登陆注册
5288200000044

第44章 CHAPTER VI.(3)

The coronation took place at Rheims, with all the accustomed pomp. At this period the people's love for Louis XVI. burst forth in transports not to be mistaken for party demonstrations or idle curiosity. He replied to this enthusiasm by marks of confidence, worthy of a people happy in being governed by a good King; he took a pleasure in repeatedly walking without guards, in the midst of the crowd which pressed around him, and called down blessings on his head. I remarked the impression made at this time by an observation of Louis XVI. On the day of his coronation he put his hand up to his head, at the moment of the crown being placed upon it, and said, "It pinches me." Henri III. had exclaimed, "It pricks me." Those who were near the King were struck with the similarity between these two exclamations, though not of a class likely to be blinded by the superstitious fears of ignorance.

While the Queen, neglected as she was, could not even hope for the happiness of being a mother, she had the mortification of seeing the Comtesse d'Artois give birth to the Duc d'Angouleme.

Custom required that the royal family and the whole Court should be present at the accouchement of the Princesses; the Queen was therefore obliged to stay a whole day in her sister-in-law's chamber. The moment the Comtesse d'Artois was informed a prince was born, she put her hand to her forehead and exclaimed with energy, "My God, how happy I am!" The Queen felt very differently at this involuntary and natural exclamation.

Nevertheless, her behaviour was perfect. She bestowed all possible marks of tenderness upon the young mother, and would not leave her until she was again put into bed; she afterwards passed along the staircase, and through the hall of the guards, with a calm demeanour, in the midst of an immense crowd. The poissardes, who had assumed a right of speaking to sovereigns in their own vulgar language, followed her to the very doors of her apartments, calling out to her with gross expressions, that she ought to produce heirs. The Queen reached her inner room, hurried and agitated; he shut herself up to weep with me alone, not from jealousy of her sister-in-law's happiness,--of that he was incapable,--but from sorrow at her own situation.

Deprived of the happiness of giving an heir to the crown, the Queen endeavoured to interest herself in the children of the people of her household. She had long been desirous to bring up one of them herself, and to make it the constant object of her care. A little village boy, four or five years old, full of health, with a pleasing countenance, remarkably large blue eyes, and fine light hair, got under the feet of the Queen's horses, when she was taking an airing in a calash, through the hamlet of St. Michel, near Louveciennes. The coachman and postilions stopped the horses, and the child was rescued without the slightest injury. Its grandmother rushed out of the door of her cottage to take it; but the Queen, standing up in her calash and extending her arms, called out that the child was hers, and that destiny had given it to her, to console her, no doubt, until she should have the happiness of having one herself. "Is his mother alive?" asked the Queen. "No, Madame; my daughter died last winter, and left five small children upon my hands."

"I will take this one, and provide for all the rest; do you consent?"

"Ah, Madame, they are too fortunate," replied the cottager; "but Jacques is a bad boy. I hope he will stay with you!" The Queen, taking little Jacques upon her knee, said that she would make him used to her, and gave orders to proceed. It was necessary, however, to shorten the drive, so violently did Jacques scream, and kick the Queen and her ladies.

The arrival of her Majesty at her apartments at Versailles, holding the little rustic by the hand, astonished the whole household; he cried out with intolerable shrillness that he wanted his grandmother, his brother Louis, and his sister Marianne; nothing could calm him. He was taken away by the wife of a servant, who was appointed to attend him as nurse.

The other children were put to school. Little Jacques, whose family name was Armand, came back to the Queen two days afterwards; a white frock trimmed with lace, a rose-coloured sash with silver fringe, and a hat decorated with feathers, were now substituted for the woollen cap, the little red frock, and the wooden shoes. The child was really very beautiful. The Queen was enchanted with him; he was brought to her every morning at nine o'clock; he breakfasted and dined with her, and often even with the King. She liked to call him my child, [This little unfortunate was nearly twenty in 1792; the fury of the people and the fear of being thought a favourite of the Queen's had made him the most sanguinary terrorist of Versailles. He was killed at the battle of Jemappes.] and lavished caresses upon him, still maintaining a deep silence respecting the regrets which constantly occupied her heart.

This child remained with the Queen until the time when Madame was old enough to come home to her august mother, who had particularly taken upon herself the care of her education.

The Queen talked incessantly of the qualities which she admired in Louis XVI., and gladly attributed to herself the slightest favourable change in his manner; perhaps she displayed too unreservedly the joy she felt, and the share she appropriated in the improvement. One day Louis XVI. saluted her ladies with more kindness than usual, and the Queen laughingly said to them, "Now confess, ladies, that for one so badly taught as a child, the King has saluted you with very good grace!"

The Queen hated M. de La Vauguyon; she accused him alone of those points in the habits, and even the sentiments, of the King which hurt her.

同类推荐
  • 佛说八大菩萨经

    佛说八大菩萨经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 舍利弗悔过经

    舍利弗悔过经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 汗门

    汗门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Essays of Travel

    Essays of Travel

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上慈悲九幽拔罪忏

    太上慈悲九幽拔罪忏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 侯门女先生之继母难当

    侯门女先生之继母难当

    她,韩莘菲,穿到寒门小户,寡母孤女,无奈之下,只好女继父业,去东平侯府做大小姐的西席女先生。岂料,无意之中,救得公主,机缘之下,获封郡主。作为细作,被皇后嫁给东平侯爷周士昭为继室。推荐一米的新文,《庶女贵妾》,为了生母,小小庶女的她,哄生父,斗嫡母,惊嫡姐,与众庶姐妹虚与委蛇…纵是贵妾,那也是独一无二的!请继续多多支持一米哦!他,周士昭,东平侯爷,冷冽高深,捉摸不透!主动请求赐婚。只是,承诺一双人的他,真的是莘菲的良人吗?看处于两方势力的夹缝中生存的莘菲,如何化被动为主动,智斗皇家,借力打力,取得祖母信任,收服婆母,联合妯娌,收拾妾侍,教养继子继女,玩转大昊王朝!
  • 丑女来让祸水爱

    丑女来让祸水爱

    玩弄人于股掌之中,是他的兴趣,慵懒的笑容,是他的面具,而潇洒过人生则就是他奉为宗旨的人生哲理了。所以,迄今为止,风度翩翩,拥有“祸水”容颜的他依然是快乐的单身贵族一个,而且纯洁如昔!容颜被毁,家遭惨变,寄人篱下,总之所有的倒霉事都让她遇见了。就在她的日子过得凄惨无比时,她遇见了他。这、这拥有天人般容颜的男人在朝她笑?当即以为他在嘲弄自己的她,转身撒腿就跑了!咦?他、他干嘛追着自己不放,难道他的眼睛被糊住,没看见她长得什么样吗?这赖在她身边,笑得傻呆呆的他,竟然出得厅堂,入得厨房,把她当宝宠,她是在做梦吗?天上竟然掉下这么好的事!?难不成老天在补偿她,给她这个丑女送来一位权高位重的“大祸水”?
  • 秋事

    秋事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 法医娘子状元夫

    法医娘子状元夫

    现代女法医曲明姝穿回北宋,嫁给神童状元晏子钦,从此:大忽悠属性全开,把小丈夫骗的近不了身还团团转;法医金手指全开,小丈夫一改高冷脸,五体投地求指教;历史金手指全开,知道大体走向,规避官场风险。然后,明姝惊恐地发现,小丈夫长大了,贱笑着磨“刀”霍霍向媳妇……【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 红粉世家

    红粉世家

    民国时期,淡泊名利的画家于水村迁居南京附近,过着寄情山水的生活。因偶然的机会结识了歌女桃枝,两人陷入热恋,后因误会导致分手。桃枝财气答应某老板的求婚,嫁与他作妻。在两人的结婚喜筵上,老板夫人大闹喜堂,多亏水村出面自认,化解了局面……
  • 重生首席女王

    重生首席女王

    朴智京从小便是优等生,琴棋书画样样皆精通,天资慧聪,模特般的身段,明星般的脸庞,学士硕士全奖学金毕业,唯一的缺点----出身贫困。从贫困里咬牙走过来的她终于熬成了高翻署的英法双语翻译,岂料因为没有身世背景,只能与首席之座望尘莫及。一个不可能的意外,气极绝望奔跑的她被从楼顶而落的三小姐金敏儿砸个正着,一觉醒来,发现自已竟然。。。灵魂附到了这位除了出身良好外一无是处且年仅18岁的三小姐身上,这位小姐虽然出身高贵,却是不折不扣的人生功课菜鸟。看她如何扭转自已及这位三小姐的人生,实现人生爱情理想。
  • 腹黑夫妻:冷面邪君独宠杀手妻

    腹黑夫妻:冷面邪君独宠杀手妻

    【依依第一次写文,可能写的不好,但是依依会努力的,依依不求做到最好,只求做得更好!希望亲们能够多多的支持依依!!】人前,她是妙手回春的神医。人后,却是让人闻风丧胆的杀手之王“柒玥”。他,人前是青月国病弱三王爷,人后,却是人人惧怕的冷面魔王弑天楼楼主。当一朝风云突变,腹黑相撞,是巧合还是上天注定???当冰山撞上冰山,是擦出火花还是撞成冰渣??????
  • 独孤十三夫

    独孤十三夫

    她,是高等学府的高材生,是生活在物质社会的孤儿,爱钱,爱命,更爱自由……清冷孤傲是她的标志,冷静的审时度势是她的特长,然而一次实验带她来到天启皇朝,一个男权帝制的封建社会。让她的自由,生死一切变得不由自己……他,是天启皇朝当今太子,是天启未来的皇帝,爱权势,爱江山,更爱美人……邪魅俊逸是他的骄傲,俊美的面容是他无所不利的法宝,然而一次意外的相遇,美人入眼便再容不下其他,让他疯狂的想要得到,想要占有……他,是天启皇朝的将军,是天启士兵的不败战神,爱兵,爱民,更爱他的未婚妻……丰神俊朗是他与生俱来的,冰冷的冷脸是他战场的神态,然而一道圣旨,她成了他的未婚妻,让他迷醉,丧失冷面阎王的威名……他,是天启宰相的独子,是天启太子的至交好友,爱朋友,爱逍遥,更爱死对头的女儿……温文尔雅是他的面具,腹黑的本质是他笑里藏刀的利刃,然而一次皇宫的盛宴,翩若惊鸿的身影夺走他的视线,让他怨,让他恋,让他痴缠不休……他,是落草为寇的山贼,是家破人亡的孤儿,爱抢,爱夺,更爱他的压寨夫人……乖张孤僻是他的个性,掩藏的粗犷面容是他不敢面对的过去,然而一次寻常的打劫富家子弟,那纤细的身子柔若无骨,让他舍不得放手,舍不得让她走……他,是天下的首富,是独孤家的一个下人之子,爱钱财,爱高位,更爱他的小姐……笑面狐狸是他的第一感觉,冷淡市侩是他的生存之道,然而一次上门求助,那浑身脏污的身影再也无法抹去,让他甘愿做牛做马,甘愿俯首称臣……他,是勾栏院的头牌男妓,是天下第一楼的楼主,爱玩,爱闹,更爱勾栏院的老鸨……乖巧可爱是他的伪装,邪恶淫邪是他本性,然而一个半路插队当老鸨的“男人”,让他贱卖自己的产业,让他甘之如殆的做小跟班……他,是纳塔拉部落的首领,是纳塔拉最勇敢的勇士,爱自然,爱山林,更爱神女……高大强壮是天赐的礼物,不拘小节是他率性而为的豪放,然而一次选妻的射猎,让他痴癫疯狂,让成为神女裙下的侍者……他,是枭鹰族的少主,是天神遗落在人间的血脉,爱天神,爱水秀,更爱天神的女儿……果敢睿智是枭鹰的雄风,镜花水月之术是他血脉中的能力,然而一次镜花水月的侦察,让起了争斗之心,让他化为欲望之神的奴隶……他,是远古森林的王者,是隐藏在山林谷底平原的狼王,爱平原,爱族人,更爱夺走他初吻的家伙……
  • 肇论略注

    肇论略注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 莫奈(世界历史名人丛书)

    莫奈(世界历史名人丛书)

    19世纪的欧洲文艺在战争的炮火中、机器的轰鸣中、科学的呼唤中步入了一个崭新的历史时期。人们反对传统文化的束缚 讲究个性解放 追求自由、平等。