marie antoinette and her son-第59部分

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try　to　smile　to　them。　They　hate　me　now；　but　perhaps　they　will
remember　then　that　once　they　truly　loved　me。　There　is　a　trace　of
magnanimity　in　the　people；　and　my　confidence　will　perhaps　touch　it。
Be　quick；　and　make　my　toilet。　I　will　be　fair　to…day。　I　will　adorn
myself　for　the　Parisians。　They　will　not　be　my　enemies　alone　who　will
be　at　the　theatre；　some　of　my　friends　will　be　there；　and　they　at
least　will　be　glad　to　see　me。　Quick；　mademoiselle；　let　us　begin　my
toilet。〃

And　with　a　liveliness　and　a　zeal　which；　in　her　threatened　situation；
had　something　touching　in　it；　Marie　Antoinette　arrayed　herself　for
the　public；　for　the　good　Parisians。

The　news　that　the　queen　was　to　appear　that　evening　at　the　theatre
had　quickly　run　through　all　Paris；　the　officer　on　duty　told　it　at
his　relief　to　some　of　the　guards；　they　to　those　whom　they　met；　and
it　spread　like　wildfire。　It　was　therefore　very　natural　that；　long
before　the　curtain　was　raised；　the　great　opera…house　was　completely
filled；　parquette；　boxes；　and　parterre；　with　a　passionately…excited
throng。　The　friends　of　the　queen　went　in　order　to　give　her　a　long…
looked…for　triumph；　her　enemiesand　these　the　poor　queen　had　in
overwhelming　numbersto　fling　their　hate；　their　malice；　their
scorn；　into　the　face　of　Marie　Antoinette。

And　enemies　of　the　queen　had　taken　places　for　themselves　in　every
part　of　the　great　house。　They　even　sat　in　the　boxes　of　the　first
rank；　on　those　velvet…cushioned　chairs　which　had　formerly　been
occupied　exclusively　by　the　enthusiastic　admirers　of　the　court；　the
ladies　and　gentlemen　of　the　aristocracy。　But　now　the　aristocracy　did
not　dare　to　sit　there。　The　most　of　them；　friends　of　the　queen；　had
fled；　giving　way　before　her　enemies　and　persecutors；　and　in　the
boxes　where　they　once　sat；　now　were　the　chief　members　of　the
National　Assembly；　together　with　the　leading　orators　of　the　clubs；
and　the　societies　of　Jacobins。

To　the　box　above；　where　the　people　had　once　been　accustomed　to　see
Princess　Lamballe；　the　eyes　of　the　public　were　directed　again　and
again。　Marie　Antoinette　had　been　compelled　to　send　away　this　last　of
her　friends　to　London；　to　have　a　conference　with　Pitt。　Instead　of
the　fair　locks　of　the　princess；　was　now　to　be　seen　the　head　of　a
man；　who；　resting　both　arms　on　the　velvet　lining　of　the　box；　was
gazing　down　with　malicious　looks　into　the　surging　masses　of　the
parterre。　This　man　was　Marat；　once　the　veterinary　of　the　Count
d'Artois；　now　the　greatest　and　most　formidable　orator　of　the　wild
Jacobins。

He　too　had　come　to　see　the　hated　she…wolf；　as　he　had　lately　called
the　queen　in　his　〃Ami　du　Peuple；〃　and；　to　prepare　for　her　a　public
insult；　sat　drunk　with　vanity　in　the　splendid　box　of　the　Princess
Lamballe；　his　friends　and　confidants　were　in　the　theatre；　among　them
Santerre　the　brewer；　and　Simon　the　cobbler；　often　looking　up　at
Marat；　waiting　for　the　promised　motion　which　should　be　his　signal
for　the　great　demonstration。

At　length　the　time　arrived　for　the　opera　to　begin；　and；　although　the
queen　had　not　come；　the　director　of　the　orchestra　did　not　venture　to
detain　the　audience　even　for　a　few　minutes。　He　went　to　his　place；
took　his　baton；　and　gave　the　sign。　The　overture　began；　and　all　was
silent；　in　parquette　and　parterre；　as　well　as　in　the　boxes。　Every
one　seemed　to　be　listening　only　to　the　music；　equally　full　of
sweetness　and　majestyonly　to　have　ears　for　the　noble　rhythm　with
which　Gluck　begins　his　〃Alceste。〃

Suddenly　there　arose　a　dull；　suppressed　sound　in　parquette；
parterre；　and　boxes；　and　all　heads　which　had　before　been　directed
toward　the　stage；　were　now　turned　backward　toward　the　great　royal
box。　No　one　paid　any　more　attention　to　the　music；　no　one　noticed
that　the　overture　was　ended　and　that　the　curtain　was　raised。

Amid　the　blast　of　trumpets；　the　noise　of　violins　and　clarionets；　the
public　had　heard　the　light　noise　of　the　opening　doors；　had　noticed
the　entrance　of　the　officers；　and　this　sound　had　made　the　Parisians
forget　even　their　much…loved　music。

There　now　appeared　in　the　open　box…door　a　woman's　form。　The　queen；
followed　by　Mademoiselle　de　Bugois；　advanced　slowly　through　the
great　box　to　the　very　front。　All　eyes　were　directed　to　her；　all
looks　searched　her　pale；　noble　face。

Marie　Antoinette　felt　this；　and　a　smile　flitted　over　her　face　like
the　evening　glow　of　a　summer's　day。　With　this　smile　and　a　deep　blush
Marie　Antoinette　bowed　and　saluted　the　public。

A　loud；　unbounded　cry　of　applause　resounded　through　the　vast　room。
In　the　parquette　and　in　the　boxes　hundreds　of　spectators　arose　and
hailed　the　queen　with　a　loud；　pealing　〃Vive　la　reine！〃　and　clapped
their　hands　like　pleased　children；　and　looked　up　to　the　queen　with
joyful；　beaming　countenances。

〃Oh；　my　faith　has　not　deceived！〃　whispered　Marie　Antoinette　into　the
ear　of　her　companion。　〃The　good　Parisians　love　me　still；　they；　like
me；　remember　past　times；　and　the　old　loyalty　is　awaking　in　them。〃

And　again　she　bowed　her　thanks　right　and　left；　and　again　the　house
broke　out　into　loud　applause。　A　single；　angry　glance　of　Marat's
little　eyes；　peering　out　from　beneath　the　bushy　brows；　met　the
queen。

〃Only　wait；〃　said　Marat；　rising　from　his　seat　and　directing　his
glances　at　the　parterre。　There　stood　the　giant　Santerre；　and　not　far
from　him　Simon　the　cobbler；　in　the　midst　of　a　crowd　of　savage…
looking；　defiant　fellows；　who　all　looked　at　their　leaders；　while
they；　Santerre　and　Simon；　directed　their　eyes　up　to　the　box　of
Marat。

The　glance　of　the　chief　met　that　of　his　two　friends。　A　scornful；
savage　expression　swept　over　Marat's　ash…colored；　dirty　face；　and　he
nodded　lightly　to　his　allies。　Santerre　and　Simon　returned　the　nod；
and　they；　turning　to　their　companions；　gave　the　signal　by　raising
the　right　hand。

Suddenly　the　applause　was　overborne　by　loud　whistling　and　shouting；
derisive　laughter；　and　wild　curses。

〃The　civil　war　has　begun！〃　cried　Marat；　rubbing　his　hands　together
with　delight。

The　royalists　continued　to　applaud　and　to　shout；　〃Vive　la　reine！〃
Their　opponents　tried　to　silence　them　by　their　hisses　and　whistling。
Marat's　face　glowed　with　demoniacal　pleasure。　He　turned　to　the　boxes
of　the　second　tier；　and　nodded　smilingly　to　the　men　who　sat　there。
At　once　they　began　to　cry；　〃The　chorus；　the　chorus；　let　them　sing；
'Chantons；　celebrons　notre　reine！'〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Marat。　〃I　am　a　good　royalist；　for　I　have　trained
the　people　to　the　cry。〃

〃Sing；　sing！〃　shouted　the　men　to　the　performers　on　the　stage〃sing
the　chorus；　'Chantons；　celebrons　notre　reine！'〃

And　in　the　boxes；　parquette；　everywhere　was　the　cry；　〃Sing　the
chorus；　'Chantons；　celebrons　notre　reine！'〃

〃No；〃　roared　Santerre；　〃no；　they　shall　not　sing　that！〃

〃No；〃　cried　Simon；　〃we　will　not　hear　the　monkey…song！〃

And　hundreds　of　men　in　the　parterre　and　the　upper　rows　of　boxes
echoed　the　cry；　〃No；　we　will　not　hear　the　monkey…song！〃

〃The　thing　works　well！〃　said　Marat。　〃I　hold　my　people　by　a　thread；
and　make　them　gesticulate　and　spring　up　and　down；　like　the　concealed
man　in　a　Punch　and　Judy　show。〃

The　noise　went　on；　the　royalists　would　not　cease　their　applause　and
their　calls　for　the　chorus；　〃Chantons；　celebrons　notre　reine！〃　The
enemies　of　the　queen　did　not　cease　hissing　and　shouting；　〃We　do　not
want　to　hear　any　thing　about　the　queen；　we　will　not　hear　the　monkey…
song！〃

〃Oh；　would　I　had　never　come　here！〃　whispered　the　queen；　with　tearful
eyes；　as　she　sank　back　in　her　armchair；　and　hid　her　face　in　her
handkerchief。

Perhaps　because　the　real　royalists　saw　the　agitation　of　the　queen；
and　out　of　compassion　for　her　were　willing　to　give　up　the
controversyperhaps　Marat　had　given　a　sign　to　the　false　royalists
that　they　had　had　enough　of　shouting　and　confusionat　all　events
the　cry　〃Vive　la　reine〃　and　the　call　for　the　chorus　died　away
suddenly；　the　applause　ceased；　and　as　the　enemies　of　the　queen　had
now　no　opposition　to　encounter；　nothing　was　left　to　them　but　to　be
silent　too。

〃The　first　little　skirmish　is　over！〃　said　Marat；　resting　his　bristly
head　on　the　back　of　his　velvet　arm…chair。　〃Now　we　will　listen　to　the
music　a　little；　and　look　at　the　pretty　theatre　girls。〃

And　in　fact　the　opera　had　now　begun；　the　director　of　the　orchestra
had　taken　advantage　of　the　return　of　quiet　to　give　a　sign　to　the
singers　on　the　stage　to　begin　at　once；　and　with　fortunate　presence
of　mind　his　command　was　obeyed。

The　public；　wearied　it　may　be　with　the　shouting　and　noise；　remained
silent；　and　seemed　to　give　its　attention　exclusively　to　the　stage；
the　development　of　the　plot；　and　the　noble　music。

Marie　Antoinette　breathed　freely　again；　her　pale　cheeks　began　to
have　color　once　more；　her　eyes　were　again　bright；　and　she　seemed
transported　beyond　the　sore　battles　and　dreadful　discords　of　her
life；　she　listened　respectfully　to　the　sweet　melodies；　and　the　grand
harmonies　of　the　teacher　of　her　youth；　the　great　Gluck。　Leaning　back
in　her　armchair；　she　allowed　the　music　to　flow　into　her　soul；　and
the　recollection　of　past　days　awoke　afresh　in　her　mind。　She　dreamed
of　the　days　of　her　childhood：　she　saw　herself　again　in　Schonbrunn；
she　saw　her　teacher　Gluck　enter　the　blue　music…room；　in　which　she
with　her　sisters　used　to　wait　for　him；　she　saw　the　glowing
countenance　of　her　mother；　the　great　Maria　Theresa；　entering　her
room；　in　order　to　give　Gluck　a　proof　of　her　high　regard；　and　to
announce　to　him　herself　that　Marie　Antoinette　had　betrothed　herself
to　the　Dauphin　of　France；　and　that　she　would　soon　bid　her　teacher
farewell；　in　order　to　enter　upon　her　new　and　brilliant　career。

A　low　hum　in　the　theatre　awakened　the　queen　from　her　reveries；　she
raised　herself　up　and　leaned　forward；　to　see　what　was　going　on。　Her
glance；　which　was　directed　to　the　stage；　fell　upon　the　singer
Clairval；　who　was　just　then　beginning　to　give；　with　his　wonderfully
full　and　flexible　voice；　the　great　aria　in　which　the　friend　comes　to
console　the　grief…burdened；　weeping　Queen　Alceste；　and　to　dry　her
tears　by　assuring　her　of　the　love　of　her　faithful　adherents。
Clairval　had　advanced　in　the　aria　to　that　celebrated　passage　which
had　given　to　Marie　Antoinette　a　half　year　before　her　last　great
triumph。　It　ran：

〃Reine　infortunee；　ah！　que　ton