marie antoinette and her son-第9部分

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See　Goncourt；　〃Histoire　de　Marie　Antoinette〃＇

〃Your　majesty；〃　said　the　duke；　with　a　cold　smile；　〃it　is　no　single
person　that　supervises　you；　it　is　public　opinion；　and　I　think　that
this　will　speak　on　my　side。〃

The　duke　bowed；　and；　without　waiting　for　a　sign　from　the　queen　to
withdraw；　he　turned　around　and　began　to　descend　the　terrace。

〃He　is　a　shameless　man！〃　muttered　the　queen；　with　pale　cheeks　and
flashing　eyes；　as　she　followed　him　with　her　looks。

〃He　is　ambitious；〃　whispered　Besenval；　〃he　implores　your　majesty　in
this　way；　and　risks　his　life　and　his　office；　in　the　hope　of　being
received　into　the　court　society。〃

〃No；　no；〃　answered　Marie　Antoinette；　eagerly；　〃there　is　nothing　in
me　that　attracts　him。　The　king's　aunts　have　set　him　against　me；　and
this　is　a　new　way　which　their　tender　care　has　conjured　up　to
irritate　me；　and　make　me　sick。

Yet　let　us　leave　this；　baron。　Let　us　forget　this　folly；　and　only
remember　that　we　are　in　Trianon。　See；　we　are　now　entering　my　dear
English　garden。　Oh；　look　around　you；　baron；　and　then　tell　me　is　it
not　beautiful　here；　and　have　I　not　reason　to　be　proud　of　what　I　have
called　here　into　being？〃

While　thus　speaking；　the　queen　advanced　with　eager；　flying　steps　to
the　exquisite　beds　of　flowers　which　beautifully　variegated　the
surface　of　the　English　garden。

It　was　in　very　truth　the　creation　of　the　queen；　this　English　garden；
and　it　formed　a　striking　contrast　to　the　solemn；　stately　hedges；　the
straight　alleys；　the　regular　flower　beds；　the　carefully　walled　pools
and　brooks；　which　were　habitual　in　the　gardens　of　Versailles　and
Trianon。　In　the　English　garden　every　thing　was　cosy　and　natural。　The
waters　foamed　here；　and　there　they　gathered　themselves　together　and
stood　still；　here　and　there　were　plants　which　grew　just　where　the
wind　had　scattered　the　seed。　Hundreds　of　the　finest　treeswillows；
American　oaks；　acacias；　firsthrew　their　shade　abroad；　and　wrought
a　rich　diversity　in　the　colors　of　the　foliage。　The　soil　here　rose
into　gentle　hillocks；　and　there　sank　in　depressions　and　natural
gorges。　All　things　seemed　without　order　or　system；　and　where　art　had
done　its　work；　there　seemed　to　be　the　mere　hand　of　free；　unfettered
Nature。

The　farther　the　queen　advanced　with　her　companion　into　the　garden；
the　more　glowing　became　her　countenance；　and　the　more　her　eyes
beamed　with　their　accustomed　fire。

〃Is　it　not　beautiful　here？〃　asked　she；　of　the　baron；　who　was　walking
silently　by　her　side。

〃It　is　beautiful　wherever　your　majesty　is；〃　answered　he；　with　an
almost　too　tender　tone。　But　the　queen　did　not　notice　it。　Her　heart
was　filled　with　an　artless　joy；　she　listened　with　suspended　breath
to　the　trilling　song　of　the　birds；　warbling　their　glad　hymns　of
praise　out　from　the　thickets　of　verdure。　How　could　she　have　any
thought　of　the　idle　suggestions　of　the　voice　of　the　baron；　who　had
been　chosen　as　her　companion　because　of　his　forty…five　years；　and　of
his　hair　being　tinged　with　gray？

〃It　seems　to　me；　baron；〃　she　said；　with　a　charming　laugh；　while
looking　at　a　bird　which；　its　song　just　ended；　soared　from　the　bushes
to　the　heavens〃　it　seems　to　me　as　if　Nature　wanted　to　send　me　a
greeting；　and　deputed　this　bird　to　bring　it　to　me。　Ah；〃　she　went　on
to　say；　with　quickly　clouded　brow；　〃it　is　really　needful　that　I
should　at　times　hear　the　friendly　notes　and　the　sweet　melodies　of
such　a　genuine　welcome。　I　have　suffered　a　great　deal　today；　baron；
and　the　welcome　of　this　bird　of　Trianon　was　the　balm　of　many　a　wound
that　I　have　received　since　yesterday。〃

〃Your　majesty　was　in　Paris？〃　asked　Besenval；　hesitatingly；　and　with
a　searching　glance　of　his　cunning；　dark　eyes；　directed　to　the　sad
countenance　of　Marie　Antoinette。

〃I　was　in　Paris；〃　answered　she；　with　a　flush　of　joy；　〃and　the　good
Parisians　welcomed　the　wife　of　the　king　and　the　mother　of　the
children　of　France　with　a　storm　of　enthusiasm。〃

〃No；　madame；〃　replied　the　baron；　reddening；　〃they　welcomed　with　a
storm　of　enthusiasm　the　most　beautiful　lady　of　France；　the　adored
queen；　the　mother　of　all　poor　and　suffering　ones。〃

〃And　yet　there　was　a　dissonant　note　which　mingled　with　all　these
jubilee　tones；〃　said　the　queen；　thoughtfully。　〃While　all　were
shouting；　there　came　one　voice　which　sounded　to　my　ear　like　the　song
of　the　bird　of　misfortune。　Believe　me；　Besenval；　every　thing　is　not
as　it　ought　to　be。　There　is　something　in　the　air　which　fills　me　with
anxiety　and　fear。　I　cannot　drive　it　away；　I　feel　that　the　sword　of
Damocles　is　hanging　over　my　head；　and　that　my　hands　are　too　weak　to
remove　it。〃

〃A　woe　to　the　traitors　who　have　dared　to　raise　the　sword　of　Damocles
over　the　head　of　the　queen！〃　cried　the　baron；　furiously。

〃Woe　to　them；　but　woe　to　me　too！〃　replied　the　queen；　with　gentle
sadness。　〃I　have　this　morning　had　a　stormy　interview　with　Madame
Adelaide。　It　appears　that　my　enemies　have　concocted　a　new　way　of
attacking　me；　and　Madame　Adelaide　was　the　herald　to　announce　the
beginning　of　the　tournament。〃

〃Did　she　venture　to　bring　any　accusations　against　your　majesty？〃
asked　Besenval。　The　queen　replying　in　the　affirmative　with　a　nod；　he
went　on。　〃But　what　can　they　say？　Whence　do　they　draw　the　poisoned
arrows　to　wound　the　noblest　and　truest　of　hearts？〃

〃They　draw　them　from　their　jealousy；　from　their　hatred　against　the
house　of　Austria；　from　the　rage　with　which　they　look　upon　the　manner
in　which　the　king　has　bestowed　his　love。　'What　can　they　say？'　They
make　out　of　little　things　monstrous　crimes。　They　let　a　pebble　grow
into　a　great　rock；　with　which　they　strive　to　smite　me　down。　Oh；　my
friend；　I　have　suffered　a　great　deal　to…day；　and；　in　order　to　tell
you　this；　I　chose　you　as　my　companion。　I　dare　not　complain　before
the　king；〃　Marie　Antoinette　went　on；　while　two　tears　rolled　slowly
down　her　cheeks；　〃for　I　will　not　be　the　means　of　opening　a　breach　in
the　family；　and　the　king　would　cause　them　to　feel　his　wrath　who　have
drawn　tears　from　the　eyes　of　his　wife。　But　you　are　my　friend；
Besenval；　and　I　confide　in　your　friendship　and　in　your　honor。　Now；
tell　me；　you　who　know　the　world；　and　who　are　my　senior　in　experience
of　life；　tell　me　whether　I　do　wrong　to　live　as　I　do。　Are　the　king's
aunts　right　in　charging　it　upon　me　as　a　crime；　that　I　take　part　in
the　simple　joys　of　life；　that　I　take　delight　in　my　youth　and　am
happy？　Is　the　Count　de　Provence　right　in　charging　me；　as　with　a
crime；　that　I　am　the　chief　counsellor　of　the　king；　and　that　I
venture　to　give　him　my　views　regarding　political　matters？　Am　I
really　condemned　to　stand　at　an　unapproachable　distance　from　the
people　and　the　court；　like　a　beautiful　statue？　Is　it　denied　to　me　to
have　feeling；　to　love　and　to　hate；　like　everybody　else？　Is　the　Queen
of　France　nothing　but　the　sacrificial　lamb　which　the　dumb　idol
etiquette　carries　in　its　leaden　arms；　and　crushes　by　slowly　pressing
it　to　itself？　Tell　me；　Besenval；　speak　to　me　like　an　honorable　and
upright　man；　and　remember　that　God　is　above　us　and　hears　our　words！〃

〃May　God　be　my　witness；〃　said　Besenval；　solemnly。　〃Nothing　lies
nearer　my　heart　than　that　your　majesty　hear　me。　For　my　life；　my
happiness；　and　my　misery；　all　lie　wrapped　up　in　the　heart　of　your
majesty。　No；　I　answerno；　the　aunts　of　the　king；　the　old
princesses；　look　with　the　basilisk　eye　of　envy　from　a　false　point。
They　have　lived　at　the　court　of　their　father；　they　have　seen　Vice
put　on　the　trappings　of　Virtue；　they　have　seen　Shamelessness　array
itself　in　the　garments　of　Innocence；　and　they　no　longer　retain　their
faith　in　Virtue　or　Innocence。　The　purity　of　the　queen　appears　to
them　to　be　a　studied　coquetry；　her　unconstrained　cheerfulness　to　be
culpable　frivolity。　No；　the　Count　de　Provence　is　not　right　in
bringing　the　charge　against　the　king　that　it　is　wrong　in　him　to　love
his　wife　with　the　intensity　and　self　surrender　with　which　a　citizen
loves　the　wife　whom　he　has　himself　selected。　He　is　not　right　in
alleging　it　as　an　accusation　against　you；　that　you　are　the
counsellor　of　the　king；　and　that　you　seek　to　control　political
action。　Your　whole　offence　lies　in　the　fact　that　your　political
views　are　different　from　his；　and　that；　through　the　influence　which
you　have　gained　over　the　heart　of　the　king；　his　aunts　are　driven
into　the　background。　Your　majesty　is　an　Austrian；　a　friend　of　the
Duke　de　Choiseul。　That　is　your　whole　offence。　Now　you　would　not　be
less　blameworthy　in　the　eyes　of　these　enemies　were　you　to　live　in
exact　conformity　with　the　etiquette　books　of　the　Queen　of　France；
covered　with　the　dust　of　a　hundred　years。　Your　majesty　would
therefore　do　yourself　and　the　whole　court　an　injury　were　you　to
allow　your　youth；　your　beauty；　and　your　innocence；　to　be　subjected
to　these　old　laws。　It　were　folly　to　condemn　yourself　to　ennui　and
solitude。　Does　not　the　Queen　of　France　enjoy　a　right　which　the
meanest　of　her　subjects　possesses；　of　collecting　her　own　chosen
friends　around　her　and　taking　her　pleasure　with　them。　We　live；　I
know；　in　an　age　of　reckless　acts；　but　may　there　not　be　some
recklessness　in　dealing　with　the　follies　of　etiquette？　They　bring　it
as　a　charge　against　your　majesty　that　you　adjure　the　great　court
circles；　and　the　stiff　set　with　which　the　royal　family　of　France
used　to　martyr　itself。　They　say　that　by　giving　up　ceremony　you　are
undermining　the　respect　which　the　people　ought　to　cherish　toward
royalty。　But　would　it　not　be　laughable　to　think　that　the　obedience
of　the　people　depends　upon　the　number　of　the　hours　which　a　royal
family　may　spend　in　the　society　of　tedious　and　wearisome　courtiers？
No；　my　queen；　do　not　listen　to　the　hiss　of　the　hostile　serpents
which　surround　you。　Go；　courageously；　your　own　waythe　way　of
innocence；　guilelessness；　and　love。〃

〃I　thank　youoh；　I　thank　you！〃　cried　Marie　Antoinette。　〃You　have
lifted　heavy　doubts　from　my　heart　and　strengthened　my　courage。　I
thank　you！〃

And；　with　beaming　eyes　and　a　sweet　smile；　she　extended　both　her
hands　to　the　baron。

He　pressed　them　tightly　within　his　own；　and；　sinking　upon　his　knee；
drew　the　royal　hands　with　a　glow　to　his　lips。

〃Oh；　my　queen；　my　mistress！〃　he　cried；　passionately；　〃behold　at　your
feet　your　most　faithful　servant；　your　most　devoted　slave。　Receive
from　me　the　oath　of　my　eternal　devotio