按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the King was too fond of his sister to endure the separation。 There were also rumours of a marriage between Madame Elisabeth and the Emperor Joseph。 The Queen was sincerely attached to her brother； and loved her sister…in…law most tenderly； she ardently desired this marriage as a means of raising the Princess to one of the first thrones in Europe； and as a possible means of turning the Emperor from his innovations。 She had been very carefully educated； had talent in music and painting； spoke Italian and a little Latin； and understood mathematics 。。。。 Her last moments were worthy of her courage and virtue。 D'HEZECQUES's 〃Recollections；〃 pp。 72…75。
〃It is impossible to imagine my distress at finding myself separated from my aunt；〃 says Madame Royale。 〃Since I had been able to appreciate her merits； I saw in her nothing but religion； gentleness； meekness； modesty； and a devoted attachment to her family； she sacrificed her life for them； since nothing could persuade her to leave the King and Queen。 I never can be sufficiently grateful to her for her goodness to me； which ended only with her life。 She looked on me as her child； and I honoured and loved her as a second mother。 I was thought to be very like her in countenance； and I feel conscious that I have something of her character。 Would to God I might imitate her virtues； and hope that I may hereafter deserve to meet her； as well as my dear parents； in the bosom of our Creator； where I cannot doubt that they enjoy the reward of their virtuous lives and meritorious deaths。〃
Madame Royale vainly begged to be allowed to rejoin her mother or her aunt； or at least to know their fate。 The municipal officers would tell her nothing； and rudely refused her request to have a woman placed with her。 〃I asked nothing but what seemed indispensable； though it was often harshly refused；〃 she says。 〃But I at least could keep myself clean。 I had soap and water； and carefully swept out my room every day。 I had no light； but in the long days I did not feel this privation much 。 。 。 。 I had some religious works and travels； which I had read over and over。 I had also some knitting； 'qui m'ennuyait beaucoup'。〃 Once； she believes； Robespierre visited her prison：
＇It has been said that Robespierre vainly tried to obtain the hand of Mademoiselle d'Orleans。 It was also rumoured that Madame Royale herself owed her life to his matrimonial ambition。＇
〃The officers showed him great respect； the people in the Tower did not know him； or at least would not tell me who he was。 He stared insolently at me； glanced at my books； and； after joining the municipal officers in a search； retired。〃
＇On another occasion 〃three men in scarfs；〃 who entered the Princess's room； told her that they did not see why she should wish to be released； as she seemed very comfortable！ 〃It is dreadful；' I replied； 'to be separated for more than a year from one's mother； without even hearing what has become of her or of my aunt。''You are not ill？''No； monsieur； but the cruellest illness is that of the heart'' We can do nothing for you。 Be patient； and submit to the justice and goodness of the French people： I had nothing more to say。〃 DUCHESSE D'ANGOULEME； 〃Royal Memoirs；〃 p。 273。＇
When Laurent was appointed by the Convention to the charge of the young prisoners； Madame Royale was treated with more consideration。 〃He was always courteous；〃 she says； he restored her tinderbox； gave her fresh books； and allowed her candles and as much firewood as she wanted； 〃which pleased me greatly。〃 This simple expression of relief gives a clearer idea of what the delicate girl must have suffered than a volume of complaints。
But however hard Madame Royale's lot might be； that of the Dauphin was infinitely harder。 Though only eight years old when he entered the Temple； he was by nature and education extremely precocious； 〃his memory retained everything； and his sensitiveness comprehended everything。〃 His features 〃recalled the somewhat effeminate look of Louis XV。； and the Austrian hauteur of Maria Theresa； his blue eyes； aquiline nose； elevated nostrils； well…defined mouth； pouting lips； chestnut hair parted in the middle and falling in thick curls on his shoulders； resembled his mother before her years of tears and torture。 All the beauty of his race； by both descents； seemed to reappear in him。〃＇Lamartine＇ For some time the care of his parents preserved his health and cheerfulness even in the Temple； but his constitution was weakened by the fever recorded by his sister； and his gaolers were determined that he should never regain strength。
〃What does the Convention intend to do with him？〃 asked Simon； when the innocent victim was placed in his clutches。 〃Transport him？〃
〃No。〃
〃Kill him？〃
〃No。〃
〃Poison him？〃
〃No。〃
〃What； then？〃
〃Why； get rid of him。〃
For such a purpose they could not have chosen their instruments better。 〃Simon and his wife； cut off all those fair locks that had been his youthful glory and his mother's pride。 This worthy pair stripped him of the mourning he wore for his father； and as they did so； they called it 'playing at the game of the spoiled king。' They alternately induced him to commit excesses； and then half starved him。 They beat him mercilessly； nor was the treatment by night less brutal than that by day。 As soon as the weary boy had sunk into his first profound sleep； they would loudly call him by name； 'Capet！ Capet！' Startled； nervous； bathed in perspiration； or sometimes trembling with cold； he would spring up； rush through the dark； and present himself at Simon's bedside； murmuring； tremblingly； 'I am here； citizen。''Come nearer； let me feel you。' He would approach the bed as he was ordered； although he knew the treatment that awaited him。 Simon would buffet him on the head； or kick him away； adding the remark； 'Get to bed again； wolfs cub； I only wanted to know that you were safe。' On one of these occasions； when the child had fallen half stunned upon his own miserable couch； and lay there groaning and faint with pain； Simon roared out with a laugh； 'Suppose you were king； Capet； what would you do to me？' The child thought of his father's dying words； and said； 'I would forgive you。'〃'＇THIERS＇
The change in the young Prince's mode of life； and the cruelties and caprices to which he was subjected； soon made him fall ill； says his sister。 〃Simon forced him to eat to excess； and to drink large quantities of wine； which he detested 。 。 。 。 He grew extremely fat without increasing in height or strength。〃 His aunt and sister； deprived of the pleasure of tending him； had the pain of hearing his childish voice raised in the abominable songs his gaolers taught him。 The brutality of Simon 〃depraved at once the body and soul of his pupil。 He called him the young wolf of the Temple。 He treated him as the young of wild animals are treated when taken from the mother and reduced to captivity；at once intimidated by blows and enervated by taming。 He punished for sensibility； he rewarded meanness； he encouraged vice； he made the child wait on him at table； sometimes striking him on the face with a knotted towel； sometimes raising the poker and threatening to strike him with it。〃
＇Simon left the Temple to become a municipal officer。 He was involved in the overthrow of Robespierre； and guillotined the day after him； 29th July； 1794。＇
Yet when Simon was removed the poor young Prince's condition became even worse。 His horrible loneliness induced an apathetic stupor to which any suffering would have been preferable。 〃He passed his days without any kind of occupation； they did not allow him light in the evening。 His keepers never approached him but to give him food；〃 and on the rare occasions when they took him to the platform of the Tower； he was unable or unwilling to move about。 When； in November； 1794； a commissary named Gomin arrived at the Temple； disposed to treat the little prisoner with kindness； it was too late。 〃He took extreme care of my brother；〃 says Madame Royale。 〃For a long time the unhappy child had been shut up in darkness； and he was dying of fright。 He was very grateful for the attentions of Gomin； and became much attached to him。〃 But his physical condition was alarming； and； owing to Gomin's representations； a commission was instituted to examine him。 〃The commissioners appointed were Harmond； Mathieu； and Reverchon； who visited 'Louis Charles；' as he was now called； in the month of February； 1795。 They found the young Prince seated at a square deal table； at which he was playing with some dirty cards； making card houses and the like；the materials having been furnished him； probably； that they might figure in the report as evidences of indulgence。 He did not look up from the table as the commissioners entered。 He was in a slate…coloured dress； bareheaded； the room was reported as clean； the bed in good condition； the linen fresh； his clothes were also reported as new； but； in spite of all these assertions； it is well known that his bed had not been made for months； that he had not left his room； no