the memoirs of marie antoinette-第48部分

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uc　de　Guiche；　and　captain　of　the　King's　Guards；　in　reversion　after　the　Duc　de　Villeroi。　The　Duchesse　de　Civrac；　Madame　Victoire's　dame　d'honneur；　had　been　promised　the　place　for　the　Duc　de　Lorges；　her　son。　　The　number　of　discontented　families　at　Court　increased。

The　title　of　favourite　was　too　openly　given　to　the　Comtesse　Jules　by　her　friends。　　The　lot　of　the　favourite　of　a　queen　is　not；　in　France；　a　happy　one；　the　favourites　of　kings　are　treated；　out　of　gallantry；　with　much　greater　indulgence。

A　short　time　after　the　birth　of　Madame　the　Queen　became　again　enceinte；　she　had　mentioned　it　only　to　the　King；　to　her　physician；　and　to　a　few　persons　honoured　with　her　intimate　confidence；　when；　having　overexerted　her　strength　in　pulling　lip　one　of　the　glasses　of　her　carriage；　she　felt　that　she　had　hurt　herself；　and　eight　days　afterwards　she　miscarried。　　The　King　spent　the　whole　morning　at　her　bedside；　consoling　her；　and　manifesting　the　tenderest　concern　for　her。　　The　Queen　wept　exceedingly；　the　King　took　her　affectionately　in　his　arms；　and　mingled　his　tears　with　hers。　　The　King　enjoined　silence　among　the　small　number　of　persons　who　were　informed　of　this　unfortunate　occurrence；　and　it　remained　generally　unknown。　　These　particulars　furnish　an　accurate　idea　of　the　manner　in　which　this　august　couple　lived　together。

The　Empress　Maria　Theresa　did　not　enjoy　the　happiness　of　seeing　her　daughter　give　an　heir　to　the　crown　of　France。　　That　illustrious　Princess　died　at　the　close　of　1780；　after　having　proved　by　her　example　that；　as　in　the　instance　of　Queen　Blanche；　the　talents　of　a　sovereign　might　be　blended　with　the　virtues　of　a　pious　princess。　　The　King　was　deeply　affected　at　the　death　of　the　Empress；　and　on　the　arrival　of　the　courier　from　Vienna　said　that　he　could　not　bring　himself　to　afflict　the　Queen　by　informing　her　of　an　event　which　grieved　even　him　so　much。　　His　Majesty　thought　the　Abbe　de　Vermond；　who　had　possessed　the　confidence　of　Maria　Theresa　during　his　stay　at　Vienna；　the　most　proper　person　to　discharge　this　painful　duty。　　He　sent　his　first　valet　de　chambre；　M。　de　Chamilly；　to　the　Abbe　on　the　evening　of　the　day　he　received　the　despatches　from　Vienna；　to　order　him　to　come　the　next　day　to　the　Queen　before　her　breakfast　hour；　to　acquit　himself　discreetly　of　the　afflicting　commission　with　which　he　was　charged；　and　to　let　his　Majesty　know　the　moment　of　his　entering　the　Queen's　chamber。　　It　was　the　King's　intention　to　be　there　precisely　a　quarter　of　an　hour　after　him；　and　he　was　punctual　to　his　time；　he　was　announced；　the　Abbe　came　out；　and　his　Majesty　said　to　him；　as　he　drew　up　at　the　door　to　let　him　pass；　〃I　thank　you；　Monsieur　l'Abbe；　for　the　service　you　have　just　done　me。〃　　This　was　the　only　time　during　nineteen　years　that　the　King　spoke　to　him。

Within　an　hour　after　learning　the　event　the　Queen　put　on　temporary　mourning；　while　waiting　until　her　Court　mourning　should　be　ready；　she　kept　herself　shut　up　in　her　apartments　for　several　days；　went　out　only　to　mass；　saw　none　but　the　royal　family；　and　received　none　but　the　Princesse　de　Lamballe　and　the　Duchesse　de　Polignac。　　She　talked　incessantly　of　the　courage；　the　misfortunes；　the　successes；　and　the　virtues　of　her　mother。　The　shroud　and　dress　in　which　Maria　Theresa　was　to　be　buried；　made　entirely　by　her　own　hands；　were　found　ready　prepared　in　one　of　her　closets。　　She　often　regretted　that　the　numerous　duties　of　her　august　mother　had　prevented　her　from　watching　in　person　over　the　education　of　her　daughters；　and　modestly　said　that　she　herself　would　have　been　more　worthy　if　she　had　had　the　good　fortune　to　receive　lessons　directly　from　a　sovereign　so　enlightened　and　so　deserving　of　admiration。

The　Queen　told　me　one　day　that　her　mother　was　left　a　widow　at　an　age　when　her　beauty　was　yet　striking；　that　she　was　secretly　informed　of　a　plot　laid　by　her　three　principal　ministers　to　make　themselves　agreeable　to　her；　of　a　compact　made　between　them；　that　the　losers　should　not　feel　any　jealousy　towards　him　who　should　be　fortunate　enough　to　gain　his　sovereign's　heart；　and　that　they　had　sworn　that　the　successful　one　should　be　always　the　friend　of　the　other　two。　　The　Empress　being　assured　of　this　scheme；　one　day　after　the　breaking　up　of　the　council　over　which　she　had　presided；　turned　the　conversation　upon　the　subject　of　female　sovereigns；　and　the　duties　of　their　sex　and　rank；　and　then　applying　her　general　reflections　to　herself　in　particular；　told　them　that　she　hoped　to　guard　herself　all　her　life　against　weaknesses　of　the　heart；　but　that　if　ever　an　irresistible　feeling　should　make　her　alter　her　resolution；　it　should　be　only　in　favour　of　a　man　proof　against　ambition；　not　engaged　in　State　affairs；　but　attached　only　to　a　private　life　and　its　calm　enjoyments；in　a　word；　if　her　heart　should　betray　her　so　far　as　to　lead　her　to　love　a　man　invested　with　any　important　office；　from　the　moment　he　should　discover　her　sentiments　he　would　forfeit　his　place　and　his　influence　with　the　public。　　This　was　sufficient；　the　three　ministers；　more　ambitious　than　amorous；　gave　up　their　projects　for　ever。

On　the　22d　of　October；　1781；　the　Queen　gave　birth　to　a　Dauphin。　＇The　first　Dauphin；　Louis；　born　1781；　died　1789。＇　　So　deep　a　silence　prevailed　in　the　room　that　the　Queen　thought　her　child　was　a　daughter；　but　after　the　Keeper　of　the　Seals　had　declared　the　sex　of　the　infant；　the　King　went　up　to　the　Queen's　bed；　and　said　to　her；　〃Madame；　you　have　fulfilled　my　wishes　and　those　of　France：；　you　are　the　mother　of　a　Dauphin。〃　　The　King's　joy　was　boundless；　tears　streamed　from　his　eyes；　he　gave　his　hand　to　every　one　present；　and　his　happiness　carried　away　his　habitual　reserve。　　Cheerful　and　affable；　he　was　incessantly　taking　occasion　to　introduce　the　words；　〃my　son；〃　or　〃the　Dauphin。〃　　As　soon　as　the　Queen　was　in　bed；　she　wished　to　see　the　long…looked…for　infant。　　The　Princesse　de　Guemenee　brought　him　to　her。　　The　Queen　said　there　was　no　need　for　commending　him　to　the　Princess；　but　in　order　to　enable　her　to　attend　to　him　more　freely；　she　would　herself　share　the　care　of　the　education　of　her　daughter。　　When　the　Dauphin　was　settled　in　his　apartment；　he　received　the　customary　homages　and　visits。　　The　Duc　d'Angouleme；　　meeting　his　father　at　the　entrance　of　the　Dauphin's　apartment；　said　to　him；　〃Oh；　papa！　how　little　my　cousin　is！〃〃The　day　will　come　when　you　will　think　him　great　enough；　my　dear；〃　answered　the　Prince；　almost　involuntarily。＇Eldest　son　of　the　Comte　d'Artois；　and　till　the　birth　of　the　Dauphin　with　near　prospects　of　the　succession。＇

The　birth　of　the　Dauphin　appeared　to　give　joy　to　all　classes。　　Men　stopped　one　another　in　the　streets；　spoke　without　being　acquainted；　and　those　who　were　acquainted　embraced　each　other。　　In　the　birth　of　a　legitimate　heir　to　the　sovereign　every　man　beholds　a　pledge　of　prosperity　and　tranquillity　。

　　　　　＇M。　Merard　de　Saint　Just　made　a　quatrain　on　the　birth　of　the　Dauphin　　　　　　to　the　following　effect：

　　　　　　　　　　〃This　infant　Prince　our　hopes　are　centred　in；　　　　　　　　　　　will　doubtless　make　us　happy；　rich；　and　free；　　　　　　　　　　　And　since　with　somebody　he　must　begin；　　　　　　　　　　　My　fervent　prayer　isthat　it　may　be　me！〃

　　　　　NOTE　BY　THE　EDITOR。

The　rejoicings　were　splendid　and　ingenious。　　The　artifi