the memoirs of marie antoinette-第6节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
surround sovereigns！ Marie Antoinette； dressed in white； with a plain straw hat； and a little switch in her hand； walking on foot； followed by a single servant； through the walks leading to the Petit Trianon； would never have thus disconcerted me； and I believe this extreme simplicity was the first and only real mistake of all those with which she is reproached。〃
When once her awe and confusion had subsided； Mademoiselle Genet was enabled to form a more accurate judgment of her situation。 It was by no means attractive； the Court of the Princesses； far removed from the revels to which Louie XV。 was addicted； was grave； methodical； and dull。 Madame Adelaide； the eldest of the Princesses； lived secluded in the interior of her apartments； Madame Sophie was haughty； Madame Louise a devotee。 Mademoiselle Genet never quitted the Princesses' apartments； but she attached herself most particularly to Madame Victoire。 This Princess had possessed beauty； her countenance bore an expression of benevolence； and her conversation was kind； free； and unaffected。 The young reader excited in her that feeling which a woman in years； of an affectionate disposition； readily extends to young people who are growing up in her sight； and who possess some useful talents。 Whole days were passed in reading to the Princess； as she sat at work in her apartment。 Mademoiselle Genet frequently saw there Louis XV。； of whom she has related the following anecdote：
〃One day； at the Chateau of Compiegne； the King came in whilst I was reading to Madame。 I rose and went into another room。 Alone； in an apartment from which there was no outlet； with no book but a Massillon； which I had been reading to the Princess； happy in all the lightness and gaiety of fifteen； I amused myself with turning swiftly round； with my court hoop； and suddenly kneeling down to see my rose…coloured silk petticoat swelled around me by the wind。 In the midst of this grave employment enters his Majesty； followed by one of the Princesses。 I attempt to rise； my feet stumble； and down I fall in the midst of my robes； puffed out by the wind。 'Daughter；' said Louis XV。； laughing heartily； 'I advise you to send back to school a reader who makes cheeses。'〃 The railleries of Louis XV。 were often much more cutting； as Mademoiselle Genet experienced on another occasion； which； thirty years afterwards； she could not relate without an emotion of fear。 〃Louis XV。；〃 she said； 〃had the most imposing presence。 His eyes remained fixed upon you all the time he was speaking； and； notwithstanding the beauty of his features； he inspired a sort of fear。 I was very young； it is true； when he first spoke to me； you shall judge whether it was in a very gracious manner。 I was fifteen。 The King was going out to hunt； and a numerous retinue followed him。 As he stopped opposite me he said； 'Mademoiselle Genet； I am assured you are very learned； and understand four or five foreign languages。''I know only two； Sire；' I answered； trembling。 'Which are they？' English and Italian。''Do you speak them fluently？' Yes； Sire； very fluently。' 'That is quite enough to drive a husband mad。' After this pretty compliment the King went on； the retinue saluted me； laughing； and； for my part； I remained for some moments motionless with surprise and confusion。〃
At the time when the French alliance was proposed by the Duc de Choiseul there was at Vienna a doctor named Gassner；＇Jean Joseph Gassner； a pretender to miraculous powers。＇ who had fled thither to seek an asylum against the persecutions of his sovereign； one of the ecclesiastical electors。 Gassner； gifted with an extraordinary warmth of imagination； imagined that he received inspirations。 The Empress protected him； saw him occasionally； rallied him on his visions； and； nevertheless； heard them with a sort of interest。 〃Tell me；〃said she to him one day； 〃whether my Antoinette will be happy。〃 Gassner turned pale； and remained silent。 Being still pressed by the Empress； and wishing to give a general expression to the idea with which he seemed deeply occupied； 〃Madame；〃 he replied； 〃there are crosses for all shoulders。〃
The occurrences at the Place Louis XV。 on the marriage festivities at Paris are generally known。 The conflagration of the scaffolds intended for the fireworks； the want of foresight of the authorities； the avidity of robbers； the murderous career of the coaches； brought about and aggravated the disasters of that day； and the young Dauphiness； coming from Versailles； by the Cours la Reine； elated with joy； brilliantly decorated； and eager to witness the rejoicings of the whole people； fled； struck with consternation and drowned in tears； from the dreadful scene。 This tragic opening of the young Princess's life in France seemed to bear out Gassner's hint of disaster； and to be ominous of the terrible future which awaited her。
In the same year in which Marie Antoinette was married to the Dauphin； Henriette Genet married a son of M。 Campan； already mentioned as holding an office at the Court； and when the household of the Dauphiness was formed； Madame Campan was appointed her reader； and received from Marie Antoinette a consistent kindness and confidence to which by her loyal service she was fully entitled。 Madame Campan's intelligence and vivacity made her much more sympathetic to a young princess； gay and affectionate in disposition； and reared in the simplicity of a German Court； than her lady of honour； the Comtesse de Noailles。 This respectable lady； who was placed near her as a minister of the laws of etiquette； instead of alleviating their weight； rendered their yoke intolerable to her。
〃Madame de Noailles；〃 says Madame Campan； 〃abounded in virtues。 Her piety； charity； and irreproachable morals rendered her worthy of praise； but etiquette was to her a sort of atmosphere； at the slightest derangement of the consecrated order； one would have thought the principles of life would forsake her frame。
〃One day I unintentionally threw this poor lady into a terrible agony。 The Queen was receiving I know not whom；some persons just presented； I believe； the lady of honour； the Queen's tirewoman； and the ladies of the bedchamber； were behind the Queen。 I was near the throne； with the two women on duty。 All was right；at least I thought so。 Suddenly I perceived the eyes of Madame de Noailles fixed on mine。 She made a sign with her head； and then raised her eyebrows to the top of her forehead； lowered them； raised them again； then began to make little signs with her hand。 From all this pantomime； I could easily perceive that something was not as it should be； and as I looked about on all sides to find out what it was； the agitation of the Countess kept increasing。 The Queen； who perceived all this； looked at me with a smile； I found means to approach her Majesty； who said to me in a whisper； 'Let down your lappets； or the Countess will expire。' All this bustle arose from two unlucky pins which fastened up my lappets； whilst the etiquette of costume said 'Lappets hanging down。'〃
Her contempt of the vanities of etiquette became the pretext for the first reproaches levelled at the Queen。 What misconduct might not be dreaded from a princess who could absolutely go out without a hoop！ and who； in the salons of Trianon； instead of discussing the important rights to chairs and stools； good…naturedly invited everybody to be seated。
＇M。 de Fresne Forget； being one day in company with the Queen Marguerite； told her he was astonished how men and women with such great ruffs could eat soup without spoiling them； and still more how the ladies could be gallant with their great fardingales。 The Queen made no answer at that time； but a few days after； having a very large ruff on； and some 'bouili' to eat； she ordered a very long spoon to be brought； and ate her 'bouili' with it； without soiling her ruff。 Upon which； addressing herself to M。 de Fresne； she said； laughing； 〃There now； you see； with a little ingenuity one may manage anything。〃〃Yes； faith； madame；〃 said the good man； 〃as far as regards the soup I am satisfied。〃LAPLACE's 〃Collection；〃 vol。 ii。； p。 350。＇
The anti…Austrian party； discontented and vindictive； became spies upon her conduct； exaggerated her slightest errors； and calumniated her most innocent proceedings。 〃What seems unaccountable at the first glance；〃 says Montjoie； 〃is that the first attack on the reputation of the Queen proceeded from the bosom of the Court。 What interest could the courtiers have in seeking her destruction； which involved that of the King？ Was it not drying up the source of all the advantages they enjoyed； or could hope for？〃
＇Madame Campan relates the following among many anecdotes illustrative of the Queen's kindness of heart： 〃A petition was addressed to the Queen by a corporation in the neighbourhood of Paris； praying for the destruction of the game which destroyed their crops。 I was the bearer of this petition to her Majesty； who said； 'I will undertake to have these good people relieved from so great an annoyance。' She gave the document to M。 de Vermond in my presence； saying； 'I desire that
