the memoirs of marie antoinette-第9节
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t with thirty years of victories； in vain asked for peace and repose。 The army which had triumphed in the sands of Egypt； on the summits of the Alps； and in the marshes of Holland； was to perish amidst the snows of Russia。 Nations combined against a single man。 The territory of France was invaded。 The orphans of Ecouen； from the windows of the mansion which served as their asylum； saw in the distant plain the fires of the Russian bivouacs； and once more wept the deaths of their fathers。 Paris capitulated。 France hailed the return of the descendants of Henri IV。； they reascended the throne so long filled by their ancestors； which the wisdom of an enlightened prince established on the empire of the laws。
＇A lady； connected with the establishment of St。 Denis； told Madame Campan that Napoleon visited it during the Hundred Days； and that the pupils were so delighted to see him that they crowded round him； endeavouring to touch his clothes； and evincing the most extravagant joy。 The matron endeavoured to silence them； but Napoleon said； 'Let them alone； let them alone。 This may weaken the head； but it strengthens the heart。〃＇
This moment； which diffused joy amongst the faithful servants of the royal family； and brought them the rewards of their devotion； proved to Madame Campan a period of bitter vexation。 The hatred of her enemies had revived。 The suppression of the school at Ecouen had deprived her of her position； the most absurd calumnies followed her into her retreat； her attachment to the Queen was suspected； she was accused not only of ingratitude but of perfidy。 Slander has little effect on youth； but in the decline of life its darts are envenomed with a mortal poison。 The wounds which Madame Campan had received were deep。 Her sister； Madame Auguie； had destroyed herself； M。 Rousseau； her brother…in…law； had perished； a victim of the reign of terror。 In 1813 a dreadful accident had deprived her of her niece； Madame de Broc； one of the most amiable and interesting beings that ever adorned the earth。 Madame Campan seemed destined to behold those whom she loved go down to the grave before her。
Beyond the walls of the mansion of Ecouen； in the village which surrounds it； Madame Campan had taken a small house where she loved to pass a few hours in solitary retirement。 There； at liberty to abandon herself to the memory of the past； the superintendent of the imperial establishment became； once more； for the moment； the first lady of the chamber to Marie Antoinette。 To the few friends whom she admitted into this retreat she would show； with emotion； a plain muslin gown which the Queen had worn； and which was made from a part of Tippoo Saib's present。 A cup； out of which Marie Antoinette had drunk； a writing…stand； which she had long used； were； in her eyes； of inestimable value； and she has often been discovered sitting； in tears； before the portrait of her royal mistress。
After so many troubles Madame Campan sought a peaceful retreat。 Paris had become odious to her。
She paid a visit to one of her most beloved pupils； Mademoiselle Crouzet； who had married a physician at Mantes； a man of talent； distinguished for his intelligence； frankness； and cordiality。
＇M。 Maigne； physician to the infirmaries at Mantes。 Madame Campan found in him a friend and comforter； of whose merit and affection she knew the value。＇
Mantes is a cheerful place of residence； and the idea of an abode there pleased her。 A few intimate friends formed a pleasant society； and she enjoyed a little tranquillity after so many disturbances。 The revisal of her 〃Memoirs；〃 the arrangement of the interesting anecdotes of which her 〃Recollections 〃 were to consist； alone diverted her mind from the one powerful sentiment which attached her to life。 She lived only for her son。 M。 Campan deserved the tenderness of； his mother。 No sacrifice had been spared for his education。 After having pursued that course of study which； under the Imperial Government； produced men of such distinguished merit； he was waiting till time and circumstances should afford him an opportunity of devoting his services to his country。 Although the state of his health was far from good； it did not threaten any rapid or premature decay； he was； however； after a few days' illness； suddenly taken from his family。 〃I never witnessed so heartrending a scene；〃 M。 Maigne says； 〃as that which took place when Marechal Ney's lady； her niece； and Madame Pannelier； her sister； came to acquaint her with this misfortune。＇The wife of Marechal Ney was a daughter of Madame Auguie； and had been an intimate friend of Hortense Beauharnais。＇ When they entered her apartment she was in bed。 All three at once uttered a piercing cry。 The two ladies threw themselves on their knees； and kissed her hands； which they bedewed with tears。 Before they could speak to her she read in their faces that she no longer possessed a son。 At that instant her large eyes； opening wildly； seemed to wander。 Her face grew pale； her features changed； her lips lost their colour； she struggled to speak； but uttered only inarticulate sounds； accompanied by piercing cries。 Her gestures were wild； her reason was suspended。 Every part of her being was in agony。 To this state of anguish and despair no calm succeeded； until her tears began to flow。 Friendship and the tenderest cares succeeded for a moment in calming her grief； but not in diminishing its power。
This violent crisis had disturbed her whole organisation。 A cruel disorder； which required a still more cruel operation； soon manifested itself。 The presence of her family； a tour which she made in Switzerland； a residence at Baden； and； above all； the sight； the tender and charming conversation of a person by whom she was affectionately beloved； occasionally diverted her mind； and in a slight degree relieved her suffering。〃 She underwent a serious operation； performed with extraordinary promptitude and the most complete success。 No unfavourable symptoms appeared； Madame Campan was thought to be restored to her friends； but the disorder was in the blood； it took another course： the chest became affected。 〃From that moment；〃 says M。 Maigne； 〃I could never look on Madame Campan as living； she herself felt that she belonged no more to this world。〃
〃My friend；〃 she said to her physician the day before her death； 〃I am attached to the simplicity of religion。 I hate all that savours of fanaticism。〃 When her codicil was presented for her signature； her hand trembled； 〃It would be a pity；〃 she said； 〃to stop when so fairly on the road。〃
Madame Campan died on the 16th of March； 1822。 The cheerfulness she displayed throughout her malady had nothing affected in it。 Her character was naturally powerful and elevated。 At the approach of death she evinced the soul of a sage； without abandoning for an instant her feminine character。
End of The Memoirs of Marie Antoinette； V1 by Madame Campan
MEMOIRS OF THE COURT OF MARIE ANTOINETTE； QUEEN OF FRANCE
Being the Historic Memoirs of Madam Campan； First Lady in Waiting to the Queen
BOOK 2。
CHAPTER I。
I was fifteen years of age when I was appointed reader to Mesdames。 I will begin by describing the Court at that period。
Maria Leczinska was just dead； the death of the Dauphin had preceded hers by three years； the Jesuits were suppressed； and piety was to be found at Court only in the apartments of Mesdames。 The Duc de Choiseuil ruled。
Etiquette still existed at Court with all the forms it had acquired under Louis XIV。； dignity alone was wanting。 As to gaiety； there was none。 Versailles was not the place at which to seek for assemblies where French spirit and grace were displayed。 The focus of wit and intelligence was Paris。
The King thought of nothing but the pleasures of the chase： it might have been imagined that the courtiers indulged themselves in making epigrams by hearing them say seriously； on those days when the King did not hunt； 〃The King does nothing to…day。〃＇In sporting usance （see SOULAIRE； p。 316）。＇
The arrangement beforehand of his movements was also a matter of great importance with Louis XV。 On the first day of the year he noted down in his almanac the days of departure for Compiegne； Fontainebleau； Choisy； etc。 The weightiest matters； the most serious events； never deranged this distribution of his time。
Since the death of the Marquise de Pompadour； the King had no titled mistress； he contented himself with his seraglio in the Parc…aux…Cerfs。 It is well known that the monarch found the separation of Louis de Bourbon from the King of France the most animating feature of his royal existence。 〃They would have it so； they thought it for the best；〃 was his way of expressing himself when the measures of his ministers were unsuccessful。 The King delighted to manage the most disgraceful points of his private expenses himself； he one day sold to a head clerk in the War Department a house in which one of his mistresses had lodged； the contract ran in the name of Louis de Bourbon； and the purchaser himself took in a bag the price of the house in gold to the King in his private closet。
