Itwasthe13thofAugust，1785。Thequeen，MarieAntoinette，hadatlastyieldedtotherequestsandprotestationsofherdearsubjects。
ShehadleftherfairVersaillesandlovedTrianonforoneday，andhadgonetoParis，inordertoexhibitherselfandtheyoungprincewhomshehadbornetothekingandthecountryonthe25thofMarch，andtoreceiveinthecathedralofNotreDametheblessingoftheclergyandthegoodwishesoftheParisians。
Shehadhadanenthusiasticreception，thisbeautifulandmuchlovedqueen，MarieAntoinette。ShehaddrivenintoParisinanopencarriage，incompanywithherthreechildren，andeveryonewhorecognizedherhadgreetedherwithacheerfulhuzzah，andfollowedheronthelongroadtoNotreDame，atwhosedoortheprominentclergyawaitedher，thecardinal，PrinceLouisdeRohan，attheirhead，tointroducehertothehouseoftheKingofallkings。
MarieAntoinettewasalone；onlythegovernessofthechildren，theDuchessdePolignac，satoppositeher，uponthebackseatofthecarriage，andbyhersidetheNormannurse，inhercharmingvariegateddistrictcostume，cradlinginherarmsLouisCharles，theyoungDukeofNormandy。Byherside，inthefrontpartofthecarriage，satherothertwochildren——Therese，theprincessroyal，thefirst-borndaughter，andthedauphinLouis，thepresumptiveheirofthemuchlovedKingLouistheSixteenth。ThegoodkinghadnotaccompaniedhisspouseonthisjourneytoParis，whichsheundertookinordertoshowtoherdear，yetcuriousParisiansthatshewascompletelyrecovered，andthatherchildren，thechildrenofFrance，wereblossomingforthefuturelikefairbudsofhopeandpeace。
“Go，mydearAntoinette，“thekinghadsaidtohisqueen，inhispleasantwayandwithhisgoodnaturedsmile——“gotoParisinordertoprepareapleasureformygoodpeople。Showthemourchildren，andreceivefromthemtheirthanksforthehappinesswhichyouhavegiventomeandtothem。Iwillnotgowithyou，forIwishthatyoushouldbethesolerecipientoftheenthusiasmofthepeopleandtheirjoyfulacclamations。Iwillnotshareyourtriumph，butI
shallexperienceitindoublemeasureifyouenjoyitalone。Go，therefore，mybelovedAntoinette，andrejoiceinthishappyhour。“
MarieAntoinettedidgo，andshedidrejoiceinthehappinessofthehour。“WhileridingthroughParis，hundredsrecognizedher，hundredshailedherwithloudacclamations。AssheleftthecathedralofNotreDame，inordertoascendintothecarriageagainwithherchildrenandtheirgoverness，onewouldbetemptedtothinkthatthewholesquareinfrontofthechurchhadbeenchangedintoadark，tumultuoussea，whichdasheditsragingblackwavesintoallthestreetsdebouchingonthesquare，andwasfillingallPariswithitsroar，itsswell，itsthunderroll。Yes，allPariswasthere，inordertolookuponMarieAntoinette，who，atthishour，wasnotthequeen，butthefairwoman；thehappymotherwho，withtheprideofthemotheroftheGracchi，desirednootherprotectionandnoothercompanionshipthanthatofhertwosons；who，herhandrestingupontheshoulderofherdaughter，needednoothermaidofhonortoappearbeforethepeopleinallthesplendorandallthedignityoftheQueenofFranceandthetruemother。
Yes，allPariswasthereinordertogreetthequeen，thewoman，andthemother，andoutofthousandsuponthousandsofthroatstheresoundedforththeloudringingshout，“Longlivethequeen!LongliveMarieAntoinette!LonglivethefairmotherandthefairchildrenofFrance!“
MarieAntoinettefeltherselfdeeplymovedbytheseshouts。Thesightofthefacesanimatedwithjoy，oftheflashingeyes，andtheintoxicatedpealsoflaughter，kindledherheart，drovethebloodtohercheeks，andmadehercountenancebeamwithjoy，andhereyesglistenwithdelight。Sherosefromherseat，andwithagestureofinimitablegracetooktheyoungestsonfromthearmsofthenurse，andliftedhimhighintheair，inordertodisplaythislasttokenofherhappinessandhermotherlypridetotheParisians，whohadnotyetseenthechild。Thelittlehat，whichhadbeenplacedsidewaysuponthehightoupetofherpowderedhead，haddroppeduponherneck；thebroadlacecuffshadfallenbackfromthearmswhichliftedthechildintotheair，andallowedthewholearmtobeseenwithoutanycoveringabovetheelbow。
TheeyesoftheParisiansdrankinthisspectaclewithperfectrapture，andtheirshoutingaroseeverymomentlikeaburstoffanaticism。
“Howbeautifulsheis!“resoundedeverywherefromthemass。“Whatawonderfularm!Whatabeautifulneck!“
AdeepflushmantledthefaceofMarieAntoinette。Thesewordsofpraise，whichwereatributetothebeautyofthewoman，awokethequeenfromtheecstasyintowhichtheenthusiasmofhersubjectshadtransportedher。Shesurrenderedthechildagaintothearmsofhisnurse，andsankdownquicklylikeafrighteneddoveintothecushionsofthecarriage，hastilydrawingupatthesametimethelacemantlewhichhadfallenfromhershouldersandreplacingherhatuponherhead。
“Tellthecoachmantodriveonquickly，“shesaidtothenurse；andwhilethelatterwascommunicatingthisorder，MarieAntoinetteturnedtoherdaughter。“Now，Therese，“askedshe，laughing，“isitnotabeautifulspectacleourpeopletakingsomuchpleasureinseeingus？“
Thelittleprincessofsevenyearsshookherproudlittleheadwithadoubting，darklook。
“Mamma，“saidshe，“thesepeoplelookverydirtyandugly。Idonotlikethem!“
“Bestill，mychild，bestill，“whisperedthequeen，hastily，forshefearedlestthemenwhopressedthecarriagesocloselyasalmosttotouchitsdoors，mightheartheunthinkingwordsofthelittlegirl。
MarieAntoinettehadnotdeceivedherself。Amaninablouse，whohadevenlaidhishanduponthecarriage，andwhoseheadalmosttouchedtheprincess，amanwithablazing，determinedface，andsmall，piercingblackeyes，hadheardtheexclamationoftheprincess，andthrewuponheramalignant，threateningglance。
“Madamelovesusnot，becauseweareuglyanddirty，“hesaid；“butweshould，perhaps，lookprettyandeleganttoo，ifwecouldputonfinerytorideaboutinsplendidcarriages。Butwehavetowork，andwehavetosuffer，thatwemaybeabletopayourtaxes。Forifwedidnotdothis，ourkingandhisfamilywouldnotbeabletostrutaroundinthisgrandstyle。Wearedirty，becauseweareworkingfortheking。“
“Ibegyou，sir，“repliedthequeen，softly，“toforgivemydaughter；sheisbutachild，anddoesnotknowwhatsheissaying。
Shewilllearnfromherparents，however，toloveourgood，hard-
workingpeople，andtobethankfulfortheirlove，sir。“
“Iamno’sir，’“repliedtheman，gruffly；“IamthepoorcobblerSimon，nothingmore。“
“ThenIbegyou，MasterSimon，toacceptfrommydaughter，asaremembrance，thislikenessofherfather，andtodrinktoourgoodhealth，“saidthequeen，layingatthesametimealouis-d’orinthehandofherdaughter，andhastilywhisperingtoher，“Giveittohim。“
Theprincesshastenedtoexecutethecommandofhermother，andlaidtheglisteninggoldpieceinthelarge，dirtyhandwhichwasextendedtoher。Butwhenshewantedtodrawbackherdelicatelittlehand，thelarge，bonyfingersofthecobblercloseduponitandhelditfast。
“Whatalittlehanditis!“hesaid，withaderidinglaugh；“I
wonderwhatwouldbecomeofthesefingersiftheyhadtowork!“
“Mamma，“criedtheprincess，anxiously，“orderthemantoletmego；
hehurtsme。“
Thecobblerlaughedon，butdroppedthehandoftheprincess。
“Ah，“criedhe，scornfully，“ithurtsaprincessonlytotouchthehandofaworkingman。Itwouldbeagreatdealbettertokeepentirelyawayfromtheworkingpeople，andnevertocomeamongus。“
“Driveforwardquickly!“criedthequeentothecoachman，withloud，commandingvoice。
Heurgedonthehorses，andthepeoplewhohadhemmedinthecarriageclosely，andlistenedbreathlesslytotheconversationofthequeenwiththecobblerSimon，shranktimidlybackbeforetheprancingsteeds。
Thequeenrecoveredherpleasant，merrysmile，andbowedonallsideswhilethecarriagerolledswiftlyforward。Thepeopleagainexpressedtheirthankswithloudacclamations，andpraisedherbeautyandthebeautyofherchildren。ButMarieAntoinettewasnolongercarriedbeyondherselfbythesewordsofpraise，anddidnotriseagainfromherseat。
Whiletheroyalcarriagewasdisappearinginthetumultandthrongofthemultitude，Simonthecobblerstoodwatchingitwithhismockingsmile。Hefeltahanduponhisarm，andheardavoiceaskingthescornfulquestion：
“AreyouinlovewiththisAustrianwoman，MasterSimon？“
Thecobblerquicklyturnedroundtoconfrontthequestioner。Hesaw，standingbyhisside，alittle，remarkablycrookedanddwarfedyoungman，whoseunnaturallylargeheadwassetuponnarrow，depressedshoulders，andwhosewholeappearancemadesuchanimpressionuponthecobblerthatthelatterlaughedoutright。
“Notbeautiful，amI？“askedthestranger，andhetriedtojoininthelaughofthecobbler，buttheresultwasameregrimace，whichmadehisunnaturallylargemouth，withitsthick，colorlesslips，extendfromoneeartotheother，displayingtwofearfulrowsoflong，greenishteeth。
“Notbeautifulatall，amI？Dreadfullyugly!“exclaimedthestranger，asSimon’slaughtermountedhigherandhigher。
“Youaresomewhatremarkable，atleast，“repliedthecobbler。“IfI
didnothearyoutalkFrench，andseeyoustandingupstraightlikeoneofus，IshouldthinkyouwerethemonstroustoadinthefablethatIreadaboutashorttimeago。“
“Iamthemonstroustoadofthefable，“repliedthestranger，laughing。“IhavemerelydisguisedmyselftodayasamaninordertolookatthisAustrianwomanwithheryoungbrood，andItakethelibertyofaskingyouoncemore，Haveyoufalleninlovewithher？“
“No，indeed，Ihavenotfalleninlovewithher，“ejaculatedthecobbler。“Godismywitness——“
“AndwhyshouldyoucallGodtowitness？“askedtheother，quickly。
“DoyousupposeitissogreatamisfortunenottolovethisAustrian？“
“No，Icertainlydonotbelievethat，“answeredtheother，thoughtfully。“Isupposethatitis，perhaps，nosinbeforeGodnottolovethequeen，althoughitmayhebeforeman，andthatitisnotthefirsttimethat，ithasbeenatonedforbylonganddrearyimprisonment。ButIdolovefreedom，andthereforeIshalltakecarenottotellastrangerwhatIthink。“
“Youlovefreedom!“exclaimedthestranger。“Thengivemeyourhand，andacceptmythanksfortheword，mybrother。“
“Yourbrother!“repliedthecobbler，astounded。“Idonotknowyou，andyetyoucallyourself，withoutmoreformalintroduction，mybrother。“
“Youhavesaidthatyoulovefreedom，andthereforeIgreetyouasmybrother，“repliedthestranger。“Allthosewholovefreedomarebrothers，fortheyconfessthemselveschildrenofthesamegraciousandgoodmotherwhomakesnodifferencebetweenherchildren，butlovesthemallwithequalintensityandequaldevotion，anditisallthesametoherwhetherthisoneofhersonsisprinceorcount，andthatoneworkmanorcitizen。Forourmother，Freedom，weareallalike，weareallbrethren。“
“Thatsoundsveryfinely，“saidthecobbler，shakinghishead。
返回顶部