第 33 节
作者:北方网      更新:2021-02-21 16:34      字数:9322
  the queen。 I thanked her for all; for the contentment of my father;
  for every cheerful hour which we spent together; and all the
  knowledge I have gained; all the studies I have attempted; I owe to
  the beautiful; noble Marie Antoinette。 We went to our home; and I
  entered the high…school in order to fit myself to be a merchant; a
  bookseller。 My father had enjoined upon me riot to choose a
  soldier's lot。 The sad experience of his invalid life hung over him
  like a dark cloud; and he did not wish that I should ever enter into
  the same。 'Be an independent; free man;' said he to me。 'Learn to
  depend on your own strength and your own will alone。 Use the powers
  of your mind; become a soldier of labor; and so serve your country。
  I know; indeed; that if the hour of danger ever comes; you will be a
  true; bold soldier for your queen; and fight for her till your last
  breath。' I had to promise him on his death…bed that I would so do。
  Even then he saw the dark and dangerous days approach; which have
  now broken upon the realmeven then he heard the muttering of the
  tempest which now so inevitably is approaching; and often when I
  went home to his silent chamber I found him reading; with tears in
  his eyes; the pamphlets and journals which had come from Paris to us
  at Rouen; and which seemed to us like the storm…birds announcing the
  tempest。 'The queen is so good; so innocent;' he would sigh; 'and
  they make her goodness a crime and her innocence they make guilt!
  She is like a lamb; surrounded by tigers; that plays thoughtlessly
  with the flowers; and does not know the poison that lurks beneath
  them。 Swear to me; Louis; that you will seek; if God gives you the
  power; to free the lamb from the bloodthirsty tigers。 Swear to me
  that your whole life shall be devoted to her service。' And I did
  swear it; Margaret; not merely to my dear father; but to myself as
  well。 Every day I have repeated; 'To Queen Marie Antoinette belongs
  my life; for every thing that makes life valuable I owe to her。'
  〃When my father died; I left Rouen and removed to Paris; there to
  pursue my business as a bookseller。 My suspicions told me that the
  time would soon come when the friends of the queen must rally around
  her; and must perhaps put a mask over their faces; in order to
  sustain themselves until the days of real danger。 That time has now
  come; Margaret; the queen is in danger! The tigers have surrounded
  the lamb; and it cannot escape。 Enemies everywhere; wherever you
  look!enemies even in the palace itself。 The Count de Provence; her
  own brother…in…law; has for years persecuted her with his epigrams;
  because he cannot forgive it in her that the king pays more
  attention to her counsels than he does to those of his brother; who
  hates the Austrian。 The Count d'Artois; formerly the only friend of
  Marie Antoinette in the royal family; deserted her when the queen
  took ground against the view of the king's brothers in favor of the
  double representation of the Third Estate; and persuaded her husband
  to comply with the wishes of the nation and call together the
  States…General。 He has gone over to the camp of her enemies; and
  rages against the queen; because she is inclined to favor the wishes
  of the people。 And yet this very people is turned against her; does
  not believe in the love; but only in the hate of the queen; and all
  parties are agreed in keeping the people in this faith。 The Duke
  d'Orleans revenges himself upon the innocent and pure queen for the
  scorn which she displays to this infamous prince。 The aunts of the
  queen revenge themselves for the obscure position to which fate has
  consigned them; they having to play the second part at the brilliant
  court of Versailles; and be thrown into the shade by Marie
  Antoinette。 The whole courtall these jealous; envious ladies
  revenge themselves for the favor which the queen has shown to the
  Polignacs。 They have undermined her good name; they have fought
  against her with the poisoned arrows of denunciation; calumny;
  pamphlets; and libels。 Every thing bad that has happened has been
  ascribed to her。 She has been held responsible for every evil that
  has happened to the nation。
  The queen is accountable for the financial troubles that have broken
  over us; and since the ministry have declared the state bankrupt;
  Parisians call the queen Madame Deficit。 Curses follow her when she
  drives out; and even when she enters the theatre。 Even in her own
  gardens of St。 Cloud and Trianon men dare to insult the queen as she
  passes by。 In all the clubs of Paris they thunder at the queen; and
  call her the destruction of Prance。 The downfall of Marie Antoinette
  is resolved upon by her enemies; and the time has come when her
  friends must be active for her。 The time has come for me to pay the
  vow which I made to my dying father and to myself。 God has blessed
  my efforts and crowned my industry and activity with success。 I have
  reached an independent position。 The confidence of my fellow…
  citizens has made me a councillor。 I have accepted the position; not
  out of vanity or ambition; but because it will give me opportunity
  to serve the queen。 I wear a mask before my face。 I belong to the
  democrats and agitators。 I appear to the world as an enemy of the
  queen; in order to be able to do her some secret service as a
  friend; for I say to you; and repeat it before God; to the queen
  belong my whole life; my whole being; and thought。 I love you;
  Margaret! Every thing which can make my life happy will come from
  you; and yet I shall be ready every hour to leave youto see my
  happiness go to ruin without a complaint; without a sigh; if I can
  be of service to the queen。 You my heart loves; her my soul adores。
  Wherever I shall be; Margaret; if the call of the queen comes to me;
  I shall follow it; even if I know that death lurks at the door
  behind which the queen awaits me。 We stand before a dark and
  tempestuous time; and our country is to be torn with fearful strife。
  All passions are unfettered; all want to fight for freedom; and
  against the chains with which the royal government has held them
  bound。 An abyss has opened between the crown and the nation; and the
  States…General and the Third Estate will not close it; but only
  widen it。 I tell you; Margaret; dark days are approaching; I see
  them coming; and I cannot; for your sake; withdraw from them; for I
  am the soldier of the queen。 I must keep guard before her door; and;
  if I cannot save her; I must die in her service。 Know this;
  Margaret; but know; too; that I love you。 Let me repeat; that from
  you alone all fortune and happiness can come to me; and then do you
  decide。 Will you; after all that I have told you; still accept my
  hand; which I offer you in tenderest affection? Will you be my wife;
  knowing that my life belongs not to you alone; but still more to
  another? Will you share with me the dangers of a stormy time; of an
  inevitable future with me; and devote yourself with; me to the
  service of the queen? Examine yourself; Margaret; before you answer。
  Do not forget your great and noble heart; consider that it is a vast
  sacrifice to devote your life to a man who is prepared every hour to
  give his life for another womanto leave the one he loves; and to
  go to his death in defence of his queen。 Prove your heart; and; if
  you find that the sacrifice is too great; turn your face away from
  me; and I will quickly go my waywill not complain; will think that
  it happens rightly; will love you my whole life long; and thank you
  for the pleasant hours which your love has granted to me。〃
  He had dropped from the divan upon his knee; and looked up to her
  with supplicating and anxious eyes。 But Margaret did not turn her
  face away from him。 A heavenly smile played over her features; her
  eye beamed with love and emotion。 And as her glance sank deep into
  the heart of her lover; he caught the look as if it had been a ray
  of sunlight。 She laid her arms upon his shoulders; and pressing his
  head to her bosom; she bowed over him and kissed his black; curly
  hair。
  〃Ah! I love you; Louis;〃 she whispered。 〃I am ready to devote my
  life to you; to share your dangers with you; and in all contests to
  stand by your side。 Soldier of the queen; in me you shall always
  have a comrade。 With you I will fight for her; with you die for her;
  if it must be。 We will have a common love for her; we will serve her
  in common; and with fidelity and love thank her for the good which
  she has done to you and your father。〃
  〃Blessings upon you; Margaret!〃 cried Toulan; as breaking into tears
  he rested his head upon the knee of his affianced。 〃Blessings on
  you; angel of my love and happiness!〃 Then he sprang up; and;
  drawing the young girl within his arms; he impressed a glowing kiss
  upon her lips。
  〃That is my betrothal kiss; Margaret; now you are mine; in this hour
  our souls are united in never…ending love and faithfulness。 Nothing
  can separate us after this; for we journey hand in hand upon the
  same road; we have the same great and hallowed goal! Now come; my
  love; let us take our place before the altar of God; and testify
  with an oath to the love which we cherish toward our queen!〃
  He offered her his arm; and; both smiling; both with beamin