the memoirs of marie antoinette-第6部分

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　formed；　Madame　Campan　was　appointed　her　reader；　and　received　from　Marie　Antoinette　a　consistent　kindness　and　confidence　to　which　by　her　loyal　service　she　was　fully　entitled。　　　Madame　Campan's　intelligence　and　vivacity　made　her　much　more　sympathetic　to　a　young　princess；　gay　and　affectionate　in　disposition；　and　reared　in　the　simplicity　of　a　German　Court；　than　her　lady　of　honour；　the　Comtesse　de　Noailles。　　This　respectable　lady；　who　was　placed　near　her　as　a　minister　of　the　laws　of　etiquette；　instead　of　alleviating　their　weight；　rendered　their　yoke　intolerable　to　her。

〃Madame　de　Noailles；〃　says　Madame　Campan；　〃abounded　in　virtues。　　Her　piety；　charity；　and　irreproachable　morals　rendered　her　worthy　of　praise；　but　etiquette　was　to　her　a　sort　of　atmosphere；　at　the　slightest　derangement　of　the　consecrated　order；　one　would　have　thought　the　principles　of　life　would　forsake　her　frame。

〃One　day　I　unintentionally　threw　this　poor　lady　into　a　terrible　agony。　The　Queen　was　receiving　I　know　not　whom；some　persons　just　presented；　I　believe；　the　lady　of　honour；　the　Queen's　tirewoman；　and　the　ladies　of　the　bedchamber；　were　behind　the　Queen。　　I　was　near　the　throne；　with　the　two　women　on　duty。　　All　was　right；at　least　I　thought　so。　　Suddenly　I　perceived　the　eyes　of　Madame　de　Noailles　fixed　on　mine。　　She　made　a　sign　with　her　head；　and　then　raised　her　eyebrows　to　the　top　of　her　forehead；　lowered　them；　raised　them　again；　then　began　to　make　little　signs　with　her　hand。　　From　all　this　pantomime；　I　could　easily　perceive　that　something　was　not　as　it　should　be；　and　as　I　looked　about　on　all　sides　to　find　out　what　it　was；　the　agitation　of　the　Countess　kept　increasing。　　The　Queen；　who　perceived　all　this；　looked　at　me　with　a　smile；　I　found　means　to　approach　her　Majesty；　who　said　to　me　in　a　whisper；　'Let　down　your　lappets；　or　the　Countess　will　expire。'　　All　this　bustle　arose　from　two　unlucky　pins　which　fastened　up　my　lappets；　whilst　the　etiquette　of　costume　said　'Lappets　hanging　down。'〃

Her　contempt　of　the　vanities　of　etiquette　became　the　pretext　for　the　first　reproaches　levelled　at　the　Queen。　　What　misconduct　might　not　be　dreaded　from　a　princess　who　could　absolutely　go　out　without　a　hoop！　and　who；　in　the　salons　of　Trianon；　instead　of　discussing　the　important　rights　to　chairs　and　stools；　good…naturedly　invited　everybody　to　be　seated。

　　　　　＇M。　de　Fresne　Forget；　being　one　day　in　company　with　the　Queen　　　　　　Marguerite；　told　her　he　was　astonished　how　men　and　women　with　such　　　　　　great　ruffs　could　eat　soup　without　spoiling　them；　and　still　more　how　　　　　　the　ladies　could　be　gallant　with　their　great　fardingales。　　The　Queen　　　　　　made　no　answer　at　that　time；　but　a　few　days　after；　having　a　very　　　　　　large　ruff　on；　and　some　'bouili'　to　eat；　she　ordered　a　very　long　　　　　　spoon　to　be　brought；　and　ate　her　'bouili'　with　it；　without　soiling　　　　　　her　ruff。　　Upon　which；　addressing　herself　to　M。　de　Fresne；　she　said；　　　　　　laughing；　〃There　now；　you　see；　with　a　little　ingenuity　one　may　　　　　　manage　anything。〃〃Yes；　faith；　madame；〃　said　the　good　man；　〃as　far　　　　　　as　regards　the　soup　I　am　satisfied。〃LAPLACE's　〃Collection；〃　vol。　　　　　　ii。；　p。　350。＇

The　anti…Austrian　party；　discontented　and　vindictive；　became　spies　upon　her　conduct；　exaggerated　her　slightest　errors；　and　calumniated　her　most　innocent　proceedings。　　〃What　seems　unaccountable　at　the　first　glance；〃　says　Montjoie；　〃is　that　the　first　attack　on　the　reputation　of　the　Queen　proceeded　from　the　bosom　of　the　Court。　　What　interest　could　the　courtiers　have　in　seeking　her　destruction；　which　involved　that　of　the　King？　　Was　it　not　drying　up　the　source　of　all　the　advantages　they　enjoyed；　or　could　hope　for？〃

　　　　　＇Madame　Campan　relates　the　following　among　many　anecdotes　　　　　　illustrative　of　the　Queen's　kindness　of　heart：　〃A　petition　was　　　　　　addressed　to　the　Queen　by　a　corporation　in　the　neighbourhood　of　　　　　　Paris；　praying　for　the　destruction　of　the　game　which　destroyed　their　　　　　　crops。　　I　was　the　bearer　of　this　petition　to　her　Majesty；　who　said；　　　　　　'I　will　undertake　to　have　these　good　people　relieved　from　so　great　　　　　　an　annoyance。'　　She　gave　the　document　to　M。　de　Vermond　in　my　　　　　　presence；　saying；　'I　desire　that　immediate　justice　be　done　to　this　　　　　　petition。'　　An　assurance　was　given　that　her　order　should　be　attended　　　　　　to；　but　six　weeks　afterwards　a　second　petition　was　sent　up；　for　the　　　　　　nuisance　had　not　been　abated　after　all。　　If　the　second　petition　had　　　　　　reached　the　Queen；　M。　de　Vermond　would　have　received　a　sharp　　　　　　reprimand。　　She　was　always　so　happy　when　it　was　in　her　power　to　do　　　　　　good。〃

　　　　　The　quick　repartee；　which　was　another　of　the　Queen's　　　　　　characteristics；　was　less　likely　to　promote　her　popularity。　　〃M。　　　　　　Brunier；〃　says　Madame　Campan；　〃was　physician　to　the　royal　children。　　　　　　During　his　visits　to　the　palace；　if　the　death　of　any　of　his　patients　　　　　　was　alluded　to；　he　never　failed　to　say；　'Ah！　there　I　lost　one　of　my　　　　　　best　friends！　　'Well；'　said　the　Queen；　'if　he　loses　all　his　patients　　　　　　who　are　his　friends；　what　will　become　of　those　who　are　not？'〃＇

When　the　terrible　Danton　exclaimed；　〃The　kings　of　Europe　menace　us；　it　behooves　us　to　defy　them；　let　us　throw　down　to　them　the　head　of　a　king　as　our　gage！〃　these　detestable　words；　followed　by　so　cruel　a　result；　formed；　however；　a　formidable　stroke　of　policy。　　But　the　Queen！　　What　urgent　reasons　of　state　could　Danton；　Collot　d'Herbois；　and　Robespierre　allege　against　her？　　What　savage　greatness　did　they　discover　in　stirring　up　a　whole　nation　to　avenge　their　quarrel　on　a　woman？　　What　remained　of　her　former　power？　　She　was　a　captive；　a　widow；　trembling　for　her　children！　In　those　judges；　who　at　once　outraged　modesty　and　nature；　in　that　people　whose　vilest　scoffs　pursued　her　to　the　scaffold；　who　could　have　recognised　the　generous　people　of　France？　　Of　all　the　crimes　which　disgraced　the　Revolution；　none　was　more　calculated　to　show　how　the　spirit　of　party　can　degrade　the　character　of　a　nation。

The　news　of　this　dreadful　event　reached　Madame　Campan　in　an　obscure　retreat　which　she　had　chosen。　　She　had　not　succeeded　in　her　endeavours　to　share　the　Queen's　captivity；　and　she　expected　every　moment　a　similar　fate。　　After　escaping；　almost　miraculously；　from　the　murderous　fury　of　the　Marseillais；　after　being　denounced　and　pursued　by　Robespierre；　and　entrusted；　through　the　confidence　of　the　King　and　Queen；　with　papers　of　the　utmost　importance；　Madame　Campan　went　to　Coubertin；　in　the　valley　of　Chevreuse。　　Madame　Auguid；　her　sister；　had　just　committed　suicide；　at　the　very　moment　of　her　arrest。

　　　　　＇Maternal　affection　prevailed　over　her　religious　sentiments；　she　　　　　　wished　to　preserve　the　wreck　of　her　fortune　for　her　children。　　Had　　　　　　she　deferred　this　fatal　act　for　one　day　she　would　have　been　saved；　　　　　　the　cart　which　conveyed　Robespierre　to　execution　stopped　her　funeral　　　　　　procession！＇

The　scaffold　awaited　Madame　Campan；　when　the　9th　of　Thermidor　restored　her　to　life；　but　did　not　restore　to　her　the　most　constant　object　of　her　thoughts；　her　zeal；　and　her　devotion。

A　new　career　now　opened　to　Madame　Campan。　　At　Coubertin；　surrounded　by　her　nieces；　she　was　fond　of　directing　their　studies。　　This　occupation　caused　her　ideas　to　revert　to　the　subject　of　education；　and　awakened　once　more　the　inclinations　of　her　youth。　　At　the　age　of　twelve　years　she　could　never　meet　a　school　of　young　ladies　passing　through　the　streets　without　feeling　ambitious　of　the　situation　and　authority　of　their　mistress。　　Her　abode　at　Court　had　diverted　but　not　altered　her　inclinations。　　〃A　month　after　the　fall　of　Robespierre；〃　she　says；　〃I　considered　as　to　the　means　of　providing　for　myself；　for　a　mother　seventy　years　of　age；　my　sick　husband；　my　child　nine　years　old；　and　part　of　my　ruined　family。　　I　now　possessed　nothing　in　the　world　but　an　assignat　of　five　hundred　francs。　I　had　become　responsible　for　my　husband's　debts；　to　the　amount　of　thirty　thousand　francs。　　I　chose　St。　Germain　to　set　up　a　boarding…school；　for　that　town　did　not　remind　me；　as　Versailles　did；　both　of　happy　times　and　of　the　misfortunes　of　France。　　I　took　with　me　a　nun　of　l'Enfant…Jesus；　to　give　an　unquestionable　pledge　of　my　religious　principles。　　The　school　of　St。　Germain　was　the　first　in　which　the　opening　of　an　oratory　was　ventured　on。　　The　Directory　was　displeased　at　it；　and　ordered　it　to　be　immediately　shut　up；　and　some　time　after　commissioners　were　sent　to　desire　that　the　reading　of　the　Scriptures　should　be　suppressed　in　my　school。　　I　inquired　what　books　were　to　be　substituted　in　their　stead。　　After　some　minutes'　conversation；　they　observed：　'Citizeness；　you　are　arguing　after　the　old　fashion；　no　reflections。　　The　nation　commands；　we　must　have　obedience；　and　no　reasoning。'　　Not　having　the　means　of　printing　my　prospectus；　I　wrote　a　hundred　copies　of　it；　and　sent　them　to　the　persons　of　my　acquaintance　who　had　survived　the　dreadful　commotions。　　At　the　year's　end　I　had　sixty　pupils；　soon　afterwards　a　hundred。　　I　bought　furniture　and　paid　my　debts。〃

The　rapid　success　of　the　establishment　at　St。　Germain　was　undoubtedly　owing　to　the　talents；　experience；　and　excellent　principles　of　Madame　Campan；　seconded　by　public　opinion。　　All　property　had　changed　hands；　all　ranks　found　themselves　confusedly　jumbled　by　the　shock　of　the　Revolution：　the　grand　seigneur　dined　at　the　table　of　the　opulent　contractor；　and　the　witty　and　elegant　marquise　was　present　at　the　ball　by　the　side　of　the　clumsy　peasant　lately　grown　rich。　　In　the　absence　of　the　ancient　distinctions；　elegant　manners　and　polished　language　now　formed　a　kind　of　aristocracy。　　The　house　of　St。　Germain；　conducted　by　a　lady　who　possessed　the　deportment　and　the　habits　of　the　best　society；　was　not　only　a　school　of　knowledge；　but　a　school　of　the　world。

〃A　friend　of　Madame　de　Beauharnais；〃　continues　Madame　Campan；　〃brought　me　her　daughter　Hortense　de　Beauharnais；　and　her　niece　Emilie　de　Beauharnais。　　Six　months　afterwards　she　came　to　inform　me　of　her　marriage　with　a　Corsican　gentleman；　who　had　been　brought　up　in　the　military　school；　and　was　then　a　general。　　I　was　requested　to　communicate　this　information　to　her　daughter；　who　long　lamented　her　mother's　change　of　name。　　I　was　also　desired　to　watch　over　the　education　of　little　Eugene　de　Beauharnais；　who　was　placed　at　St。　Germain