marie antoinette and her son-第62部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


has；　since　that　day；　much　changed；　it　is　enlarged；　laid　out　on　a
different　plan；　and　surrounded　with　a　higher　fence；　but　it　still
remains　the　garden　of　the　Dauphin　Louis　Charles；　the　same　garden
that　Napoleon　subsequently　gave　to　the　little　King　of　Borne；　the
same　that　Charles　X。　gave　to　the　Duke　de　Bordeaux；　and　that　Louis
Philippe　gave　to　the　Count　de　Paris。　How　many　recollections　cluster
around　this　little　bit　of　earth；　which　has　always　been　prematurely
left　by　its　young　possessors！　One　died　in　prison　scarcely　ten　years
old；　another；　hurried　away　by　the　tempest；　still　younger；　into　a
foreign　land；　only　lived　to　hear　the　name　of　his　father；　and　see　his
dagger　before　he　died。　The　third　and　fourth　were　hurled　out　by　the
storm…wind　like　the　first　two；　and　still　wear　the　mantle　of　exile　in
Austria　and　England。　And　many　as　are　the　tears　with　which　these
children　regard　their　own　fate；　there　must　be　many　which　they　must
bestow　upon　the　fate　of　their　fathers。　One　died　upon　the　scaffold；
another　from　the　knife　of　an　assassin；　a　third　from　a　fall　upon　the
pavement　of　a　highway；　and　the　last；　the　greatest　of　them　all；　was
bound；　like　Prometheus；　to　a　rock；　and　fed　on　bitter　recollections
till　he　met　his　death。

This　little　garden；　on　the　river…side　terrace　of　the　Tuileries　park；
which　has　come　to　have　a　world…wide　interest；　was　then　the　Eldorado
of　the　little　Dauphin　of　Prance；　and　to　see　him　behind　the　fence　was
the　delight　of　the　Parisians　who　used　to　visit　there；　and　long　for
the　moment　when　the　glance　of　his　blue　eye　fell　upon　them；　and　for
some　days　and　months　had　again　become　enthusiastic　royalists。

When　the　prince　went　into　his　little　garden；　he　was　usually
accompanied　by　a　detachment　of　the　National　Guard；　who　were　on　duty
in　the　Tuileries；　and　the　dauphin；　who　was　now　receiving　instruction
in　the　use　of　weapons；　generally　wore　himself　the　uniform　of　a
member　of　the　National　Guard。　The　Parisians　were　delighted　with　this
little　guard　of　six　years。　His　picture　hung　in　all　stores；　it　was
painted　on　fans　and　rings；　and　it　was　the　fashion；　among　the　most
elegant　ladies　of　the　Faubourg　St。　Germain；　and　among　the　market…
women　as　well；　to　decorate　themselves　with　the　likeness　of　the
dauphin。　How　his　brow　beamed；　how　his　eye　brightened；　when；
accompanied　by　his　escort；　of　which　he　was　proud；　he　entered　his
garden！　When　the　retinue　was　not　large；　the　prince　took　his　place　in
the　ranks。　One　day；　when　all　the　National　Guards　on　duty　were　very
desirous　of　accompanying　him；　several　of　them　were　compelled　to
stand　outside　of　the　garden。　〃Pardon　me；　gentlemen；〃　said　the
dauphin；　〃it　is　a　great　pity　that　my　garden　is　so　small　that　it
deprives　me　of　the　pleasure　of　receiving　you　all。〃　Then　he　hastened
to　give　flowers　to　every　one　who　was　near　the　fence；　and　received
their　thanks　with　great　pleasure。

The　enthusiasm　for　the　dauphin　was　so　great；　that　the　boys　of　Paris
envied　their　elders　the　honor　of　being　in　his　service；　and　longed　to
become　soldiers；　that　they　might　be　in　his　retinue。　There　was；　in
fact；　a　regiment　of　boys　formed；　which　took　the　name　of　the
Dauphin's　Regiment。　The　citizens　of　Paris　were　anxious　to　enroll　the
names　of　their　sons　in　the　lists　of　this　regiment；　and　to　pay　the
expenses　of　an　equipment。　And　when　this　miniature　regiment　was
formed；　with　the　king's　permission；　it　marched　to　the　Tuileries；　in
order　to　parade　before　the　dauphin。

The　prince　was　delighted　with　the　little　regiment；　and　invited　its
officers　to　visit　his　garden；　that　they　might　see　his　flowers；　his
finest　treasures。　〃Would　you　do　us　the　pleasure　to　be　the　colonel　of
our　regiment？〃　one　of　the　officers　asked　the　dauphin。

〃Oh！　certainly；〃　he　answered。

〃Then　you　must　give　up　getting　flowers　and　bouquets　for　your　mamma！〃
said　one　of　the　boys。

〃Oh！〃　answered　the　dauphin；　with　a　smile；　〃that　will　not　hinder　my
taking　care　of　my　flowers。　Many　of　these　gentlemen　have　little
gardens；　too；　as　they　have　told　me。　Very　well；　they　can　follow　the
example　of　their　colonel；　and　love　the　queen；　and　then　mamma　will
receive　whole　regiments　of　flowers　every　day。〃

The　majority　of　this　regiment　consisted；　at　the　outset；　of　children
of　the　highest　ranks　of　society；　and　it　was　therefore　natural　that
they；　practiced　in　the　most　finished　courtesy；　should　pay　some
deference　to　their　young　colonel。

But　they　were　expressly　forbidden　showing　any　thing　of　this　feeling
toward　their　comrade。　〃For；〃　said　the　king；　〃I　want　him　to　have
companions　who　will　stimulate　his　ambition；　but　I　do　not　want　him　to
have　flatterers；　who　shall　lead　him　to　live　to　himself　alone。〃　Soon
the　number　of　little　soldiers　increased；　for　every　family　longed　for
the　honor　of　having　its　sons　in　the　regiment　of　the　royal　dauphin。
The　people　used　always　to　throng　in　great　masses　when　this　regiment
went　through　its　exercises　in　the　Place　de　la　Carrousel。　It　was　a
miniature　representation　of　the　French　guards；　with　their　three…
cornered　hats　and　white　jackets；　and　nothing　could　be　more　charming
than　this　regiment　of　blooming　boys　in　their　tasteful　uniforms；　and
their　little　chief；　the　dauphin；　looking　at　his　regiment　with
beaming　eyes　and　smiling　lips。

The　enthusiasm　of　the　little　soldiers　of　the　Royal　Dauphin　Regiment
for　their　colonel　was　so　great；　that　they　longed　to　give　him　a　proof
of　their　love。　One　day　the　officers　of　the　regiment　came　into　the
Tuileries　and　begged　the　king's　permission　to　make　a　present　to　the
dauphin；　in　the　name　of　the　whole　regiment。　The　king　gladly　acceded
to　their　request；　and　he　himself　conducted　the　little　officers
into　the　reception…room；　where　was　the　dauphin；　standing　at　the　side
of　his　mother。

The　little　colonel　hastened　to　greet　them。　〃Welcome；　my　comrades；
welcome！〃　cried　he；　extending　his　hand　to　them。　〃My　mamma　queen
tells　me　that　you　have　brought　me　something　which　will　give　me
pleasure。　But　it　gives　me　pleasure　to　see　you；　and　nothing　more　is
needed。〃

〃But；　colonel；　you　will　not　refuse　our　present？〃

〃Oh；　certainly　not；　for　my　papa　king　says　that　a　colonel　is　not
forbidden　taking　a　gift　from　his　regiment。　What　is　it？〃

〃Colonel；　we　bring　you　a　set　of　dominoes；〃　said　a　little　officer；
named　Palloy；　who　was　the　speaker　of　the　delegation〃　a　set　of
dominoes　entirely　made　out　of　the　ruins　of　the　Bastile。〃

And　taking　the　wrapper　from　the　white　marble　box；　bound　with　gold；
he　extended　it　to　the　dauphin；　and　repeated　with　a　solemn　face　the
following　lines：

〃Those　gloomy　walls　that　once　awoke　our　fear　Are　changed　into　the
toy　we　offer　here：　And　when　with　joyful　race　the　gift　you　view；
Think　what　the　people's　mighty　love　can　do。〃　＇Footnote：　〃De　ces　aff
reux　cachota；　la　terreur　des　Francais；　Vous　voyez　les　debris
transformes　en　hoohets；　Puissent…ils；　en　servant　aux　jeux　de　votre
enfance；　Du　peuple　vous　prouver　1'amour　et　la　puissance。〃
Beauchesne；　〃Louis　XVD。　Sa　Vie；　sou　Agonie；〃　etc。；　vol。　iv。；　p。
396。＇

Poor　little　dauphin！　Even　when　they　wanted　to　do　him　homage；　they
were　threatening　him；　and　the　present　which　affection　offered　to　the
royal　child　was　at　the　same　time　a　bequest　of　Revolution；　which　even
then　lifted　her　warning　finger；　and　pointed　at　the　past；　when　the
hate　of　the　people　destroyed　those　〃gloomy　walls；〃　which　had　been
erected　by　kingly　power。

In　his　innocence　and　childish　simplicity；　the　dauphin　saw　nothing　of
the　sting　which；　unknown　even　to　the　givers；　lurked　within　this
gift。　He　enjoyed　like　a　child　the　beautiful　present；　and　listened
with　eagerness　while　the　manner　of　playing　the　game　was　described　to
him。　All　the　stones　were　taken　from　the　mantel　of　black　marble　in
the　reception…room　of　Delaunay；　the　governor　of　the　Bastile；　who　had
been　murdered　by　the　people。　On　the　back　of　each　of　these　stones　was
a　letter　set　in　gold；　and　when　the　whole　were　arranged　in　regular
order；　they　formed　the　sentence：　〃Vive　le　Roi；　vive　la　Reine；　et　M。
le　Dauphin。〃　The　marble　of　the　box　was　taken　from　the　altar…slab　in
the　chapel。　In　the　middle　was　a　golden　relief；　representing　a　face。

〃That　is　my　papa　king；〃　cried　the　dauphin；　joyfully；　looking　at　the
representation。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Palloy；　the　speaker　of　the　little　company；　〃every　one
of　us　bears　him　in　his　heart。　And　like　the　king；　you　will　live　for
the　happiness　of　all；　and　like　him　you　will　be　the　idol　of　Prance。
We；　who　shall　one　day　be　French　soldiers　and　citizens；　bring　to　you；
who　will　then　be　our　commander…in…chief　and　king；　our　homage　as　the
future　supporters　of　the　throne　which　is　destined　for　you；　and　which
the　wisdom　of　your　father　has　placed　under　the　unshakable　power　of
law。　The　gift　which　we　offer　you　is　but　small；　but　each　one　of　us
adds　his　heart　to　it。〃　＇Footnote：　The　very　words　of　the　little
officer。＇

〃And　I　give　all　of　you　my　heart　in　return　for　it；〃　cried　the
dauphin；　with　a　joyful　eagerness；　〃and　I　shall　take　great　pains　to
be　good；　and　to　learn　well；　that　I　may　be　allowed　to　amuse　myself
with　playing　dominoes。〃

And　the　little　fellow　fixed　his　large；　blue　eyes　upon　the　queen　with
a　tender　look；　took　her　hand　and　pressed　it　to　his　lips。

〃My　dear　mamma　queen；〃　he　said；　caressingly；　〃if　I　am　real　good；　and
study　hard；　we　can　both　play　dominoes　together；　can't　we？〃

A　sad　smile　played　around　the　lips　of　the　queen；　and　no　one　saw　the
distrustful；　timid　look　which　she　cast　at　the　box；　which　to　her　was
merely　the　memorial　of　a　dreadful　day。

〃Yes；　my　child；〃　she　replied；　mildly；　〃we　will　play　dominoes　often
together；　for　you　certainly　will　be　good　and　industrious。〃

She　controlled　herself　sufficiently　to　thank　the　boys　with　friendly
words　for　the　present　which　they　had　made　to　the　dauphin；　and　then
the　deputation；　accompanied　by　the　king　and　the　little　prince；
withdrew。　But　as　soon　as　they　had　gone；　the　smile　died　away　upon　her
lips；　and　with　an　expression　of　horror　she　pointed　to　the　box。

〃Take　it　awayoh；　take　it　away！〃　she　cried；　to　Madame　de　Tourzel。
〃It　is　a　dreadful　reminder　of　the　past；　a　terrible　prophecy　of　the
future。　The　stones　of　the　Bastile；　which　the　people　destroyed；　lie
in　this　box！　And　the　box　itself；　does　it　not　look　like　a
sarcophagus？　And　this　sarcophagus　bears　the　face　of　the　king！　Oh；
the　sorrow　and　woe　to　us　unfor