the memoirs of marie antoinette-第51部分

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nd　walked　about　our　streets　in　plain　　　　　　cloth；　short　thick　shoes；　and　with　knotty　cudgels　in　their　hands。　　　　　　Many　humiliating　scrapes　were　the　consequence　of　this　metamorphosis。　　　　　　Bearing　no　mark　to　distinguish　them　from　the　common　herd；　some　of　　　　　　the　lowest　classes　got　into　quarrels　with　them；　in　which　the　nobles　　　　　　had　not　always　the　best　of　it。　MONTJOIE；　〃History　of　Marie　　　　　　Antoinette。〃＇

Examining　all　the　manufactories　of　the　hamlet；　seeing　the　cows　milked；　and　fishing　in　the　lake　delighted　the　Queen；　and　every　year　she　showed　increased　aversion　to　the　pompous　excursions　to　Marly。

The　idea　of　acting　comedies；　as　was　then　done　in　almost　all　country　houses；　followed　on　the　Queen's　wish　to　live　at　Trianon　without　ceremony。

　　　　　＇The　Queen　got　through　the　characters　she　assumed　indifferently　　　　　　enough；　she　could　hardly　be　ignorant　of　this；　as　her　performances　　　　　　evidently　excited　little　pleasure。　　Indeed；　one　day　while　she　was　　　　　　thus　exhibiting；　somebody　ventured　to　say；　by　no　means　inaudibly；　　　　　　〃well；　this　is　royally　ill　played！〃　　The　lesson　was　thrown　away　upon　　　　　　her；　for　never　did　she　sacrifice　to　the　opinion　of　another　that　　　　　　which　she　thought　permissible。　　When　she　was　told　that　her　extreme　　　　　　plainness　in　dress；　the　nature　of　her　amusements；　and　her　dislike　to　　　　　　that　splendour　which　ought　always　to　attend　a　Queen；　had　an　　　　　　appearance　of　levity；　which　was　misinterpreted　by　a　portion　of　the　　　　　　public；　she　replied　with　Madame　de　Maintenon：　〃I　am　upon　the　stage；　　　　　　and　of　course　I　shall　be　either　hissed　or　applauded。〃　　Louis　XIV。　　　　　　had　a　similar　taste；　he　danced　upon　the　stage；　but　he　had　shown　by　　　　　　brilliant　actions　that　he　knew　how　to　enforce　respect；　and　besides；　　　　　　he　unhesitatingly　gave　up　the　amusement　from　the　moment　he　heard　　　　　　those　beautiful　lines　in　which　Racine　pointed　out　how　very　unworthy　　　　　　of　him　such　pastimes　were。　MONTJOIE；　〃History　of　Marie　　　　　　Antoinette。〃＇

It　was　agreed　that　no　young　man　except　the　Comte　d'Artois　should　be　admitted　into　the　company　of　performers；　and　that　the　audience　should　consist　only　of　the　King；　Monsieur；　and　the　Princesses；　who　did　not　play；　but　in　order　to　stimulate　the　actors　a　little；　the　first　boxes　were　to　be　occupied　by　the　readers；　the　Queen's　ladies；　their　sisters　and　daughters；　making　altogether　about　forty　persons。

The　Queen　laughed　heartily　at　the　voice　of　M。　d'Adhemar；　formerly　a　very　fine　one；　but　latterly　become　rather　tremulous。　　His　shepherd's　dress　in　Colin；　in　the　〃Devin　du　Village；〃　contrasted　very　ridiculously　with　his　time　of　life；　and　the　Queen　said　it　would　be　difficult　for　malevolence　itself　to　find　anything　to　criticise　in　the　choice　of　such　a　lover。　The　King　was　highly　amused　with　these　plays；　and　was　present　at　every　performance。　　Caillot；　a　celebrated　actor；　who　had　long　quitted　the　stage；　and　Dazincourt；　both　of　acknowledged　good　character；　were　selected　to　give　lessons；　the　first　in　comic　opera；　of　which　the　easier　sorts　were　preferred；　and　the　second　in　comedy。　　The　office　of　hearer　of　rehearsals；　prompter；　and　stage　manager　was　given　to　my　father…in…law。　　The　Duc　de　Fronsac；　first　gentleman　of　the　chamber；　was　much　hurt　at　this。　　He　thought　himself　called　upon　to　make　serious　remonstrances　upon　the　subject；　and　wrote　to　the　Queen；　who　made　him　the　following　answer：　〃You　cannot　be　first　gentleman　when　we　are　the　actors。　　Besides；　I　have　already　intimated　to　you　my　determination　respecting　Trianon。　　I　hold　no　court　there；　I　live　like　a　private　person；　and　M。　Campan　shall　be　always　employed　to　execute　orders　relative　to　the　private　fetes　I　choose　to　give　there。〃　　This　not　putting　a　stop　to　the　Duke's　remonstrances；　the　King　was　obliged　to　interfere。　　The　Duke　continued　obstinate；　and　insisted　that　he　was　entitled　to　manage　the　private　amusements　as　much　as　those　which　were　public。　　It　became　absolutely　necessary　to　end　the　argument　in　a　positive　manner。

The　diminutive　Duc　de　Fronsac　never　failed；　when　he　came　to　pay　his　respects　to　the　Queen　at　her　toilet；　to　turn　the　conversation　upon　Trianon；　in　order　to　make　some　ironical　remarks　on　my　father…in…law；　of　whom；　from　the　time　of　his　appointment；　he　always　spoke　as　〃my　colleague　Campan。〃　　The　Queen　would　shrug　her　shoulders；　and　say；　when　he　was　gone；　〃It　is　quite　shocking　to　find　so　little　a　man　in　the　son　of　the　Marechal　de　Richelieu。〃

So　long　as　no　strangers　were　admitted　to　the　performances　they　were　but　little　censured；　but　the　praise　obtained　by　the　performers　made　them　look　for　a　larger　circle　of　admirers。　　The　company；　for　a　private　company；　was　good　enough；　and　the　acting　was　applauded　to　the　skies；　nevertheless；　as　the　audience　withdrew；　adverse　criticisms　were　occasionally　heard。　　The　Queen　permitted　the　officers　of　the　Body　Guards　and　the　equerries　of　the　King　and　Princes　to　be　present　at　the　plays。　　Private　boxes　were　provided　for　some　of　the　people　belonging　to　the　Court；　a　few　more　ladies　were　invited；　and　claims　arose　on　all　sides　for　the　favour　of　admission。　　The　Queen　refused　to　admit　the　officers　of　the　body　guards　of　the　Princes；　the　officers　of　the　King's　Cent　Suisses；　and　many　other　persons；　who　were　highly　mortified　at　the　refusal。

While　delight　at　having　given　an　heir　to　the　throne　of　the　Bourbons；　and　a　succession　of　fetes　and　amusements；　filled　up　the　happy　days　of　Marie　Antoinette；　the　public　was　engrossed　by　the　Anglo…American　war。　　Two　kings；　or　rather　their　ministers；　planted　and　propagated　the　love　of　liberty　in　the　new　world；　the　King　of　England；　by　shutting　his　ears　and　his　heart　against　the　continued　and　respectful　representations　of　subjects　at　a　distance　from　their　native　land；　who　had　become　numerous；　rich；　and　powerful；　through　the　resources　of　the　soil　they　had　fertilised；　and　the　King　of　France；　by　giving　support　to　this　people　in　rebellion　against　their　ancient　sovereign。　　Many　young　soldiers；　belonging　to　the　first　families　of　the　country；　followed　La　Fayette's　example；　and　forsook　luxury；　amusement；　and　love；　to　go　and　tender　their　aid　to　the　revolted　Americans。　　Beaumarchais；　secretly　seconded　by　Messieurs　de　Maurepas　and　de　Vergennes；　obtained　permission　to　send　out　supplies　of　arms　and　clothing。　　Franklin　appeared　at　Court　in　the　dress　of　an　American　agriculturist。　　His　unpowdered　hair；　his　round　hat；　his　brown　cloth　coat　formed　a　contrast　to　the　laced　and　embroidered　coats　and　the　powder　and　perfume　of　the　courtiers　of　Versailles。　　This　novelty　turned　the　light　heads　of　the　Frenchwomen。　　Elegant　entertainments　were　given　to　Doctor　Franklin；　who；　to　the　reputation　of　a　man　of　science；　added　the　patriotic　virtues　which　invested　him　with　the　character　of　an　apostle　of　liberty。　　I　was　present　at　one　of　these　entertainments；　when　the　most　beautiful　woman　out　of　three　hundred　was　selected　to　place　a　crown　of　laurels　upon　the　white　head　of　the　American　philosopher；　and　two　kisses　upon　his　cheeks。　　Even　in　the　palace　of　Versailles　Franklin's　medallion　was　sold　under　the　King's　eyes；　in　the　exhibition　of　Sevres　porcelain。　　The　legend　of　this　medallion　was

　　　　　　　　　　〃Eripuit　coelo　fulmen；　sceptrumque　tyrannis。〃

The　King　never　declared　his　opinion　upon　an　enthusiasm　which　his　correct　judgm