the memoirs of marie antoinette-第77节
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hem。 Barnave's last advice was as to the means of continuing； a few weeks longer； the Constitutional Guard； which had been denounced to the Assembly； and was to be disbanded。 The denunciation against the Constitutional Guard affected only its staff； and the Duc de Brissac。 Barnave wrote to the Queen that the staff of the guard was already attacked； that the Assembly was about to pass a decree to reduce it； and he entreated her to prevail on the King； the very instant the decree should appear； to form the staff afresh of persons whose names he sent her。 Barnave said that all who were set down in it passed for decided Jacobins； but were not so in fact； that they； as well as himself； were in despair at seeing the monarchical government attacked； that they had learnt to dissemble their sentiments； and that it would be at least a fortnight before the Assembly could know them well； and certainly before it could succeed in making them unpopular； that it would be necessary to take advantage of that short space of time to get away from Paris； immediately after their nomination。 The Queen was of opinion that she ought not to yield to this advice。 The Duc de Brissac was sent to Orleans； and the guard was disbanded。
Barnave； seeing that the Queen did not follow his counsel in anything； and convinced that she placed all her reliance on assistance from abroad； determined to quit Paris。 He obtained a last audience。 〃Your misfortunes； Madame；〃 said he； 〃and those which I anticipate for France；。 determined me to sacrifice myself to serve you。 I see； however； that my advice does not agree with the views of your Majesties。 I augur but little advantage from the plan you are induced to pursue；you are too remote from your succours； you will be lost before they reach you。 Most ardently do I wish I may be mistaken in so lamentable a prediction； but I am sure to pay with my head for the interest your misfortunes have raised in me； and the services I have sought to render you。 I request； for my sole reward； the honour of kissing your hand。〃 The Queen； her eyes suffused with tears； granted him that favour； and remained impressed with a favourable idea of his sentiments。 Madame Elisabeth participated in this opinion； and the two Princesses frequently spoke of Barnave。 The Queen also received M。 Duport several times； but with less mystery。 Her connection with the constitutional deputies transpired。 Alexandre de Lameth was the only one of the three who survived the vengeance of the Jacobins。
＇Barnave was arrested at Grenoble。 He remained in prison in that town fifteen months； and his friends began to hope that he would be forgotten； when an order arrived that he should be removed to Paris。 At first he was imprisoned in the Abbaye； but transferred to the Conciergerie； and almost immediately taken before the revolutionary tribunal。 He appeared there with wonderful firmness； summed up the services he had rendered to the cause of liberty with his usual eloquence； and made such an impression upon the numerous auditors that； although accustomed to behold only conspirators worthy of death in all those who appeared before the tribunal； they themselves considered his acquittal certain。 The decree of death was read amidst the deepest silence； but Barnave'a firmness was immovable。 When he left the court； he cast upon the judges； the jurors； and the public looks expressive of contempt and indignation。 He was led to his fate with the respected Duport du Tertre； one of the last ministers of Louis XVI。 when he had ascended the scaffold； Barnave stamped； raised his eyes to heaven； and said： 〃This； then； is the reward of all that I have done for liberty！〃 He fell on the 29th of October； 1793； in the thirty…second year of his age； his bust was placed in the Grenoble Museum。 The Consular Government placed his statue next to that of Vergniaud； on the great staircase of the palace of the Senate。〃Biographie de Bruxelles。〃＇
The National Guard； which succeeded the King's Guard； having occupied the gates of the Tuileries； all who came to see the Queen were insulted with impunity。 Menacing cries were uttered aloud even in the Tuileries； they called for the destruction of the throne； and the murder of the sovereign； the grossest insults were offered by the very lowest of the mob。
About this time the King fell into a despondent state； which amounted almost to physical helplessness。 He passed ten successive days without uttering a single word； even in the bosom of his family； except； indeed； when playing at backgammon after dinner with Madame Elisabeth。 The Queen roused him from this state； so fatal at a critical period； by throwing herself at his feet； urging every alarming idea； and employing every affectionate expression。 She represented also what he owed to his family； and told him that if they were doomed to fall they ought to fall honourably； and not wait to be smothered upon the floor of their apartment。
About the 15th of June； 1792； the King refused his sanction to the two decrees ordaining the deportation of priests and the formation of a camp of twenty thousand men under the walls of Paris。 He himself wished to sanction them； and said that the general insurrection only waited for a pretence to burst forth。 The Queen insisted upon the veto； and reproached herself bitterly when this last act of the constitutional authority had occasioned the day of the 20th of June。
A few days previously about twenty thousand men had gone to the Commune to announce that； on the 20th； they would plant the tree of liberty at the door of the National Assembly； and present a petition to the King respecting the veto which he had placed upon the decree for the deportation of the priests。 This dreadful army crossed the garden of the Tuileries； and marched under the Queen's windows； it consisted of people who called themselves the citizens of the Faubourgs St。 Antoine and St。 Marceau。 Clothed in filthy rags； they bore a most terrifying appearance； and even infected the air。 People asked each other where such an army could come from； nothing so disgusting had ever before appeared in Paris。
On the 20th of June this mob thronged about the Tuileries in still greater numbers； armed with pikes； hatchets； and murderous instruments of all kinds； decorated with ribbons of the national colours； Shouting； 〃The nation for ever！ Down with the veto！〃 The King was without guards。 Some of these desperadoes rushed up to his apartment； the door was about to be forced in； when the King commanded that it should be opened。 Messieurs de Bougainville； d'Hervilly； de Parois； d'Aubier； Acloque； Gentil； and other courageous men who were in the apartment of M。 de Septeuil； the King's first valet de chambre； instantly ran to his Majesty's apartment。 M。 de Bougainville； seeing the torrent furiously advancing； cried out； 〃Put the King in the recess of the window； and place benches before him。〃 Six royalist grenadiers of the battalion of the Filles Saint Thomas made their way by an inner staircase； and ranged themselves before the benches。 The order given by M。 de Bougainville saved the King from the blades of the assassins； among whom was a Pole named Lazousky； who was to strike the first blow。 The King's brave defenders said； 〃Sire； fear nothing。〃 The King's reply is well known： 〃Put your hand upon my heart； and you will perceive whether I am afraid。〃 M。 Vanot； commandant of battalion； warded off a blow aimed by a wretch against the King； a grenadier of the Filles Saint Thomas parried a sword… thrust made in the same direction。 Madame Elisabeth ran to her brother's apartments； when she reached the door she heard loud threats of death against the Queen： they called for the head of the Austrian。 〃Ah！ let them think I am the Queen；〃 she said to those around her； 〃that she may have time to escape。〃
The Queen could not join the King； she was in the council chamber； where she had been placed behind the great table to protect her； as much as possible； against the approach of the barbarians。 Preserving a noble and becoming demeanour in this dreadful situation； she held the Dauphin before her； seated upon the table。 Madame was at her side； the Princesse de Lamballe； the Princesse de Tarente； Madame de la Roche…Aymon； Madame de Tourzel； and Madame de Mackau surrounded her。 She had fixed a tricoloured cockade； which one of the National Guard had given her； upon her head。 The poor little Dauphin was； like the King； shrouded in an enormous red cap。 The horde passed in files before the table；
＇One of the circumstances of the 20th of June which most vexed the King's friends being that of his wearing the bonnet rouge nearly three hours； I ventured to ask him for some explanation of a fact so strikingly in contrast with the extraordinary intrepidity shown by his Majesty during that horrible day。 This was his answer： 〃The cries of 'The nation for ever！' violently increasing around me； and seeming to be addressed to me； I replied that the nation had not a warmer friend than myself。 Upon this an ill…looking man； making his way through
