the memoirs of marie antoinette-第93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！
ederalists； and alone manifested some outward tokens of satisfaction。
At ten minutes past ten the carriage stopped。 Louis XVI。； rising briskly； stepped out into the Place。 Three executioners came up； he refused their assistance； and took off his clothes himself。 But； perceiving that they were going to bind his hands； he made a movement of indignation； and seemed ready to resist。 M。 Edgeworth gave him a last look； and said； 〃Suffer this outrage； as a last resemblance to that God who is about to be your reward。〃 At these words the King suffered himself to be bound and conducted to the scaffold。 All at once Louis hurriedly advanced to address the people。 〃Frenchmen；〃 said he； in a firm voice； 〃I die innocent of the crimes which are imputed to me； I forgive the authors of my death； and I pray that my blood may not fall upon France。〃 He would have continued； but the drums were instantly ordered to beat： their rolling drowned his voice； the executioners laid hold of him； and M。 Edgeworth took his leave in these memorable words： 〃Son of Saint Louis； ascend to heaven！〃 As soon as the blood flowed； furious wretches dipped their pikes and handkerchiefs in it； then dispersed throughout Paris； shouting 〃Vive la Republique！ Vive la Nation！〃 and even went to the gates of the Temple to display brutal and factious joy。
＇The body of Louis was； immediately after the execution； removed to the ancient cemetery of the Madeleine。 Large quantities of quicklime were thrown into the grave； which occasioned so rapid a decomposition that； when his remains were nought for in 1816； it was with difficulty any part could be recovered。 Over the spot where he was interred Napoleon commenced the splendid Temple of Glory； after the battle of Jena； and the superb edifice was completed by the Bourbons； and now forms the Church of the Madeleine； the most beautiful structure in Paris。 Louis was executed on the same ground where the Queen； Madame Elisabeth； and so many other noble victims of the Revolution perished； where Robespierre and Danton afterwards suffered； and where the Emperor Alexander and the allied sovereigns took their station； when their victorious troops entered Paris in 1814！ The history of modern Europe has not a scene fraught with equally interesting recollections to exhibit。 It is now marked by the colossal obelisk of blood…red granite which was brought from Thebes； in Upper Egypt； in 1833； by the French Government。 ALLISON。＇
The Royal Prisoners。 Separation of the Dauphin from His Family。 Removal of the Queen。
On the morning of the King's execution； according to the narrative of Madame Royale； his family rose at six： 〃The night before； my mother had scarcely strength enough to put my brother to bed； She threw herself； dressed as she was； on her own bed； where we heard her shivering with cold and grief all night long。 At a quarter…past six the door opened； we believed that we were sent for to the King； but it was only the officers looking for a prayer…book for him。 We did not； however； abandon the hope of seeing him； till shouts of joy from the infuriated populace told us that all was over。 In the afternoon my mother asked to see Clery； who probably had some message for her； we hoped that seeing him would occasion a burst of grief which might relieve the state of silent and choking agony in which we saw her。〃 The request was refused； and the officers who brought the refusal said Clery was in 〃a frightful state of despair〃 at not being allowed to see the royal family； shortly afterwards he was dismissed from the Temple。
〃We had now a little more freedom；〃 continues the Princess； 〃our guards even believed that we were about to be sent out of France； but nothing could calm my mother's agony； no hope could touch her heart； and life or death became indifferent to her。 Fortunately my own affliction increased my illness so seriously that it distracted her thoughts 。 。 。 。 My mother would go no more to the garden； because she must have passed the door of what had been my father's room； and that she could not bear。 But fearing lest want of air should prove injurious to my brother and me； about the end of February she asked permission to walk on the leads of the Tower； and it was granted。〃
The Council of the Commune； becoming aware of the interest which these sad promenades excited； and the sympathy with which they were observed from the neighbouring houses； ordered that the spaces between the battlements should be filled up with shutters； which intercepted the view。 But while the rules for the Queen's captivity were again made more strict； some of the municipal commissioners tried slightly to alleviate it； and by means of M。 de Hue； who was at liberty in Paris； and the faithful Turgi； who remained in the Tower； some communications passed between the royal family and their friends。 The wife of Tison； who waited on the Queen； suspected and finally denounced these more lenient guardians；＇Toulan； Lepitre； Vincent； Bruno； and others。＇who were executed； the royal prisoners being subjected to a close examination。
〃On the 20th of April；〃 says Madame Royale； 〃my mother and I had just gone to bed when Hebert arrived with several municipals。 We got up hastily； and these men read us a decree of the Commune directing that we should be searched。 My poor brother was asleep； they tore him from his bed under the pretext of examining it。 My mother took him up； shivering with cold。 All they took was a shopkeeper's card which my mother had happened to keep； a stick of sealing…wax from my aunt； and from me 'une sacre coeur de Jesus' and a prayer for the welfare of France。 The search lasted from half…past ten at night till four o'clock in the morning。〃
The next visit of the officials was to Madame Elisabeth alone； they found in her room a hat which the King had worn during his imprisonment； and which she had begged him to give her as a souvenir。 They took it from her in spite of her entreaties。 〃It was suspicious；〃 said the cruel and contemptible tyrants。
The Dauphin became ill with fever； and it was long before his mother； who watched by him night and day； could obtain medicine or advice for him。 When Thierry was at last allowed to see him his treatment relieved the most violent symptoms； but； says Madame Royale； 〃his health was never reestablished。 Want of air and exercise did him great mischief； as well as the kind of life which this poor child led； who at eight years of age passed his days amidst the tears of his friends； and in constant anxiety and agony。〃
While the Dauphin's health was causing his family such alarm； they were deprived of the services of Tison's wife； who became ill； and finally insane； and was removed to the Hotel Dieu； where her ravings were reported to the Assembly and made the ground of accusations against the royal prisoners。
＇This woman； troubled by remorse； lost her reason； threw herself at the feet of the Queen； implored her pardon； and disturbed the Temple for many days with the sight and the noise of her madness。 The Princesses； forgetting the denunciations of this unfortunate being； in consideration of her repentance and insanity； watched over her by turns； and deprived themselves of their own food to relieve her。 LAMARTINE； 〃History of the Girondists；〃 vol。 iii。； p。140。＇
No woman took her place； and the Princesses themselves made their beds； swept their rooms； and waited upon the Queen。
Far worse punishments than menial work were prepared for them。 On 3d July a decree of the Convention ordered that the Dauphin should be separated from his family and 〃placed in the most secure apartment of the Tower。〃 As soon as he heard this decree pronounced； says his sister； 〃he threw himself into my mother's arms； and with violent cries entreated not to be parted from her。 My mother would not let her son go； and she actually defended against the efforts of the officers the bed in which she had placed him。 The men threatened to call up the guard and use violence。 My mother exclaimed that they had better kill her than tear her child from her。 At last they threatened our lives； and my mother's maternal tenderness forced her to the sacrifice。 My aunt and I dressed the child； for my poor mother had no longer strength for anything。 Nevertheless； when he was dressed； she took him up in her arms and delivered him herself to the officers； bathing him with her tears； foreseeing that she was never to behold him again。 The poor little fellow embraced us all tenderly； and was carried away in a flood of tears。 My mother's horror was extreme when she heard that Simon； a shoemaker by trade； whom she had seen as a municipal officer in the Temple； was the person to whom her child was confided 。 。 。 。 The officers now no longer remained in my mother's apartment； they only came three times a day to bring our meals and examine the bolts and bars of our windows； we were locked up together night and day。 We often went up to the Tower； because my brother went； too； from the other side。 The only pleasure my mother enjoyed was seeing him through a crevice as he passed
