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！
I know your son； and I know what makes the soldier； and this twofold knowledge convinces me that your son has not the disposition of a warrior； and that he is too full of his birth to leave the country a hope of his ever rendering it any important service。
What you are to be pitied for； madam； is； that your son is not fit either for an officer； a statesman or a priest； in a word； that he is nothing more than a gentleman in the most extended acceptation of the word。
You may be thankful to that destiny； which； in refusing talents to your son； has taken care to put him in possession of great wealth； which will sufficiently compensate him for other deficiencies； and enable him at the same time to dispense with any favour from me。
I hope you will be impartial enough to see the reasons which prompt me to refuse your request。 It may be disagreeable to you； but I consider it necessary。 Farewell； madam。Your sincere well…wisher； JOSEPH LACHSENBURG； 4th August； 1787。
The application of another anxious and somewhat covetous mother was answered with still more decision and irony：
To a Lady。
MADAM。You know my disposition； you are not ignorant that the society of the ladies is to me a mere recreation； and that I have never sacrificed my principles to the fair sex。 I pay but little attention to recommendations； and I only take them into consideration when the person in whose behalf I may be solicited possesses real merit。
Two of your sons are already loaded with favours。 The eldest； who is not yet twenty； is chief of a squadron in my army； and the younger has obtained a canonry at Cologne； from the Elector； my brother。 What would you have more？ Would you have the first a general and the second a bishop？
In France you may see colonels in leading…strings； and in Spain the royal princes command armies even at eighteen； hence Prince Stahremberg forced them to retreat so often that they were never able all the rest of their lives to comprehend any other manoeuvre。
It is necessary to be sincere at Court； and severe in the field； stoical without obduracy； magnanimous without weakness； and to gain the esteem of our enemies by the justice of our actions； and this； madam； is what I aim at。 JOSEPH VIENNA； September； 1787。
（From the inedited Letters of Joseph IL； published at Paris； by Persan； 1822。）
CHAPTER X。
During the alarm for the life of the Queen； regret at not possessing an heir to the throne was not even thought of。 The King himself was wholly occupied with the care of preserving an adored wife。 The young Princess was presented to her mother。 〃Poor little one；〃 said the Queen； 〃you were not wished for； but you are not on that account less dear to me。 A son would have been rather the property of the State。 You shall be mine； you shall have my undivided care； shall share all my happiness； and console me in all my troubles。〃
The King despatched a courier to Paris； and wrote letters himself to Vienna； by the Queen's bedside； and part of the rejoicings ordered took place in the capital。
A great number of attendants watched near the Queen during the first nights of her confinement。 This custom distressed her； she knew how to feel for others； and ordered large armchairs for her women； the backs of which were capable of being let down by springs； and which served perfectly well instead of beds。
M。 de Lassone； the chief physician； the chief surgeon； the chief apothecary； the principal officers of the buttery； etc。； were likewise nine nights without going to bed。 The royal children were watched for a long time； and one of the women on duty remained； nightly； up and dressed； during the first three years from their birth。
The Queen made her entry into Paris for the churching。 One hundred maidens were portioned and married at Notre…Dame。 There were few popular acclamations； but her Majesty was perfectly well received at the Opera。
A few days after the Queen's recovery from her confinement； the Cure of the Magdelaine de la City at Paris wrote to M。 Campan and requested a private interview with him； it was to desire he would deliver into the hands of the Queen a little box containing her wedding ring； with this note written by the Cure： 〃I have received under the seal of confession the ring which I send to your Majesty； with an avowal that it was stolen from you in 1771； in order to be used in sorceries； to prevent your having any children。〃 On seeing her ring again the Queen said that she had in fact lost it about seven years before； while washing her hands； and that she had resolved to use no endeavour to discover the superstitious woman who had done her the injury。
The Queen's attachment to the Comtesse Jules increased every day； she went frequently to her house at Paris； and even took up her own abode at the Chateau de la Muette to be nearer during her confinement。 She married Mademoiselle de Polignac； when scarcely thirteen years of age； to M。 de Grammont； who； on account of this marriage； was made Duc de Guiche； and captain of the King's Guards； in reversion after the Duc de Villeroi。 The Duchesse de Civrac； Madame Victoire's dame d'honneur； had been promised the place for the Duc de Lorges； her son。 The number of discontented families at Court increased。
The title of favourite was too openly given to the Comtesse Jules by her friends。 The lot of the favourite of a queen is not； in France； a happy one； the favourites of kings are treated； out of gallantry； with much greater indulgence。
A short time after the birth of Madame the Queen became again enceinte； she had mentioned it only to the King； to her physician； and to a few persons honoured with her intimate confidence； when； having overexerted her strength in pulling lip one of the glasses of her carriage； she felt that she had hurt herself； and eight days afterwards she miscarried。 The King spent the whole morning at her bedside； consoling her； and manifesting the tenderest concern for her。 The Queen wept exceedingly； the King took her affectionately in his arms； and mingled his tears with hers。 The King enjoined silence among the small number of persons who were informed of this unfortunate occurrence； and it remained generally unknown。 These particulars furnish an accurate idea of the manner in which this august couple lived together。
The Empress Maria Theresa did not enjoy the happiness of seeing her daughter give an heir to the crown of France。 That illustrious Princess died at the close of 1780； after having proved by her example that； as in the instance of Queen Blanche； the talents of a sovereign might be blended with the virtues of a pious princess。 The King was deeply affected at the death of the Empress； and on the arrival of the courier from Vienna said that he could not bring himself to afflict the Queen by informing her of an event which grieved even him so much。 His Majesty thought the Abbe de Vermond； who had possessed the confidence of Maria Theresa during his stay at Vienna； the most proper person to discharge this painful duty。 He sent his first valet de chambre； M。 de Chamilly； to the Abbe on the evening of the day he received the despatches from Vienna； to order him to come the next day to the Queen before her breakfast hour； to acquit himself discreetly of the afflicting commission with which he was charged； and to let his Majesty know the moment of his entering the Queen's chamber。 It was the King's intention to be there precisely a quarter of an hour after him； and he was punctual to his time； he was announced； the Abbe came out； and his Majesty said to him； as he drew up at the door to let him pass； 〃I thank you； Monsieur l'Abbe； for the service you have just done me。〃 This was the only time during nineteen years that the King spoke to him。
Within an hour after learning the event the Queen put on temporary mourning； while waiting until her Court mourning should be ready； she kept herself shut up in her apartments for several days； went out only to mass； saw none but the royal family； and received none but the Princesse de Lamballe and the Duchesse de Polignac。 She talked incessantly of the courage； the misfortunes； the successes； and the virtues of her mother。 The shroud and dress in which Maria Theresa was to be buried； made entirely by her own hands； were found ready prepared in one of her closets。 She often regretted that the numerous duties of her august mother had prevented her from watching in person over the education of her daughters； and modestly said that she herself would have been more worthy if she had had the good fortune to receive lessons directly from a sovereign so enlightened and so deserving of admiration。
The Queen told me one day that her mother was left a widow at an age when her beauty was yet striking； that she was secretly informed of a plot laid by her three principal ministers to make themselves agreeable to her； of a compact made between them； that the losers should not feel any jealousy towards him who should be fortunate enough to gain his sovereign's heart； and that they had sworn that the successful one should be always