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the memoirs of marie antoinette-第120章

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nt; Bruno; and others。'who were executed; the royal prisoners being subjected to a close examination。

〃On the 20th of April;〃 says Madame Royale; 〃my mother and I had just gone to bed when Hebert arrived with several municipals。  We got up hastily; and these men read us a decree of the Commune directing that we should be searched。  My poor brother was asleep; they tore him from his bed under the pretext of examining it。  My mother took him up; shivering with cold。  All they took was a shopkeeper's card which my mother had happened to keep; a stick of sealing…wax from my aunt; and from me 'une sacre coeur de Jesus' and a prayer for the welfare of France。  The search lasted from half…past ten at night till four o'clock in the morning。〃

The next visit of the officials was to Madame Elisabeth alone; they found in her room a hat which the King had worn during his imprisonment; and which she had begged him to give her as a souvenir。  They took it from her in spite of her entreaties。  〃It was suspicious;〃 said the cruel and contemptible tyrants。

The Dauphin became ill with fever; and it was long before his mother; who watched by him night and day; could obtain medicine or advice for him。  When Thierry was at last allowed to see him his treatment relieved the most violent symptoms; but; says Madame Royale; 〃his health was never reestablished。  Want of air and exercise did him great mischief; as well as the kind of life which this poor child led; who at eight years of age passed his days amidst the tears of his friends; and in constant anxiety and agony。〃

While the Dauphin's health was causing his family such alarm; they were deprived of the services of Tison's wife; who became ill; and finally insane; and was removed to the Hotel Dieu; where her ravings were reported to the Assembly and made the ground of accusations against the royal prisoners。

     'This woman; troubled by remorse; lost her reason; threw herself at      the feet of the Queen; implored her pardon; and disturbed the Temple      for many days with the sight and the noise of her madness。  The      Princesses; forgetting the denunciations of this unfortunate being;      in consideration of her repentance and insanity; watched over her by      turns; and deprived themselves of their own food to relieve her。      LAMARTINE; 〃History of the Girondists;〃 vol。 iii。; p。140。'

No woman took her place; and the Princesses themselves made their beds; swept their rooms; and waited upon the Queen。

Far worse punishments than menial work were prepared for them。  On 3d July a decree of the Convention ordered that the Dauphin should be separated from his family and 〃placed in the most secure apartment of the Tower。〃  As soon as he heard this decree pronounced; says his sister; 〃he threw himself into my mother's arms; and with violent cries entreated not to be parted from her。  My mother would not let her son go; and she actually defended against the efforts of the officers the bed in which she had placed him。  The men threatened to call up the guard and use violence。  My mother exclaimed that they had better kill her than tear her child from her。  At last they threatened our lives; and my mother's maternal tenderness forced her to the sacrifice。  My aunt and I dressed the child; for my poor mother had no longer strength for anything。 Nevertheless; when he was dressed; she took him up in her arms and delivered him herself to the officers; bathing him with her tears; foreseeing that she was never to behold him again。  The poor little fellow embraced us all tenderly; and was carried away in a flood of tears。  My mother's horror was extreme when she heard that Simon; a shoemaker by trade; whom she had seen as a municipal officer in the Temple; was the person to whom her child was confided 。  。  。  。  The officers now no longer remained in my mother's apartment; they only came three times a day to bring our meals and examine the bolts and bars of our windows; we were locked up together night and day。  We often went up to the Tower; because my brother went; too; from 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 h
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