友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
恐怖书库 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

the memoirs of marie antoinette-第89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!


neighbourhood; alarmed at the sight of this body of troops; came armed with staves; and asked several questions; which manifested their anxiety。  M。 de Goguelat; fearful of causing a riot; and not finding the carriage arrive as he expected; divided his men into two companies; and unfortunately made them leave the highway in order to return to Varennes by two cross roads。 The King looked out of the carriage at Ste。 Menehould; and asked several questions concerning the road。  Drouet; the post…master; struck by the resemblance of Louis to the impression of his head upon the assignats; drew near the carriage; felt convinced that he recognised the Queen also; and that the remainder of the travellers consisted of the royal family and their suite; mounted his horse; reached Varennes by cross roads before the royal fugitives; and gave the alarm。'Varennes lies between Verdun and Montmedy; and not far from the French frontier。'

The Queen began to feel all the agonies of terror; they were augmented by the voice of a person unknown; who; passing close to the carriage in full gallop; cried out; bending towards the window without slackening his speed; 〃You are recognised!〃  They arrived with beating hearts at the gates of Varennes without meeting one of the horsemen by whom they were to have been escorted into the place。  They were ignorant where to find their relays; and some minutes were lost in waiting; to no purpose。  The cabriolet had preceded them; and the two ladies in attendance found the bridge already blocked up with old carts and lumber。  The town guards were all under arms。  The King at last entered Varennes。  M。 de Goguelat had arrived there with his detachment。  He came up to the King and asked him if he chose to effect a passage by force!  What an unlucky question to put to Louis XVI。; who from the very beginning of the Revolution had shown in every crisis the fear he entertained of giving the least order which might cause an effusion of blood!  〃Would it be a brisk action?〃 said the King。  〃It is impossible that it should be otherwise; Sire;〃 replied the aide…decamp。  Louis XVI。 was unwilling to expose his family。 They therefore went to the house of a grocer; Mayor of Varennes。  The King began to speak; and gave a summary of his intentions in departing; analogous to the declaration he had made at Paris。  He spoke with warmth and affability; and endeavoured to demonstrate to the people around him that he had only put himself; by the step he had taken; into a fit situation to treat with the Assembly; and to sanction with freedom the constitution which he would maintain; though many of its articles were incompatible with the dignity of the throne; and the force by which it was necessary that the sovereign should be surrounded。  Nothing could be more affecting; added the Queen; than this moment; in which the King felt bound to communicate to the very humblest class of his subjects his principles; his wishes for the happiness of his people; and the motives which had determined him to depart。

Whilst the King was speaking to this mayor; whose name was Sauce; the Queen; seated at the farther end of the shop; among parcels of soap and candles; endeavoured to make Madame Sauce understand that if she would prevail upon her husband to make use of his municipal authority to cover the flight of the King and his family; she would have the glory of having contributed to restore tranquillity to France。  This woman was moved; she could not; without streaming eyes; see herself thus solicited by her Queen; but she could not be got to say anything more than; 〃Bon Dieu; Madame; it would be the destruction of M。 Sauce; I love my King; but I love my husband too; you must know; and he would be answerable; you see。〃 Whilst this strange scene was passing in the shop; the people; hearing that the King was arrested; kept pouring in from all parts。  M。 de Goguelat; making a last effort; demanded of the dragoons whether they would protect the departure of the King; they replied only by murmurs; dropping the points of their swords。  Some person unknown fired a pistol at M。 de Goguelat; he was slightly wounded by the ball。  M。 Romeuf; aide… de…camp to M。 de La Fayette; arrived at that moment。  He had been chosen; after the 6th of October; 1789; by the commander of the Parisian guard to be in constant attendance about the Queen。  She reproached him bitterly with the object of his mission。  〃If you wish to make your name remarkable; monsieur;〃 said the Queen to him; 〃you have chosen strange and odious means; which will produce the most fatal consequences。〃  This officer wished to hasten their departure。  The Queen; still cherishing the hope of seeing M。 de Bouille arrive with a sufficient force to extricate the King from his critical situation; prolonged her stay at Varennes by every means in her power。

The Dauphin's first woman pretended to be taken ill with a violent colic; and threw herself upon a bed; in the hope of aiding the designs of her superiors; she went and implored for assistance。  The Queen understood her perfectly well; and refused to leave one who had devoted herself to follow them in such a state of suffering。  But no delay in departing was allowed。  The three Body Guards (Valory; Du Moustier; and Malden) were gagged and fastened upon the seat of the carriage。  A horde of National Guards; animated with fury and the barbarous joy with which their fatal triumph inspired them; surrounded the carriage of the royal family。

The three commissioners sent by the Assembly to meet the King; MM。 de Latour…Maubourg; Barnave; and Potion; joined them in the environs of Epernay。  The two last mentioned got into the King's carriage。  The Queen astonished me by the favourable opinion she had formed of Barnave。 When I quitted Paris a great many persons spoke of him only with horror。 She told me he was much altered; that he was full of talent and noble feeling。  〃A feeling of pride which I cannot much blame in a young man belonging to the Tiers Etat;〃 she said; 〃made him applaud everything which smoothed the road to rank and fame for that class in which he was born。  And if we get the power in our own hands again; Barnave's pardon is already written on our hearts。〃  The Queen added; that she had not the same feeling towards those nobles who had joined the revolutionary party; who had always received marks of favour; often to the injury of those beneath them in rank; and who; born to be the safeguard of the monarchy; could never be pardoned for having deserted it。  She then told me that Barnave's conduct upon the road was perfectly correct; while Potion's republican rudeness was disgusting; that the latter ate and drank in the King's berlin in a slovenly manner; throwing the bones of the fowls out through the window at the risk of sending them even into the King's face; lifting up his glass; when Madame Elisabeth poured him out wine; to show her that there was enough; without saying a word; that this offensive behaviour must have been intentional; because the man was not without education; and that Barnave was hurt at it。  On being pressed by the Queen to take something; 〃Madame;〃 replied Barnave; 〃on so solemn an occasion the deputies of the National Ass
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 1
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!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!