me。 Your late husband was； you say； a distinguished general； a gentleman of good family； and thence you conclude that my kindness to your family can do no less than give a company of foot to your second son； lately returned from his travels。
Madam； a man may be the son of a general and yet have no talent for command。 A man may be of a good family and yet possess no other merit than that which he owes to chance；the name of gentleman。
I know your son； and I know what makes the soldier； and this twofold knowledge convinces me that your son has not the disposition of a warrior； and that he
