the memoirs of marie antoinette-第94节
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the other side。 The only pleasure my mother enjoyed was seeing him through a crevice as he passed at a distance。 She would watch for hours together to see him as he passed。 It was her only hope； her only thought。〃
The Queen was soon deprived even of this melancholy consolation。 On 1st August； 1793； it was resolved that she should be tried。 Robespierre opposed the measure； but Barere roused into action that deep…rooted hatred of the Queen which not even the sacrifice of her life availed to eradicate。 〃Why do the enemies of the Republic still hope for success？〃 he asked。 〃Is it because we have too long forgotten the crimes of the Austrian？ The children of Louis the Conspirator are hostages for the Republic 。 。 。but behind them lurks a woman who has been the cause of all the disasters of France。〃
At two o'clock on the morning of the following day； the municipal officers 〃awoke us；〃 says Madame Royale； 〃to read to my mother the decree of the Convention； which ordered her removal to the Conciergerie；
＇The Conciergerie was originally； as its name implies； the porter's lodge of the ancient Palace of Justice； and became in time a prison； from the custom of confining there persons who had committed trifling offences about the Court。＇
preparatory to her trial。 She heard it without visible emotion； and without speaking a single word。 My aunt and I immediately asked to be allowed to accompany my mother； but this favour was refused us。 All the time my mother was making up a bundle of clothes to take with her； these officers never left her。 She was even obliged to dress herself before them； and they asked for her pockets； taking away the trifles they contained。 She embraced me； charging me to keep up my spirits and my courage； to take tender care of my aunt； and obey her as a second mother。 She then threw herself into my aunt's arms； and recommended her children to her care； my aunt replied to her in a whisper； and she was then hurried away。 In leaving the Temple she struck her head against the wicket； not having stooped low enough。
＇Mathieu； the gaoler； used to say； 〃I make Madame Veto and her sister and daughter； proud though they are； salute me； for the door is so low they cannot pass without bowing。〃＇
The officers asked whether she had hurt herself。 'No；' she replied； 'nothing can hurt me now：
The Last Moments of Marie Antoinette。
We have already seen what changes had been made in the Temple。 Marie Antoinette had been separated from her sister； her daughter； and her Son； by virtue of a decree which ordered the trial and exile of the last members of the family of the Bourbons。 She had been removed to the Conciergerie； and there； alone in a narrow prison； she was reduced to what was strictly necessary； like the other prisoners。 The imprudence of a devoted friend had rendered her situation still more irksome。 Michonnis； a member of the municipality； in whom she had excited a warm interest； was desirous of introducing to her a person who； he said； wished to see her out of curiosity。 This man； a courageous emigrant； threw to her a carnation； in which was enclosed a slip of very fine paper with these words： 〃Your friends are ready；〃false hope； and equally dangerous for her who received it； and for him who gave it！ Michonnis and the emigrant were detected and forthwith apprehended； and the vigilance exercised in regard to the unfortunate prisoner became from that day more rigorous than ever。
＇The Queen was lodged in a room called the council chamber； which was considered as the moat unwholesome apartment in the Conciergerie on account of its dampness and the bad smells by which it was continually affected。 Under pretence of giving her a person to wait upon her they placed near her a spy；a man of a horrible countenance and hollow； sepulchral voice。 This wretch； whose name was Barassin； was a robber and murderer by profession。 Such was the chosen attendant on the Queen of France！ A few days before her trial this wretch was removed and a gendarme placed in her chamber； who watched over her night and day； and from whom she was not separated； even when in bed； but by a ragged curtain。 In this melancholy abode Marie Antoinette had no other dress than an old black gown； stockings with holes； which she was forced to mend every day； and she was entirely destitute of shoes。DU BROCA。＇
Gendarmes were to mount guard incessantly at the door of her prison； and they were expressly forbidden to answer anything that she might say to them。
That wretch Hebert； the deputy of Chaumette； and editor of the disgusting paper Pere Duchesne； a writer of the party of which Vincent； Ronsin； Varlet； and Leclerc were the leadersHebert had made it his particular business to torment the unfortunate remnant of the dethroned family。 He asserted that the family of the tyrant ought not to be better treated than any sans…culotte family； and he had caused a resolution to be passed by which the sort of luxury in which the prisoners in the Temple were maintained was to be suppressed。 They were no longer to be allowed either poultry or pastry； they were reduced to one sort of aliment for breakfast； and to soup or broth and a single dish for dinner； to two dishes for supper； and half a bottle of wine apiece。 Tallow candles were to be furnished instead of wag； pewter instead of silver plate； and delft ware instead of porcelain。 The wood and water carriers alone were permitted to enter their room； and that only accompanied by two commissioners。 Their food was to be introduced to them by means of a turning box。 The numerous establishment was reduced to a cook and an assistant； two men…servants； and a woman…servant to attend to the linen。
As soon as this resolution was passed； Hebert had repaired to the Temple and inhumanly taken away from the unfortunate prisoners even the most trifling articles to which they attached a high value。 Eighty Louis which Madame Elisabeth had in reserve； and which she had received from Madame de Lamballe； were also taken away。 No one is more dangerous； more cruel； than the man without acquirements； without education； clothed with a recent authority。 If； above all； he possess a base nature； if； like Hebert； who was check…taker at the door of a theatre； and embezzled money out of the receipts； he be destitute of natural morality； and if he leap all at once from the mud of his condition into power； he is as mean as he is atrocious。 Such was Hebert in his conduct at the Temple。 He did not confine himself to the annoyances which we have mentioned。 He and some others conceived the idea of separating the young Prince from his aunt and sister。 A shoemaker named Simon and his wife were the instructors to whom it was deemed right to consign him for the purpose of giving him a sans…cullotte education。 Simon and his wife were shut up in the Temple； and； becoming prisoners with the unfortunate child； were directed to bring him up in their own way。 Their food was better than that of the Princesses； and they shared the table of the municipal commissioners who were on duty。 Simon was permitted to go down； accompanied by two commissioners； to the court of the Temple； for the purpose of giving the Dauphin a little exercise。
Hebert conceived the infamous idea of wringing from this boy revelations to criminate his unhappy mother。 Whether this wretch imputed to the child false revelations； or abused his； tender age and his condition to extort from him what admissions soever he pleased； he obtained a revolting deposition； and as the youth of the Prince did not admit of his being brought before the tribunal； Hebert appeared and detailed the infamous particulars which he had himself either dictated or invented。
It was on the 14th of October that Marie Antoinette appeared before her judges。 Dragged before the sanguinary tribunal by inexorable revolutionary vengeance； she appeared there without any chance of acquittal； for it was not to obtain her acquittal that the Jacobins had brought her before it。 It was necessary； however； to make some charges。 Fouquier therefore collected the rumours current among the populace ever since the arrival of the Princess in France； and； in the act of accusation； he charged her with having plundered the exchequer； first for her pleasures； and afterwards in order to transmit money to her brother； the Emperor。 He insisted on the scenes of the 5th and 6th of October； and on the dinners of the Life Guards； alleging that she had at that period framed a plot； which obliged the people to go to Versailles to frustrate it。 He afterwards accused her of having governed her husband； interfered in the choice of ministers； conducted the intrigues with the deputies gained by the Court； prepared the journey to Varennes； provoked the war； and transmitted to the enemy's generals all our plans of campaign。 He further accused her of having prepared a new conspiracy on the 10th of August； of having on that day caused the people to be fired upon； having induced her husband to defend himself by taxing him with cowardice； lastly； of having never ceased to plot and correspo
