who knows whether we are not animated by the truest love for this
land。 I embrace you！
〃P。 S。The king has just come in and wants to add a word。〃
〃I will only say； duchess； that you are not forgotten； that we
regret receiving so few letters from you； and that； whether near or
far away； you and yours are always loved。 Louis。〃 ＇Footnote：
Beauchesne 〃Louis XVII；〃 vol。 1。； p。 143。＇
Not to be able to show one's self near the window without being
showered with insults！ Yes； and even into the very middle of her
room they followed her。 Even when sitting far away from the window；
she could not help hearing the loud cries which were thundered out
on the pavement below； as the hucksters offered to the laughing
crowd the infamous pamphlet； written with a poisoned pen； and
entitled 〃The Life of Marie Antoinette。〃
At times her anger mastered her； her eyes flashed； her figure was
straightened up； and the suffering martyr was transformed for an
instant into the proud； commanding queen。
〃I will not bear it！〃 she cried； walking up and down with great
strides； 〃I will speak to them； they shall not insult me without
hearing my justification。 Yes； I will go down to these people； who
call me a foreigner。 I will say to them； 'Frenchmen； people have had
the want of feeling to tell you that I do not love France； I； the
mother of a dauphin； I'〃 ＇Footnote： The queen's own words。…See
Campan； 〃Memoires；〃 vol。 II。 ＇
But her voice choked in her tears； and she fled to the extreme end
of the room； fell sobbing on her knees； and held both her hands to
her ears； in order not to hear the dreadful insults which came up
from below and through her windows。
Thus； amid trials which renewed themselves daily； the months passed
by。 The queen had no longer any hope。 She had given up every thing；
even the hope of an honorable end； of a death such as becomes a
queen； proud and dignified beneath the ruins of a palace laid low by
an exasperated populace。 She knew that the king would never bring
himself to meet such a death； that his weakness would yield to all
humiliation； and his good…nature resist all measures that might
perhaps bring help。 She had sought in vain to inspire him with her
zeal。 Louis was a good man； but a bad king； his was not a nature to
rule and govern； but rather to serve as the scape…goat for the sins
of his fathers； and to fall as a victim for the misdeeds which his
ancestors had committed； and through which they had excited the
wrath of the people； the divine Nemesis that never sleeps。
The queen knew and felt this； and this knowledge lay like a mourning
veil over her whole thought and being； filling her at times with a
moody resignation； and at times with a swiftly…kindling and wrathful
pain。
〃I am content that we be the victims；〃 cried she； wringing her
hands； 〃but I cannot bear to think that my children too are to be
punished for what they have not committed。〃
This thought of her children was the pillar which always raised the
queen up again； when the torture of her daily life cast her to the
ground。 She would； she must live for her children。 She must； so long
as a breath remained in her； devote all her powers to retain for her
son the dauphin at least the crown beneath whose burden his father
sank。 She wanted nothing more for herself； all for her son alone。
There were still true friends who wanted to save the queen。 Secret
tidings came to her that all was ready for her escape。 It was
against her that the popular rage was chiefly directed； and her life
was even threatened。 Twice had the attempt been made to kill the
queen； and the most violent denunciations of the populace were
directed against her。 It was therefore the queen whom her friends
wanted most to save。 Every thing was prepared for the flight； true
and devoted friends were waiting for her； ready to conduct her to
the boundaries of France； where she should meet deputies sent by her
nephew； the Emperor Francis。 The plan was laid with the greatest
care； nothing but the consent of the queen was needed to bring it to
completion； and save her from certain destruction。 But Marie
Antoinette withheld her acquiescence。 〃It is of no consequence about
my life；〃 she said。 〃I know that I must die； and I am prepared for
it。 If the king and my children cannot escape with me； I remain； for
my place is at the side of my husband and my children。〃
At last the king himself； inspired by the courage and energy of his
wife； ventured to oppose the decisions and decrees of the all…
powerful Assembly。 It had put forth two new decrees。 It had resolved
upon the deportation of all priests beyond the limits of France； and
also upon the establishment of a camp of twenty thousand men on the
Rhine frontier。 With the latter there had been coupled a warning；
threatening with death all who should spend any time abroad； and
engage in any armed movement against their own country。
To both these decrees Louis refused his sanction； both he vetoed on
the 20th of June； 1792。
The populace； which thronged the doors of the National Assembly in
immense masses； among whom the emissaries of revolution had been
very active； received the news of the king's veto with a howl of
rage。 The storm…birds of revolution flew through the streets； and
shouted into all the windows： 〃The country is in danger！ The king
has been making alliances abroad。 The Austrian woman wants to summon
the armies of her own land against France； and therefore the king
has vetoed the decree which punishes the betrayers of their country。
A curse on M。 Veto！ Down with Madame Veto！ That is the cry to…day
for the revolutionary party。 A curse on M。 Veto！ Down with Madame
Veto！〃
The watch…cry rolled like a peal of thunder through all the streets
and into all the houses； and； while within their closed doors； and
in the stillness of their own homes； the well…disposed praised the
king for having the courage to protect the priests and the emigres；
the evil…disposed bellowed out their curses through all the streets；
and called upon the rabble to avenge themselves upon Monsieur and
Madame Veto。
Nobody prevented this。 The National Assembly let every thing go
quietly on； and waited with perfect indifference to see what the
righteous anger of the people should resolve to do。
Immense masses of howling； shrieking people rolled up； on the
afternoon of the 20th of June； to the Tuileries； where no
arrangements had been made for defence； the main entrances not even
being protected that day by the National Guard。
The king gave orders； therefore； that the great doors should be
opened； and the people allowed to pass in unhindered。
In a quarter of an hour all the staircases； corridors； and halls
were filled by a howling； roaring crowd； the room of the king alone
was locked； and in this apartment were the royal family and a few
faithful friendsthe king； bland and calm as ever； the queen； pale；
firm； uncomplaining； Madame Elizabeth； with folded hands； praying；
the two children drawing closely together； softly weeping； and yet
suppressing their sobs； because the queen had； in a whisper；
commanded them to keep still。
A little company of faithful servants filled the background of the
room； and listened with suspended breath to the axe…strokes with
which the savage crowd broke down the doors； and heard the
approaching cries of the multitude。
At last a division of the National Guard reached the palace； too
late to drive the people out； but perhaps in season to protect the
royal family。 The door of the royal apartment was opened to the
second officer of the National Guard； M。 Acloque。 He burst in； and
kneeling before the king； conjured him； with tears in his eyes； to
show himself to the people； and by his presence to calm the savage
multitude。
By this time the two children were no longer able to control their
feelings and suppress their fear。 The dauphin burst into tears and
loud cries； he clung affrighted to the dress of his mother； he
implored her with the most moving tones to take him away； and go
with him to his room。 Marie Antoinette stooped down to the poor
little fellow； and pressed him and Theresa； who was weeping calmly；
to her heart； whispering a few quieting words into their ears。
While the mother was comforting her children； Louis； yielding to
Acloque's entreaties； had left the room； in order to show himself to
the people。 Madame Elizabeth； his sister； followed him through the
corridor into the great hall； passing through the seething crowd；
which soon separated her from the king。 Pushed about on all sides；
Madame Elizabeth could not follow； and was now alone in the throng；
accompanied only by her equerry； M。 Saint…Pardoux。 Armed men pressed
up against the princess； and horrid cries surged around her。
〃There is the Austrian woman！〃 and at once all pikes； all weapons
were directed against the princess。
〃For God's sake！〃 cried M。 de Saint Pardoux； 〃what do you want to
do？ This is not the queen！〃
〃Why do you undeceive them？〃 asked Madame Elizabeth； 〃their error
might save the queen！〃
And while she put back one of the bayonets directed against her
breast； she said； gently： 〃Take care； sir； you might wound somebody；
and I am convinced that you would be sorry。〃
The people were amazed at this； and respectfully made way for her to
come up with the king。 He stood in the middle of the hall；
surrounded by a crowd threatening him with wild curses。 One of these
desperadoes pressed close up to the king； while the others were
shouting that they must strangle the whole royal family； and；
pulling a bottle and a glass out of his pocket； he filled the
latter； gave it to the king； and ordered him to drink to the welfare
of the nation。
The king quietly took the glass。 〃The nation must know that I love
it；〃 said he； 〃for I have made many sacrifices for it。 From the
bottom of my heart I drink to its welfare；〃 and； in spite of the
warning cries of his friends； he put the glass to his lips and
emptied it。
The crowd was beside itself with delight； and their cries were
answered from without by the demand of the bloodthirsty rabble〃How
soon are you going to throw out the heads of the king and the
queen？〃
Marie An