the memoirs of marie antoinette-第49部分

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t　may　be　me！〃

　　　　　NOTE　BY　THE　EDITOR。

The　rejoicings　were　splendid　and　ingenious。　　The　artificers　and　tradesmen　of　Paris　spent　considerable　sums　in　order　to　go　to　Versailles　in　a　body；　with　their　various　insignia。　　Almost　every　troop　had　music　with　it。　　When　they　arrived　at　the　court　of　the　palace；　they　there　arranged　themselves　so　as　to　present　a　most　interesting　living　picture。　　Chimney…sweepers；　quite　as　well　dressed　as　those　that　appear　upon　the　stage；　carried　an　ornamented　chimney；　at　the　top　of　which　was　perched　one　of　the　smallest　of　their　fraternity。　　The　chairmen　carried　a　sedan　highly　gilt；　in　which　were　to　be　seen　a　handsome　nurse　and　a　little　Dauphin。　　The　butchers　made　their　appearance　with　their　fat　ox。　　Cooks；　masons；　blacksmiths；　all　trades　were　on　the　alert。　　The　smiths　hammered　away　upon　an　anvil；　the　shoemakers　finished　off　a　little　pair　of　boots　for　the　Dauphin；　and　the　tailors　a　little　suit　of　the　uniform　of　his　regiment。　　The　King　remained　a　long　time　upon　a　balcony　to　enjoy　the　sight。　　The　whole　Court　was　delighted　with　it。　　So　general　was　the　enthusiasm　that　（the　police　not　having　carefully　examined　the　procession）　the　grave…diggers　had　the　imprudence　to　send　their　deputation　also；　with　the　emblematic　devices　of　their　ill…omened　occupation。　　They　were　met　by　the　Princesse　Sophie；　the　King's　aunt；　who　was　thrilled　with　horror　at　the　sight；　and　entreated　the　King　to　have　the　audacious；　fellows　driven　out　of　the　procession；　which　was　then　drawing　up　on　the　terrace。

The　'dames　de　la　halle'　came　to　congratulate　the　Queen；　and　were　received　with　the　suitable　ceremonies。

Fifty　of　them　appeared　dressed　in　black　silk　gowns；　the　established　full　dress　of　their　order；　and　almost　all　wore　diamonds。　　The　Princesse　de　Chimay　went　to　the　door　of　the　Queen's　bedroom　to　receive　three　of　these　ladies；　who　were　led　up　to　the　Queen's　bed。　　One　of　them　addressed　her　Majesty　in　a　speech　written　by　M。　de　la　Harpe。　　It　was　set　down　on　the　inside　of　a　fan；　to　which　the　speaker　repeatedly　referred；　but　without　any　embarrassment。　　She　was　handsome；　and　had　a　remarkably　fine　voice。　The　Queen　was　affected　by　the　address；　and　answered　it　with　great　affability；wishing　a　distinction　to　be　made　between　these　women　and　the　poissardes；　who　always　left　a　disagreeable　impression　on　her　mind。

The　King　ordered　a　substantial　repast　for　all　these　women。　　One　of　his　Majesty's　maitres　d'hotel；　wearing　his　hat；　sat　as　president　and　did　the　honours　of　the　table。　　The　public　were　admitted；　and　numbers　of　people　had　the　curiosity　to　go。

The　Garden…du…Corps　obtained　the　King's　permission　to　give　the　Queen　a　dress　ball　in　the　great　hall　of　the　Opera　at　Versailles。　　Her　Majesty　opened　the　ball　in　a　minuet　with　a　private　selected　by　the　corps；　to　whom　the　King　granted　the　baton　of　an　exempt。　　The　fete　was　most　splendid。　All　then　was　joy；　happiness；　and　peace。

The　Dauphin　was　a　year　old　when　the　Prince　de　Guemenee's　bankruptcy　compelled　the　Princess；　his　wife；　who　was　governess　to　the　children　of　France；　to　resign　her　situation。

The　Queen　was　at　La　Muette　for　the　inoculation　of　her　daughter。　　She　sent　for　me；　and　condescended　to　say　she　wished　to　converse　with　me　about　a　scheme　which　delighted　her；　but　in　the　execution　of　which　she　foresaw　some　inconveniences。　　Her　plan　was　to　appoint　the　Duchesse　de　Polignac　to　the　office　lately　held　by　the　Princesse　de　Guemenee。　　She　saw　with　extreme　pleasure　the　facilities　which　this　appointment　would　give　her　for　superintending　the　education　of　her　children；　without　running　any　risk　of　hurting　the　pride　of　the　governess；　and　that　it　would　bring　together　the　objects　of　her　warmest　affections；　her　children　and　her　friend。　　〃The　friends　of　the　Duchesse　de　Polignac；〃　continued　the　Queen；　〃will　be　gratified　by　the　splendour　and　importance　conferred　by　the　employment。　As　to　the　Duchess；　I　know　her；　the　place　by　no　means　suits　her　simple　and　quiet　habits；　nor　the　sort　of　indolence　of　her　disposition。　　She　will　give　me　the　greatest　possible　proof　of　her　devotion　if　she　yields　to　my　wish。〃　　The　Queen　also　spoke　of　the　Princesse　de　Chimay　and　the　Duchesse　de　Duras；　whom　the　public　pointed　out　as　fit　for　the　post；　but　she　thought　the　Princesse　de　Chimay's　piety　too　rigid；　and　as　to　the　Duchesse　de　Duras；　her　wit　and　learning　quite　frightened　her。　　What　the　Queen　dreaded　as　the　consequence　of　her　selection　of　the　Duchesse　de　Polignac　was　principally　the　jealousy　of　the　courtiers；　but　she　showed　so　lively　a　desire　to　see　her　scheme　executed　that　I　had　no　doubt　she　would　soon　set　at　naught　all　the　obstacles　she　discovered。　　I　was　not　mistaken；　a　few　days　afterwards　the　Duchess　was　appointed　governess。

The　Queen's　object　in　sending　for　me　was　no　doubt　to　furnish　me　with　the　means　of　explaining　the　feelings　which　induced　her　to　prefer　a　governess　disposed　by　friendship　to　suffer　her　to　enjoy　all　the　privileges　of　a　mother。　　Her　Majesty　knew　that　I　saw　a　great　deal　of　company。

The　Queen　frequently　dined　with　the　Duchess　after　having　been　present　at　the　King's　private　dinner。　　Sixty…one　thousand　francs　were　therefore　added　to　the　salary　of　the　governess　as　a　compensation　for　this　increase　of　expense。

The　Queen　was　tired　of　the　excursions　to　Marly；　and　had　no　great　difficulty　in　setting　the　King　against　them。　　He　did　not　like　the　expense　of　them；　for　everybody　was　entertained　there　gratis。　　Louis　XIV。　had　established　a　kind　of　parade　upon　these　excursions；　differing　from　that　of　Versailles；　but　still　more　annoying。　　Card　and　supper　parties　occurred　every　day；　and　required　much　dress。　　On　Sundays　and　holidays　the　fountains　played；　the　people　were　admitted　into　the　gardens；　and　there　was　as　great　a　crowd　as　at　the　fetes　of　St。　Cloud。

Every　age　has　its　peculiar　colouring；　Marly　showed　that　of　Louis　XIV。　even　more　than　Versailles。　　Everything　in　the　former　place　appeared　to　have　been　produced　by　the　magic　power　of　a　fairy's　wand。　　Not　the　slightest　trace　of　all　this　splendour　remains；　the　revolutionary　spoilers　even　tore　up　the　pipes　which　served　to　supply　the　fountains。　　Perhaps　a　brief　description　of　this　palace　and　the　usages　established　there　by　Louis　XIV。　　may　be　acceptable。

The　very　extensive　gardens　of　Marly　ascended　almost　imperceptibly　to　the　Pavilion　of　the　Sun。；　which　was　occupied　only　by　the　King　and　his　family。　The　pavilions　of　the　twelve　zodiacal　signs　bounded　the　two　sides　of　the　lawn。　　They　were　connected　by　bowers　impervious　to　the　rays　of　the　sun。　The　pavilions　nearest　to　that　of　the　sun　were　reserved　for　the　Princes　of　the　blood　and　the　ministers；　the　rest　were　occupied　by　persons　holding　superior　offices　at　Court；　or　invited　to　stay　at　Marly。　　Each　pavilion　was　named　after　fresco　paintings；　which　covered　its　walls；　and　which　had　been　executed　by　the　most　celebrated　artists　of　the　age　of　Louis　XIV。　On　a　line　with　the　upper　pavilion　there　was　on　the　left　a　chapel；　on　the　right　a　pavilion　called　La　Perspective；　which　concealed　along　suite　of　offices；　containing　a　hundred　lodging…rooms　intended　for　the　persons　belonging　to　the　service　of　the　Court；　kitchens；　and　spacious　dining…　rooms；　in　which　more　than　thirty　tables　were　splendidly　laid　out。

During　half　of　Louis　XV。's　reign　the　ladie