第 54 节
作者:北方网      更新:2021-02-21 16:34      字数:9322
  for the king to claim his own right; and to keep out of his property
  those who insult him。〃
  〃Your majesty; the king is; unfortunately; not free to make use of
  this right; as you call it。〃
  〃You will not say; sir; that if it pleases the king not to allow
  evil…disposed persons to enter the park of the Tuileries; he has not
  the right to close the gates?〃
  〃Madame; I must indeed take the privilege of saying so;〃 answered M。
  de Bailly; with a gentle obeisance。 〃King Henry IV。 gave the
  Parisians the perpetual privilege of having the park of the
  Tuileries open to them always; and free to be used in their walks。
  The palace of the Tuileries was; as your majesty knows; originally
  built by Queen Catherine de Medicis; after the death of her husband;
  for the home of her widowhood。 All sorts of stories were then
  current about the uncanny things which were said to occur in the
  park of the Tuileries。 They told about laboratories in which Queen
  Catherine prepared her poisons; of a pavilion in which there was a
  martyr's chamber; of subterranean cells for those who had been
  buried alive; and all these dreadful stories made such an impression
  that no one dared approach this place of horrors after sunset。 But
  when Queen Catherine had left Paris; and King Henry IV。 resided in
  the Louvre; he had this dreaded Tuileries garden; with all its
  horrors; opened to the Parisians; and out of the queen's garden he
  made one for the people; in order that the curse which rested upon
  it might be changed into a blessing。〃
  〃And now you suppose; Mr。 Mayor; that it would change the blessing
  into a curse again; if we should want to close the gates that Henry
  IV。 opened?〃
  〃I do fear it; madame; and therefore venture to ask that the right
  to enter the Tuileries gardens may not be taken from the people; nor
  their enjoyment interfered with。〃
  〃Not the people's enjoyment; only ours; is to be interfered with;〃
  cried Marie Antoinette; bitterly。 〃They are doubtless right who call
  the people now the real king of France; but they forget that this
  new king has usurped the throne only by treachery; rebellion; and
  murder; and that the wrath of God and the justice of man 'will one
  day hurl him down into the dust at our feet。 In this day I hope; and
  until then I will bear in patience and with unshaken courage what
  fate may lay upon me。 The wickedness and brutality of men shall at
  least not intimidate me; and fear shall not humiliate me to the
  state of a prisoner who takes her walks under the protection of M。
  de Lafayette; the general of the people; at appointed hours。〃
  〃Your majesty;〃 cried Lafayette; turning pale。
  〃What is your pleasure?〃 interrupted the queen; with a proud
  movement of her head。 〃You were a gentleman; and knew the customs
  and。 mode of our court before you went to America。 Has the want of
  manners there so disturbed your memory that you do not know that it
  is not permitted to speak in the presence of the queen without being
  asked or permitted by her to do so?〃
  〃General;〃 cried the dauphin; at this instant; with loud; eager
  voice; running forward to Lafayette; and extending to him his little
  hand〃 general; I should like to salute you。 Mamma told me that I
  must be kind to all those who are good to us and love us; and just
  as you were coming in with this gentleman; mamma told me that
  General Lafayette does not belong to our enemies; but means well to
  us。 Let me; therefore; greet you kindly and give you my hand。〃 And
  while saying so and smiling kindly at the general; he raised his
  great blue eyes to the face of his mother an instant with a
  supplicatory expression。
  Lafayette took the extended hand of the prince; and a flush of deep
  emotion passed over his face that was just before kindling with
  anger。 As if touched with reverence and astonishment; he bent his
  knee before this child; whose countenance beamed with innocence;
  love; and goodness; and pressed to his lips the little hand that
  rested in his own。
  〃My prince;〃 said be; deeply moved; 〃you have just spoken to me with
  the tongue of an angel; and I swear to you; and to your exalted
  royal mother; that I will never forget this moment; that I will
  remember it so long as I live。 The kiss which I have impressed upon
  the hand of my future king is at once the seal of the solemn vow;
  and the oath of unchangeable fidelity and devotion which I
  consecrate to my king and to the whole royal family; and in which
  nothing shall make me waver; nothing; not even the anger and the
  want of favor of my exalted queen。 Dauphin of France; you have to…
  day gained a soldier for your throne who is prepared to shed his
  last drop of blood for you and your house; and on whose fidelity and
  devotion you may continually count。〃
  With tears in his eyes; his brave; noble face quivering with
  emotion; Lafayette looked at the child that with cheeks all aglow
  and with a pleasant smile was gazing with great; thoughtful child's
  eyes up to the strong man; who placed himself so humbly and
  devotedly at his feet。 Behind him stood M。 de Bailly; with bended
  head and folded hands; listening with solemn thoughtfulness to the
  words of the general; upon whose strong shoulders the fate of the
  monarchy rested; and who; at this time; was the mightiest and most
  conspicuous man in France; because the National Guard of Paris was
  still obedient to him; and followed his commands。
  Close by the dauphin stood the queen; in her old; proud attitude;
  but upon her face a striking change had taken place。 The expression
  of anger and suspicion which it had before displayed had not
  completely disappeared。 The cloud which had gathered upon her lofty
  forehead was dissipated; and her face shone out bright and clear。
  The large; grayish…blue eyes; which before had shot angry darts; now
  glowed with mild fire; and around her lips played an instant that
  fair; pleasant smile which; in her happier days; had often moved the
  favorites of the queen to verses of praise; and which her enemies
  had so often made a reproach to her。
  When the general ceased there was silencethat eloquent; solemn
  silence which accompanies those moments in which the Genius of
  History hovers over the heads of men; and; touching them with its
  pinions; ties their tongues and opens the eyes of the spirit; so
  that they can look into the future; and; with presaging horror; read
  all the secrets of coming time as by a flash of lightning。
  Such a critical moment in history was that in which Lafayette; at
  the feet of the dauphin; swore eternal fidelity to the monarchy of
  France in the presence of the unfortunate mayor of Paris; who was
  soon to seal his loyalty with his own blood; and in presence of the
  queen; whose lofty character was soon to make her a martyr。
  The moments passed by; then Marie Antoinette bowed to Lafayette with
  her gracious smile。
  〃Rise; general;〃 she said; in gentle tones; 〃God has heard your
  oath; and I accept it in the name of the French monarchy; my
  husband; my son; and myself。 I shall always continue mindful of it;
  and I hope that you will also。 And I beg you; too;〃 she continued;
  in a low voice; and with a deep flush upon her face; 〃I beg you to
  forgive me if I have hitherto cast unworthy reproaches upon you。 I
  have lived through so many sad and dreadful days; that it will be
  set down to my favor if my nerves are agitated and easily excited。 I
  shall probably learn to accept evil days with calmness; and to bow
  my head patiently beneath the yoke which my enemies are laying upon
  me! But still I feel the injury; and the proud habits of my birth
  and life war against it。 But only wait; and I shall become
  accustomed to it。〃
  While saying this she stooped down to the dauphin and kissed his
  golden hair。 A tear fell from her eyes upon the forehead of her son;
  and glittered there like a star fallen from heaven。 Marie Antoinette
  did not see it; did not know that the tear which she was trying to
  conceal was now glistening on the brow of her sonon that brow
  which was never to wear any other diadem than the one that the tears
  of love placed on his innocent head。
  〃Heaven defend your majesty ever being compelled to become
  accustomed to insult!〃 cried Lafayette; deeply moved。 〃I hope we
  have seen our worst days; and that after the tempest there will be
  sunshine and bright weather again。 The people will look back with
  shame and regret upon the wild and stormy scenes to which they have
  allowed themselves to be drawn by unprincipled agitators; they will
  bow in love and obedience before the royal couple who; with so much
  confidence and devotion; leave their beautiful; retired home at
  Versailles; in order to comply with the wish of the people and come
  to Paris。 Will your majesty have the goodness to ask the mayor of
  Paris; and he will tell you; madame; how deeply moved all the good
  citizens of Paris are at the truly noble spirit which prompted you
  to refuse to initiate an investigation respecting the night of
  horrors at Versailles; and to bring the ringleaders to justice。〃
  〃Is it true; M。 de Bailly?〃 asked the queen; eagerly。 〃Was my
  decision approved? Have I friends still among the people of Paris?〃
  〃Your majesty;〃 answered M。 de Bailly; bowing low; 〃all good
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