marie antoinette and her son-第49部分

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〃General；〃　cried　the　dauphin；　at　this　instant；　with　loud；　eager
voice；　running　forward　to　Lafayette；　and　extending　to　him　his　little
hand〃　general；　I　should　like　to　salute　you。　Mamma　told　me　that　I
must　be　kind　to　all　those　who　are　good　to　us　and　love　us；　and　just
as　you　were　coming　in　with　this　gentleman；　mamma　told　me　that
General　Lafayette　does　not　belong　to　our　enemies；　but　means　well　to
us。　Let　me；　therefore；　greet　you　kindly　and　give　you　my　hand。〃　And
while　saying　so　and　smiling　kindly　at　the　general；　he　raised　his
great　blue　eyes　to　the　face　of　his　mother　an　instant　with　a
supplicatory　expression。

Lafayette　took　the　extended　hand　of　the　prince；　and　a　flush　of　deep
emotion　passed　over　his　face　that　was　just　before　kindling　with
anger。　As　if　touched　with　reverence　and　astonishment；　he　bent　his
knee　before　this　child；　whose　countenance　beamed　with　innocence；
love；　and　goodness；　and　pressed　to　his　lips　the　little　hand　that
rested　in　his　own。

〃My　prince；〃　said　be；　deeply　moved；　〃you　have　just　spoken　to　me　with
the　tongue　of　an　angel；　and　I　swear　to　you；　and　to　your　exalted
royal　mother；　that　I　will　never　forget　this　moment；　that　I　will
remember　it　so　long　as　I　live。　The　kiss　which　I　have　impressed　upon
the　hand　of　my　future　king　is　at　once　the　seal　of　the　solemn　vow；
and　the　oath　of　unchangeable　fidelity　and　devotion　which　I
consecrate　to　my　king　and　to　the　whole　royal　family；　and　in　which
nothing　shall　make　me　waver；　nothing；　not　even　the　anger　and　the
want　of　favor　of　my　exalted　queen。　Dauphin　of　France；　you　have　to…
day　gained　a　soldier　for　your　throne　who　is　prepared　to　shed　his
last　drop　of　blood　for　you　and　your　house；　and　on　whose　fidelity　and
devotion　you　may　continually　count。〃

With　tears　in　his　eyes；　his　brave；　noble　face　quivering　with
emotion；　Lafayette　looked　at　the　child　that　with　cheeks　all　aglow
and　with　a　pleasant　smile　was　gazing　with　great；　thoughtful　child's
eyes　up　to　the　strong　man；　who　placed　himself　so　humbly　and
devotedly　at　his　feet。　Behind　him　stood　M。　de　Bailly；　with　bended
head　and　folded　hands；　listening　with　solemn　thoughtfulness　to　the
words　of　the　general；　upon　whose　strong　shoulders　the　fate　of　the
monarchy　rested；　and　who；　at　this　time；　was　the　mightiest　and　most
conspicuous　man　in　France；　because　the　National　Guard　of　Paris　was
still　obedient　to　him；　and　followed　his　commands。

Close　by　the　dauphin　stood　the　queen；　in　her　old；　proud　attitude；
but　upon　her　face　a　striking　change　had　taken　place。　The　expression
of　anger　and　suspicion　which　it　had　before　displayed　had　not
completely　disappeared。　The　cloud　which　had　gathered　upon　her　lofty
forehead　was　dissipated；　and　her　face　shone　out　bright　and　clear。
The　large；　grayish…blue　eyes；　which　before　had　shot　angry　darts；　now
glowed　with　mild　fire；　and　around　her　lips　played　an　instant　that
fair；　pleasant　smile　which；　in　her　happier　days；　had　often　moved　the
favorites　of　the　queen　to　verses　of　praise；　and　which　her　enemies
had　so　often　made　a　reproach　to　her。

When　the　general　ceased　there　was　silencethat　eloquent；　solemn
silence　which　accompanies　those　moments　in　which　the　Genius　of
History　hovers　over　the　heads　of　men；　and；　touching　them　with　its
pinions；　ties　their　tongues　and　opens　the　eyes　of　the　spirit；　so
that　they　can　look　into　the　future；　and；　with　presaging　horror；　read
all　the　secrets　of　coming　time　as　by　a　flash　of　lightning。

Such　a　critical　moment　in　history　was　that　in　which　Lafayette；　at
the　feet　of　the　dauphin；　swore　eternal　fidelity　to　the　monarchy　of
France　in　the　presence　of　the　unfortunate　mayor　of　Paris；　who　was
soon　to　seal　his　loyalty　with　his　own　blood；　and　in　presence　of　the
queen；　whose　lofty　character　was　soon　to　make　her　a　martyr。

The　moments　passed　by；　then　Marie　Antoinette　bowed　to　Lafayette　with
her　gracious　smile。

〃Rise；　general；〃　she　said；　in　gentle　tones；　〃God　has　heard　your
oath；　and　I　accept　it　in　the　name　of　the　French　monarchy；　my
husband；　my　son；　and　myself。　I　shall　always　continue　mindful　of　it；
and　I　hope　that　you　will　also。　And　I　beg　you；　too；〃　she　continued；
in　a　low　voice；　and　with　a　deep　flush　upon　her　face；　〃I　beg　you　to
forgive　me　if　I　have　hitherto　cast　unworthy　reproaches　upon　you。　I
have　lived　through　so　many　sad　and　dreadful　days；　that　it　will　be
set　down　to　my　favor　if　my　nerves　are　agitated　and　easily　excited。　I
shall　probably　learn　to　accept　evil　days　with　calmness；　and　to　bow
my　head　patiently　beneath　the　yoke　which　my　enemies　are　laying　upon
me！　But　still　I　feel　the　injury；　and　the　proud　habits　of　my　birth
and　life　war　against　it。　But　only　wait；　and　I　shall　become
accustomed　to　it。〃

While　saying　this　she　stooped　down　to　the　dauphin　and　kissed　his
golden　hair。　A　tear　fell　from　her　eyes　upon　the　forehead　of　her　son；
and　glittered　there　like　a　star　fallen　from　heaven。　Marie　Antoinette
did　not　see　it；　did　not　know　that　the　tear　which　she　was　trying　to
conceal　was　now　glistening　on　the　brow　of　her　sonon　that　brow
which　was　never　to　wear　any　other　diadem　than　the　one　that　the　tears
of　love　placed　on　his　innocent　head。

〃Heaven　defend　your　majesty　ever　being　compelled　to　become
accustomed　to　insult！〃　cried　Lafayette；　deeply　moved。　〃I　hope　we
have　seen　our　worst　days；　and　that　after　the　tempest　there　will　be
sunshine　and　bright　weather　again。　The　people　will　look　back　with
shame　and　regret　upon　the　wild　and　stormy　scenes　to　which　they　have
allowed　themselves　to　be　drawn　by　unprincipled　agitators；　they　will
bow　in　love　and　obedience　before　the　royal　couple　who；　with　so　much
confidence　and　devotion；　leave　their　beautiful；　retired　home　at
Versailles；　in　order　to　comply　with　the　wish　of　the　people　and　come
to　Paris。　Will　your　majesty　have　the　goodness　to　ask　the　mayor　of
Paris；　and　he　will　tell　you；　madame；　how　deeply　moved　all　the　good
citizens　of　Paris　are　at　the　truly　noble　spirit　which　prompted　you
to　refuse　to　initiate　an　investigation　respecting　the　night　of
horrors　at　Versailles；　and　to　bring　the　ringleaders　to　justice。〃

〃Is　it　true；　M。　de　Bailly？〃　asked　the　queen；　eagerly。　〃Was　my
decision　approved？　Have　I　friends　still　among　the　people　of　Paris？〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　answered　M。　de　Bailly；　bowing　low；　〃all　good
citizens　of　Paris　have　seen　with　deep　emotion　the　noble　resolve　of
your　majesty；　and　in　all　noble　and　true　hearts　the　royal　words　are
recorded　imperishably；　which　your　majesty　spoke　to　the　judges　of　the
Chatelet；　'I　have　heard　all；　seen　all；　and　forgotten　all！'　With
tears　of　deep　feeling；　with　a　hallowed　joy；　they　are　repeated
through　all　Paris；　they　have　become　the　watchword　of　all　the　well…
inclined　and　faithful；　the　evangel　of　love　and　forgiveness　for　all
women；　of　fidelity　and　devotion　for　all　men！　It　has　been　seen　and
confessed　that　the　throne　of　France　is　the　possessor　not　only　of
goodness　and　beauty；　but　of　forgiveness　and　gentleness；　and　that
your　majesty　bears　rightly　the　title　of　the　Most　Christian　Queen。
These　nine　words　which　your　majesty　has　uttered；　have　become　the
sacred　banner　of　all　true　souls；　and　they　will　cause　the　golden　days
to　come　back；　as　they　once　dawned　upon　Paris　when　the　Dauphin　of
France　made　his　entry　into　the　capital；　and　it　could　be　said　with
truth　to　the　future　queen；　Marie　Antoinette；　'Here　are　a　hundred
thousand　lovers　of　your　person。'〃

The　queen　was　no　longer　able　to　master　her　deep　emotion。　She　who　had
had　the　courage　to　display　a　proud　and　defiant　mien　to　her　enemies
and　assailants；　could　not　conceal　the　intensity　of　her　feeling　when
hearing　words　of　such　devotion；　and　uttered　a　cry；　then　choked　with
emotion；　and　at　length　burst　into　a　torrent　of　tears。　Equally
astonished　and　ashamed；　she　covered　her　face　with　her　hands；　but　the
tears　gushed　out　between　her　white　tapering　fingers；　and　would　not
be　withheld。　They　had　been　so　long　repressed　behind　those　proud
eyelids；　that　now；　despite　the　queen's　will；　they　forced　their　way
with　double　power　and　intensity。

But　only　for　a　moment　did　the　proud…spirited　queen　allow　herself　to
be　overcome　by　the　gentle　and　deeply…moved　woman；　she　quickly
collected　herself　and　raised　her　head。

〃I　thank　you；　sir；　I　thank　you；〃　she　said；　breathing　more　freely；
〃you　have　done　me　good；　and　these　tears；　though　not　the　first　which
grief　and　anger　have　extorted；　are　the　first　for　a　long　time　which
have　sprung　from　what　is　almost　joy。　Who　knows　whether　I　shall　ever
be　able　to　shed　such　tears　again！　And　who　knows；〃　she　continued；
with　a　deep　sigh；　〃whether　I　do　not　owe　these　tears　more　to　your
wish　to　do　me　good；　than　to　true　and　real　gains？　I　bethink　me　now
you　say　all　good　citizens　of　Paris　repeat　my　words；　all　the　well…
disposed　are　satisfied　with　my　decision。　But；　ah！　I　fear　that　the
number　of　these　is　very　small；　and　that　the　golden　days　of　the　past
will　never　return！　And　is　not　your　appearance　here　to…day　a　proof　of
this？　Did　you　not　come　here　because　the　people　insult　and　calumniate
me；　and　because　you　considered　it　needful　to　throw　around　me　your
protection；　which　is　now　mightier　than　the　royal　purple　and　the
lilies　of　the　throne　of　France？〃

〃Madame；　time　must　be　granted　to　the　misguided　people　to　return　to
the　right　way；〃　said　Lafayette；　almost　with　a　supplicating　air。
〃They　must　be　dealt　with　as　we　deal　with　defiant；　naughty　children；
which　can　be　brought　back　to　obedience　and　submission　better　by
gentle　speech　and　apparent　concession　than　by　rigidity　and　severity。
On　this　account　I　ventured　to　ask　your　majesty　to　intrust　me　for　a
little　while　with　the　care　of　your　sacred　person；　and；　in　order　that
I　may　satisfy　my　duty；　that　you　would　graciously　appoint　the　time
when　your　majesty　will　take　your　walks　here　in　the　park　and　garden；
so　that　I　can　make　my　arrangements　accordingly。〃

〃In　order　to　make　a　fence　out　of　your　National　Guards；　protected　by
which　the　Queen　of　France　may　not　become　visible　to　the　hate　of　the
people；　and　behind　which　she　may　be　secure　against　the　attacks　of
her　enemies！〃　cried　Marie　Antoinette。　〃No；　sir；　I　cannot　accept
this！　It　shall　at　least　be　seen　that　I　am　no　coward；　and　that　I　will
not　hide　myself　from　those　who　come　to　attack　me！〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　said　Bailly；　〃I　conjure　you；　do　this　out　of
compassion　for　us；　for　all　your　fait