第 39 节
作者:北方网      更新:2021-02-21 16:34      字数:9322
  appeared the sharp; satirical expression which was peculiar to the
  character of the prince。 It was different with Provence; who; at the
  king's words; quickly approached him to press his hand in token of
  cordial agreement and help。
  At this moment the door of the chamber was opened; and the queen;
  accompanied by several persons; her most intimate companions;
  entered in visible excitement。
  〃Does your majesty know what has happened?〃 she asked; with pale
  face and tearful eyes; as she violently grasped the king's hand。
  〃It will be all well yet;〃 said the king; with gentle dignity; 〃it
  will prove a help to us that we have nothing as yet to accuse
  ourselves with。 I am resolved to go to…day to the National Assembly;
  and to show it a sign of my personal confidence; in announcing the
  withdrawal of my troops from Paris and Versailles。〃
  The queen looked at her husband with the greatest amazement; then;
  like one in a trance; she dropped his hand and stood supporting her
  fair head upon her hand; with a thoughtful; pained expression。
  〃By doing so your majesty will make the revolution an irrevocable
  fact;〃 she then said; slowly raising her eyes to him; 〃and it
  troubles me; sire; that you will again set foot in an Assembly
  numbering so many dreadful and hostile men; and in which the
  resolution made last month to disband it ought to have been carried
  into effect long ago。〃
  〃Has the Assembly; in fact; so many dreadful members?〃 asked the
  king; with his good…natured smile。 〃Yet I see before me here two
  extremely amiable members of that Assembly; and their looks really
  give me courage to appear there。 There is my old; true friend; the
  Duke de Liancourt; and even in the train of your majesty there is
  the valiant Count de la Marck; whom I heartily welcome。 May I not;
  Count de la Marck; depend upon some favor with your colleagues in
  the National Assembly?〃 asked the king; with an amiable expression。
  〃Sire;〃 answered the count; in his most perfect court manner; 〃in
  the variety of persons constituting the Assembly; I do not know a
  single one who would be able to close his heart to the direct word
  of the monarch; and such condescending grace。 The nobility; to whose
  side I belong; would find itself confirmed thereby in its fidelity;
  the clergy would thank God for the manifestation of royal authority
  which shall bring peace; and the Third Estate would have to confess
  in its astonishment that safety comes only from the monarch's
  hands。〃
  The king smiled and nodded in friendly manner to the count。
  〃It seems to me;〃 he said; 〃that the time is approaching for us to
  go to the Assembly。 Their royal highnesses Count de Provence and
  Count d'Artois will accompany me。 I commission the Duke de Liancourt
  to go before us to the Salle des Menus; and to announce to the
  Assembly; directly after the opening of the session; that we shall
  appear there at once in person。〃
  On this the king dismissed all who were present。 The queen took
  tender leave of him; in a manner indicating her excited feelings。
  She had never seen her royal husband bearing himself in so decided
  and confident a manner; and it almost awakened new confidence in her
  troubled breast。 But at the same moment all the doubts and cares
  returned; and sadly; with drooping head; the queen withdrew。
  In the mean time; close upon the opening of the National Assembly
  that morning; stormy debates had begun about the new steps which
  they were going to take with the monarch。
  Count Mirabeau had just been breaking out into an anathema in
  flaming words about the holiday which the king had given to the new
  regiments; when the Duke de Liancourt; who that moment entered the
  hall; advanced to the speaker's desk and announced that the king was
  just on the point of coming to the Assembly。 The greatest amazement;
  followed immediately by intense disquiet; was expressed on all sides
  at hearing this。 Men sprang up from their places and formed
  scattered groups to talk over this unexpected circumstance and come
  to an understanding in advance。 They spoke in loud; angry words
  about the reception which should be given to the king in the
  National Assembly; when Mirabeau sprang upon the tribune; and; with
  his voice towering above every other sound; cried that 〃mere silent
  respect should be the only reception that we give to the monarch。 In
  a moment of universal grief; silence is the true lesson of kings。〃
  'Footnote: Mirabeau's own words。See 〃Memoires du Comte de
  Mirabeau;〃 vol。 ii。; p。 301。'
  A resounding bravo accompanied these words; which appeared to
  produce the deepest impression upon all parties in the Assembly。
  Before the room was silent; the king; accompanied by his brothers;
  but with no other retinue besides; entered the hall。 Notwithstanding
  all the plans and efforts which had been made; his appearance at
  this moment wrought so powerfully that; as soon as they saw him; the
  cry 〃Long live the king!〃 was taken up and repeated so often as to
  make the arched ceiling ring。
  The king stood in the midst of the Assembly; bearing himself
  modestly and with uncovered head。 He did not make use of an arm…
  chair which was placed for him; but remained standing; as; without
  any ceremony; he began to address the Assembly with truly
  patriarchal dignity。 When at the very outset he said that as the
  chief of the nation; as he called himself; he had come with
  confidence to meet the nation's representatives; to testify his
  grief for what had happened; and to consult them respecting the re…
  establishing of peace and order; a pacified expression appeared upon
  almost all faces。
  With gentle and almost humble bearing the king then entered upon the
  suspicions that had been breathed; that the persons of the deputies
  were not safe。 With the tone of an honest burgher he referred to his
  own 〃well…known character;〃 which made it superfluous for him to
  dismiss such a suspicion。 〃Ah!〃 he cried; 〃it is I who have trusted
  myself to you! Help me in these painful circumstances to strengthen
  the welfare of the state。 I expect it of the National Assembly。〃
  Then with a tone of touching kindness he said: 〃Counting upon the
  love and fidelity of my subjects; I have given orders to the troops
  to withdraw from Paris and Versailles。 At the same time I commission
  and empower you to convey these my orders to the capital。〃
  The king now closed his address; which had been interrupted by
  frequent expressions of delight and enthusiasm; but which was
  received at the close with a thunder of universal applause。 After
  the Archbishop of Brienne had expressed the thanks of the Assembly
  in a few words; the king prepared to leave the hall。 At that instant
  all present rose in order to follow the king's steps。 Silently the
  whole National Assembly became the retinue of the king; and
  accompanied him to the street。
  The king wished to return on foot to the palace。 Behind him walked
  the National Assembly in delighted; joyful ranks。 The startling
  importance of the occasion seemed to have overpowered the most
  hostile and the most alienated An immense crowd of people; which had
  gathered before the door of the hall; seeing the king suddenly
  reappear in the midst of the whole National Assembly; broke into
  jubilant cries of delight。 The shouts; 〃Long live the king! Long
  live the nation!〃 blended in a harmonious concord which rang far and
  wide。 Upon the Place d'Armes were standing the gardes du corps; both
  the Swiss and the French; with their arms in their hands。 But they;
  too; were infected with the universal gladness; as they saw the
  procession; whose like had never been seen before; move on。
  The cries which to…day solemnized the happy reconciliation of the
  king and the people now were united with the discordant clang of
  trumpets and the rattle of drums on all sides。
  Upon the great balcony of the palace at Versailles stood the queen;
  awaiting the return of the king。 The thousands of voices raised in
  behalf of Louis XVI。 and the nation had drawn Marie Antoinette to
  the balcony; after remaining in her own room with thoughts full of
  evil forebodings。 She held the dauphin in her arms; and led her
  little daughter。 Her eyes; from which the heavy veils of sadness
  were now withdrawn; cast joyful glances over the immense; shouting
  crowds of people approaching the palace; at whose head she joyfully
  recognized her husband; the king; wearing an expression of
  cheerfulness which for a time she had not seen on his face。
  When the king caught sight of his wife; he hastened to remove his
  hat and salute her。 But few of the deputies followed the royal
  example; and silently; without any salutation; without any cries of
  acclamation; they looked up at the queen。 Marie Antoinette turned
  pale; and stepped hack with her children into the hall。
  〃It is all over;〃 she said; with a gush of tears; 〃it is all over
  with my hopes。 The Queen of France is still to be the poorest and
  most unhappy woman in France; for she is not loved; she is
  despised。〃
  Two soft young arms were laid around her neck; and with a face full
  of sorrow; and with tears in his great blue eyes; the dauphin looked
  up to the disturbed countenance of his mother。
  〃Mamma queen;〃 he whispered; pressi