the memoirs of marie antoinette-第92节

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s；　〃Have　you　not　met　near　the　Temple　　　　　　the　White　Lady？〃〃　What　do　you　mean？〃　replied　he。　　〃Do　you　not　　　　　　know；〃　resumed　the　King　with　a　smile；　〃that　when　a　prince　of　our　　　　　　house　is　about　to　die；　a　female　dressed　in　white　is　seen　wandering　　　　　　about　the　palace？　　My　friends；〃　added　he　to　his　defenders；　〃I　am　　　　　　about　to　depart　before　you　for　the　land　of　the　just；　but　there；　at　　　　　　least；　we　shall　be　reunited。〃　　In　fact；　his　Majesty's　only　　　　　　apprehension　seemed　to　be　for　his　family。ALISON。＇

〃All　is　lost；〃　he　said　to　Clery。　　〃The　King　is　condemned。〃　　The　King；　who　saw　him　arrive；　rose　to　receive　him。

　　　　　＇When　M。　de　Malesherbes　went　to　the　Temple　to　announce　the　result　of　　　　　　the　vote；　he　found　Louis　with　his　forehead　resting　on　his　hands；　and　　　　　　absorbed　in　a　deep　reverie。　　Without　inquiring　concerning　his　fate；　　　　　　he　said：　〃For　two　hours　I　have　been　considering　whether；　during　my　　　　　　whole　reign；　I　have　voluntarily　given　any　cause　of　complaint　to　my　　　　　　subjects；　and　with　perfect　sincerity　I　declare　that　I　deserve　no　　　　　　reproach　at　their　hands；　and　that　I　have　never　formed　a　wish　but　for　　　　　　their　happiness。〃　　LACRETELLE。＇

M。　de　Malesherbes；　choked　by　sobs；　threw　himself　at　his　feet。　　The　King　raised　him　up　and　affectionately　embraced　him。　　When　he　could　control　his　voice；　De　Malesherbes　informed　the　King　of　the　decree　sentencing　him　to　death；　he　made　no　movement　of　surprise　or　emotion；　but　seemed　only　affected　by　the　distress　of　his　advocate；　whom　he　tried　to　comfort。

On　the　20th　of　January；　at　two　in　the　afternoon；　Louis　XVI。　was　awaiting　his　advocates；　when　he　heard　the　approach　of　a　numerous　party。　　He　stopped　with　dignity　at　the　door　of　his　apartment；　apparently　unmoved：　Garat　then　told　him　sorrowfully　that　he　was　commissioned　to　communicate　to　him　the　decrees　of　the　Convention。　　Grouvelle；　secretary　of　the　Executive　Council；　read　them　to　him。　　The　first　declared　Louis　XVI。　guilty　of　treason　against　the　general　safety　of　the　State；　the　second　condemned　him　to　death；　the　third　rejected　any　appeal　to　the　people；　and　the　fourth　and　last　ordered　his　execution　in　twenty…four　hours。　　Louis；　looking　calmly　round；　took　the　paper　from　Grouvelle；　and　read　Garat　a　letter；　in　which　he　demanded　from　the　Convention　three　days　to　prepare　for　death；　a　confessor　to　assist　him　in　his　last　moments；　liberty　to　see　his　family；　and　permission　for　them　to　leave　France。　　Garat　took　the　letter；　promising　to　submit　it　immediately　to　the　Convention。

Louis　XVI。　then　went　back　into　his　room　with　great　composure；　ordered　his　dinner；　and　ate　as　usual。　　There　were　no　knives　on　the　table；　and　his　attendants　refused　to　let　him　have　any。　　〃Do　they　think　me　so　cowardly；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃as　to　lay　violent　hands　on　myself？　　I　am　innocent；　and　I　am　not　afraid　to　die。〃

The　Convention　refused　the　delay；　but　granted　some　other　demands　which　he　had　made。　　Garat　sent　for　Edgeworth　de　Firmont；　the　ecclesiastic　whom　Louis　XVI。　had　chosen；　and　took　him　in　his　own　carriage　to　the　Temple。　M。　Edgeworth；　on　being　ushered　into　the　presence　of　the　King；　would　have　thrown　himself　at　his　feet；　but　Louis　instantly　raised　him；　and　both　shed　tears　of　emotion。　　He　then；　with　eager　curiosity；　asked　various　questions　concerning　the　clergy　of　France；　several　bishops；　and　particularly　the　Archbishop　of　Paris；　requesting　him　to　assure　the　latter　that　he　died　faithfully　attached　to　his　communion。The　clock　having　struck　eight；　he　rose；　begged　M。　Edgeworth　to　wait；　and　retired　with　emotion；　saying　that　he　was　going　to　see　his　family。　　The　municipal　officers；　unwilling　to　lose　sight　of　the　King；　even　while　with　his　family；　had　decided　that　he　should　see　them　in　the　dining…room；　which　had　a　glass　door；　through　which　they　could　watch　all　his　motions　without　hearing　what　he　said。　　At　half…　past　eight　the　door　opened。　　The　Queen；　holding　the　Dauphin　by　the　hand；　Madame　Elisabeth；　and　Madame　Royale　rushed　sobbing　into　the　arms　of　Louis　XVI。　　The　door　was　closed；　and　the　municipal　officers；　Clery；　and　M。　Edgeworth　placed　themselves　behind　it。　　During　the　first　moments；　it　was　but　a　scene　of　confusion　and　despair。　　Cries　and　lamentations　prevented　those　who　were　on　the　watch　from　distinguishing　anything。　　At　length　the　conversation　became　more　calm；　and　the　Princesses；　still　holding　the　King　clasped　in　their　arms；　spoke　with　him　in　a　low　tone。　　〃He　related　his　trial　to　my　mother；〃　says　Madame　Royale；　〃apologising　for　the　wretches　who　had　condemned　him。　　He　told　her　that　he　would　not　consent　to　any　attempt　to　save　him；　which　might　excite　disturbance　in　the　country。　He　then　gave　my　brother　some　religious　advice；　and　desired　him；　above　all；　to　forgive　those　who　caused　his　death；　and　he　gave　us　his　blessing。　My　mother　was　very　desirous　that　the　whole　family　should　pass　the　night　with　my　father；　but　he　opposed　this；　observing　to　her　that　he　much　needed　some　hours　of　repose　and　quiet。〃　　After　a　long　conversation；　interrupted　by　silence　and　grief；　the　King　put　an　end　to　the　painful　meeting；　agreeing　to　see　his　family　again　at　eight　the　next　morning。　　〃Do　you　promise　that　you　will？〃　　earnestly　inquired　the　Princesses。　　〃Yes；　yes；〃　sorrowfully　replied　the　King。〃

　　　　　＇But　when　we　were　gone；〃　says　his　daughter；　〃he　requested　that　we　　　　　　might　not　be　permitted　to　return；　as　our　presence　afflicted　him　too　　　　　　much。〃＇

At　this　moment　the　Queen　held　him　by　one　arm；　Madame　Elisabeth　by　the　other；　while　Madame　Royale　clasped　him　round　the　waist；　and　the　Dauphin　stood　before　him；　with　one　hand　in　that　of　his　mother。　　At　the　moment　of　retiring　Madame　Royale　fainted；　she　was　carried　away；　and　the　King　returned　to　M。　Edgeworth　deeply　depressed　by　this　painful　interview。　The　King　retired　to　rest　about　midnight；　M。　Edgeworth　threw　himself　upon　a　bed；　and　Clery　took　his　place　near　the　pillow　of　his　master。

Next　morning；　the　21st　of　January；　at　five；　the　King　awoke；　called　Clery；　and　dressed　with　great　calmness。　　He　congratulated　himself　on　having　recovered　his　strength　by　sleep。　　Clery　kindled　a　fire；；　and　moved　a　chest　of　drawers；　out　of　which　he　formed　an　altar。　　M。　Edgeworth　put　on　his　pontifical　robes；　and　began　to　celebrate　mass。　　Clery　waited　on　him；　and　the　King　listened；　kneeling　with　the　greatest　devotion。　　He　then　received　the　communion　from　the　hands　of　M。　Edgeworth；　and　after　mass　rose　with　new　vigour；　and　awaited　with　composure　the　moment　for　going　to　the　scaffold。　　He　asked　for　scissors　that　Clery　might　cut　his　hair；　but　the　Commune　refused　to　trust　him　with　a　pair。

At　this　moment　the　drums　were　beating　in　the　capital。　　All　who　belonged　to　the　armed　sections　repaired　to　their　company　with　complete　submission。　It　was　reported　that　four　or　five　hundred　devoted　men；　were　to　make　a　dash　upon　the　carriage；　and　rescue　the　King。　　The　Convention；　the　Commune；　the　Executive　Council；　and　the　Jacobins　were　sitting。　　At　eight。　in　the　morning；　Santerre；　with　a　deputation　from　the　Commune；　the　department；　and　the　criminal　tribunal；　repaired　to　the　Temple。　　Louis　XVI。；　on　hearing　them　arrive；　rose　and　prepared　to　depart。　　He　desired　Clery　to　transmit　his　last　farewell　to　his　wife；　his　sister；　and　his　children；　he　gave　him　a　sealed　packet；　hair；　and　various　trinkets；　with　directions　to　deliver　these　articles　to　them。

　　　　　＇In　the　course　of　the　morning　the　King　said　to　me：　〃You　will　give　　　　　　this　seal　to　my　son　and　this　ring　to　the　Queen；　and　assure　her　that　　　　　　it　is　with　pain　I　part　with　it。　　This　little　packet　contains　the　　　　　　hair　of　all　my　family；　you　will　give　her　that；　too。　　Tell　the　Queen；　　　　　　my　dear　sister；　and　my　children；　that；　although　I　promised　to　see　　　　　　them　again　this　morning；　I　have　resolved　to　spare　them　the　pang　of　　　　　　so　cruel　a　separation。　　Tell　them　how　much　it　costs　me　to　go　away　　　　　　without　receiving　their　embraces　once　more！〃　　He　wiped　away　some　　　　　　tears；　and　then　added；　in　the　most　mournful　accents；　〃I　charge　you　　　　　　to　bear　them　my　last　farewell。〃CLERY。＇

He　then　clasped　his　hand　and　thanked　him　for　his　services。　　After　this　he　addressed　himself　to　one　of　the　municipal　officers；　requesting　him　to　transmit　his　last　will　to　the　Commune。　　This　officer；　who　had　formerly　been　a　priest；　and　was　named　Jacques　Roux；　brutally　replied　that　his　business　was　to　conduct　him　to　execution；　and　not　to　perform　his　commissions。　　Another　person　took　charge　of　it；　and　Louis；　turning　towards　the　party；　gave　with　firmness　the　signal　for　starting。

Officers　of　gendarmerie　were　placed　on　the　front　seat　of　the　carriage。　The　King　and　M。　Edgeworth　occupied　the　back。　　During　the　ride；　which　was　rather　long；　the　King　read　in　M。　Edgeworth's　breviary　the　prayers　for　persons　at　the　point　of　death；　the　two　gendarmes　were　astonished　at　his　piety　and　tranquil　resignation。　　The　vehicle　advanced　slowly；　and　amidst　universal　silence。　　At　the　Place　de　la　Revolution　an　extensive　space　had　been　left　vacant　about　the　scaffold。　　Around　this　space　were　planted　cannon；　the　most　violent　of　the　Federalists　were　stationed　about　the　scaffold；　and　the　vile　rabble；　always　ready　to　insult　genius；　virtue；　and　misfortune；　when　a　signal　is　given　it　to　do　so；　crowded　behind　the　ranks　of　the　Federalists；　and　alone　manifested　some　outward　tokens　of　satisfaction。

At　ten　minutes　past　ten　the