the memoirs of marie antoinette-第11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！


in　the　establishment。　　'If；'　said　I；　'I　were　to　observe　the　least　pretension　on　account　of　the　rank　or　fortune　of　parents；　I　should　immediately　put　an　end　to　it。　　The　most　perfect　equality　is　preserved；　distinction　is　awarded　only　to　merit　and　industry。　　The　pupils　are　obliged　to　cut　out　and　make　all　their　own　clothes。　　They　are　taught　to　clean　and　mend　lace；　and　two　at　a　time；　they　by　turns；　three　times　a　week；　cook　and　distribute　food　to　the　poor　of　the　village。　　The　young　girls　who　have　been　brought　up　at　Ecouen；　or　in　my　boarding…school　at　St。　Germain；　are　thoroughly　acquainted　with　everything　relating　to　household　business；　and　they　are　grateful　to　me　for　having　made　that　a　part　of　their　education。　　In　my　conversations　with　them　I　have　always　taught　them　that　on　domestic　management　depends　the　preservation　or　dissipation　of　their　fortunes。'

〃The　post…master　of　Ecouen　was　in　the　courtyard　at　the　moment　when　the　Emperor；　as　he　stepped　into　his　carriage；　told　me　he　would　send　some　sweetmeats　for　the　pupils。　　I　immediately　communicated　to　them　the　intelligence；　which　was　joyfully　received；　but　the　sweetmeats　were　looked　for　in　vain。　　When　Alexander　set　out　for　England　he　changed　horses　at　Ecouen；　and　the　post…master　said　to　him：　'Sire；　the　pupils　of　Ecouen　are　still　expecting　the　sweetmeats　which　your　Majesty　promised　them。'　　To　which　the　Emperor　replied　that　he　had　directed　Saken　to　send　them。　　The　Cossacks　had　most　likely　devoured　the　sweetmeats；　and　the　poor　little　girls；　who　had　been　so　highly　flattered　by　the　promise；　never　tasted　them。〃

A　second　house　was　formed　at　St。　Denis；　on　the　model　of　that　of　Ecouen。　Perhaps　Madame　Campan　might　have　hoped　for　a　title　to　which　her　long　labours　gave　her　a　right；　perhaps　the　superintendence　of　the　two　houses　would　have　been　but　the　fair　recompense　of　her　services；　but　her　fortunate　years　had　passed　her　fate　was　now　to　depend　on　the　most　important　events。　　Napoleon　had　accumulated　such　a　mass　of　power　as　no　one　but　himself　in　Europe　could　overturn。　　France；　content　with　thirty　years　of　victories；　in　vain　asked　for　peace　and　repose。　　The　army　which　had　triumphed　in　the　sands　of　Egypt；　on　the　summits　of　the　Alps；　and　in　the　marshes　of　Holland；　was　to　perish　amidst　the　snows　of　Russia。　Nations　combined　against　a　single　man。　　The　territory　of　France　was　invaded。　　The　orphans　of　Ecouen；　from　the　windows　of　the　mansion　which　served　as　their　asylum；　saw　in　the　distant　plain　the　fires　of　the　Russian　bivouacs；　and　once　more　wept　the　deaths　of　their　fathers。　　Paris　capitulated。　　France　hailed　the　return　of　the　descendants　of　Henri　IV。；　they　reascended　the　throne　so　long　filled　by　their　ancestors；　which　the　wisdom　of　an　enlightened　prince　established　on　the　empire　of　the　laws。

　　　　　＇A　lady；　connected　with　the　establishment　of　St。　Denis；　told　Madame　　　　　　Campan　that　Napoleon　visited　it　during　the　Hundred　Days；　and　that　　　　　　the　pupils　were　so　delighted　to　see　him　that　they　crowded　round　him；　　　　　　endeavouring　to　touch　his　clothes；　and　evincing　the　most　extravagant　　　　　　joy。　　The　matron　endeavoured　to　silence　them；　but　Napoleon　said；　　　　　　'Let　them　alone；　let　them　alone。　　This　may　weaken　the　head；　but　it　　　　　　strengthens　the　heart。〃＇

This　moment；　which　diffused　joy　amongst　the　faithful　servants　of　the　royal　family；　and　brought　them　the　rewards　of　their　devotion；　proved　to　Madame　Campan　a　period　of　bitter　vexation。　　The　hatred　of　her　enemies　had　revived。　　The　suppression　of　the　school　at　Ecouen　had　deprived　her　of　her　position；　the　most　absurd　calumnies　followed　her　into　her　retreat；　her　attachment　to　the　Queen　was　suspected；　she　was　accused　not　only　of　ingratitude　but　of　perfidy。　　Slander　has　little　effect　on　youth；　but　in　the　decline　of　life　its　darts　are　envenomed　with　a　mortal　poison。　　The　wounds　which　Madame　Campan　had　received　were　deep。　　Her　sister；　Madame　Auguie；　had　destroyed　herself；　M。　Rousseau；　her　brother…in…law；　had　perished；　a　victim　of　the　reign　of　terror。　　In　1813　a　dreadful　accident　had　deprived　her　of　her　niece；　Madame　de　Broc；　one　of　the　most　amiable　and　interesting　beings　that　ever　adorned　the　earth。　　Madame　Campan　seemed　destined　to　behold　those　whom　she　loved　go　down　to　the　grave　before　her。

Beyond　the　walls　of　the　mansion　of　Ecouen；　in　the　village　which　surrounds　it；　Madame　Campan　had　taken　a　small　house　where　she　loved　to　pass　a　few　hours　in　solitary　retirement。　　There；　at　liberty　to　abandon　herself　to　the　memory　of　the　past；　the　superintendent　of　the　imperial　establishment　became；　once　more；　for　the　moment；　the　first　lady　of　the　chamber　to　Marie　Antoinette。　　To　the　few　friends　whom　she　admitted　into　this　retreat　she　would　show；　with　emotion；　a　plain　muslin　gown　which　the　Queen　had　worn；　and　which　was　made　from　a　part　of　Tippoo　Saib's　present。　　A　cup；　out　of　which　Marie　Antoinette　had　drunk；　a　writing…stand；　which　she　had　long　used；　were；　in　her　eyes；　of　inestimable　value；　and　she　has　often　been　discovered　sitting；　in　tears；　before　the　portrait　of　her　royal　mistress。

After　so　many　troubles　Madame　Campan　sought　a　peaceful　retreat。　　Paris　had　become　odious　to　her。

She　paid　a　visit　to　one　of　her　most　beloved　pupils；　Mademoiselle　Crouzet；　who　had　married　a　physician　at　Mantes；　a　man　of　talent；　distinguished　for　his　intelligence；　frankness；　and　cordiality。

　　　　　＇M。　Maigne；　physician　to　the　infirmaries　at　Mantes。　　Madame　Campan　　　　　　found　in　him　a　friend　and　comforter；　of　whose　merit　and　affection　　　　　　she　knew　the　value。＇

Mantes　is　a　cheerful　place　of　residence；　and　the　idea　of　an　abode　there　pleased　her。　　A　few　intimate　friends　formed　a　pleasant　society；　and　she　enjoyed　a　little　tranquillity　after　so　many　disturbances。　　The　revisal　of　her　〃Memoirs；〃　the　arrangement　of　the　interesting　anecdotes　of　which　her　〃Recollections　〃　were　to　consist；　alone　diverted　her　mind　from　the　one　powerful　sentiment　which　attached　her　to　life。　　She　lived　only　for　her　son。　　M。　Campan　deserved　the　tenderness　of；　his　mother。　　No　sacrifice　had　been　spared　for　his　education。　　After　having　pursued　that　course　of　study　which；　under　the　Imperial　Government；　produced　men　of　such　distinguished　merit；　he　was　waiting　till　time　and　circumstances　should　afford　him　an　opportunity　of　devoting　his　services　to　his　country。　　Although　the　state　of　his　health　was　far　from　good；　it　did　not　threaten　any　rapid　or　premature　decay；　he　was；　however；　after　a　few　days'　illness；　suddenly　taken　from　his　family。　　〃I　never　witnessed　so　heartrending　a　scene；〃　M。　Maigne　says；　〃as　that　which　took　place　when　Marechal　Ney's　lady；　her　niece；　and　Madame　Pannelier；　her　sister；　came　to　acquaint　her　with　this　misfortune。＇The　wife　of　Marechal　Ney　was　a　daughter　of　Madame　Auguie；　and　had　been　an　intimate　friend　of　Hortense　Beauharnais。＇　When　they　entered　her　apartment　she　was　in　bed。　　All　three　at　once　uttered　a　piercing　cry。　　The　two　ladies　threw　themselves　on　their　knees；　and　kissed　her　hands；　which　they　bedewed　with　tears。　　Before　they　could　speak　to　her　she　read　in　their　faces　that　she　no　longer　possessed　a　son。　　At　that　instant　her　large　eyes；　opening　wildly；　seemed　to　wander。　　Her　face　grew　pale；　her　features　changed；　her　lips　lost　their　colour；　she　struggled　to　speak；　but　uttered　only　inarticulate　sounds；　accompa