登陆注册
15676700000041

第41章

What a France, through these winter months of the year 1787! The very Oeil-de-Boeuf is doleful, uncertain; with a general feeling among the Suppressed, that it were better to be in Turkey. The Wolf-hounds are suppressed, the Bear-hounds, Duke de Coigny, Duke de Polignac: in the Trianon little-heaven, her Majesty, one evening, takes Besenval's arm; asks his candid opinion. The intrepid Besenval,--having, as he hopes, nothing of the sycophant in him,--plainly signifies that, with a Parlement in rebellion, and an Oeil-de-Boeuf in suppression, the King's Crown is in danger;--whereupon, singular to say, her Majesty, as if hurt, changed the subject, et ne me parla plus de rien! (Besenval, iii. 264.)

To whom, indeed, can this poor Queen speak? In need of wise counsel, if ever mortal was; yet beset here only by the hubbub of chaos! Her dwelling-place is so bright to the eye, and confusion and black care darkens it all.

Sorrows of the Sovereign, sorrows of the woman, think-coming sorrows environ her more and more. Lamotte, the Necklace-Countess, has in these late months escaped, perhaps been suffered to escape, from the Salpetriere.

Vain was the hope that Paris might thereby forget her; and this ever-widening-lie, and heap of lies, subside. The Lamotte, with a V (for Voleuse, Thief) branded on both shoulders, has got to England; and will therefrom emit lie on lie; defiling the highest queenly name: mere distracted lies; (Memoires justificatifs de la Comtesse de Lamotte (London, 1788). Vie de Jeanne de St. Remi, Comtesse de Lamotte, &c. &c. See Diamond Necklace (ut supra).) which, in its present humour, France will greedily believe.

For the rest, it is too clear our Successive Loan is not filling. As indeed, in such circumstances, a Loan registered by expunging of Protests was not the likeliest to fill. Denunciation of Lettres-de-Cachet, of Despotism generally, abates not: the Twelve Parlements are busy; the Twelve hundred Placarders, Balladsingers, Pamphleteers. Paris is what, in figurative speech, they call 'flooded with pamphlets (regorge de brochures);' flooded and eddying again. Hot deluge,--from so many Patriot ready-writers, all at the fervid or boiling point; each ready-writer, now in the hour of eruption, going like an Iceland Geyser! Against which what can a judicious friend Morellet do; a Rivarol, an unruly Linguet (well paid for it),--spouting cold!

Now also, at length, does come discussion of the Protestant Edict: but only for new embroilment; in pamphlet and counter-pamphlet, increasing the madness of men. Not even Orthodoxy, bedrid as she seemed, but will have a hand in this confusion. She, once again in the shape of Abbe Lenfant, 'whom Prelates drive to visit and congratulate,'--raises audible sound from her pulpit-drum. (Lacretelle, iii. 343. Montgaillard, &c.) Or mark how D'Espremenil, who has his own confused way in all things, produces at the right moment in Parlementary harangue, a pocket Crucifix, with the apostrophe: "Will ye crucify him afresh?" Him, O D'Espremenil, without scruple;--considering what poor stuff, of ivory and filigree, he is made of!

To all which add only that poor Brienne has fallen sick; so hard was the tear and wear of his sinful youth, so violent, incessant is this agitation of his foolish old age. Baited, bayed at through so many throats, his Grace, growing consumptive, inflammatory (with humeur de dartre), lies reduced to milk diet; in exasperation, almost in desperation; with 'repose,' precisely the impossible recipe, prescribed as the indispensable.

(Besenval, iii. 317.)

On the whole, what can a poor Government do, but once more recoil ineffectual? The King's Treasury is running towards the lees; and Paris 'eddies with a flood of pamphlets.' At all rates, let the latter subside a little! "D'Orleans gets back to Raincy, which is nearer Paris and the fair frail Buffon; finally to Paris itself: neither are Freteau and Sabatier banished forever. The Protestant Edict is registered; to the joy of Boissy d'Anglas and good Malesherbes: Successive Loan, all protests expunged or else withdrawn, remains open,--the rather as few or none come to fill it.

States-General, for which the Parlement has clamoured, and now the whole Nation clamours, will follow 'in five years,'--if indeed not sooner. O Parlement of Paris, what a clamour was that! "Messieurs," said old d'Ormesson, "you will get States-General, and you will repent it." Like the Horse in the Fable, who, to be avenged of his enemy, applied to the Man. The Man mounted; did swift execution on the enemy; but, unhappily, would not dismount! Instead of five years, let three years pass, and this clamorous Parlement shall have both seen its enemy hurled prostrate, and been itself ridden to foundering (say rather, jugulated for hide and shoes), and lie dead in the ditch.

Under such omens, however, we have reached the spring of 1788. By no path can the King's Government find passage for itself, but is everywhere shamefully flung back. Beleaguered by Twelve rebellious Parlements, which are grown to be the organs of an angry Nation, it can advance nowhither; can accomplish nothing, obtain nothing, not so much as money to subsist on; but must sit there, seemingly, to be eaten up of Deficit.

同类推荐
  • 频毗娑罗王诣佛供养经

    频毗娑罗王诣佛供养经

    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。
  • 禹贡

    禹贡

    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。
  • 醉翁谈录

    醉翁谈录

    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。
  • 韩愈集

    韩愈集

    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。
  • 范村梅谱

    范村梅谱

    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。
热门推荐
  • 弃菩提

    弃菩提

    有过痛苦方知众生之苦。有过执着放下执着。有过牵挂了无牵挂。众生皆苦,但我不愿成佛。
  • 今世为妃

    今世为妃

    她带着某种目的从远方的国家来到金国,阴差阳错进入王府从此被这个霸道的男人各种虐。她的双手沾染了无数人的血,却唯独对他下不去手。当她得知自己前后深爱的男人同时还爱着另外一个女人,而这个情敌最终成为她纵横后宫最大的阻碍时,她该何去何从?是就此认命还是浴血重生?
  • 一品戏法师之绝代神手妃

    一品戏法师之绝代神手妃

    她是第一魔术师,她是魔术界的神话;她也是雇佣兵,是人人望而生畏的修罗。可谁能来告诉她,为毛她这么牛掰的人物会在一次可笑的恐怖袭击里挂了?!挂了就挂了吧,那又为什么在她已经准备好去找阎王谈人生……哦不!鬼生的时候让她又在另一个世界活过来了?!找不痛快呢!活了就活了吧,她就当捡了个便宜,可在一睁眼就被人追杀是个什么事儿啊!死亡二重奏还是重生大逃亡呢!不过没事,这些她都挺过来了。她还不信了,凭借着她出神入化的手法,她还闯不出一条道来!不过对于某些挡路的人……通通踩死!她柳眉一挑,看着面前的一众牛鬼蛇神,“给你们两个选择,要么滚,要么圆润地滚!”她要在这异世铸就另一个神话!
  • Alexandria and her Schools

    Alexandria and her Schools

    I should not have presumed to choose for any lectures of mine such a subject as that which I have tried to treat in this book. The subject was chosen by the Institution where the lectures were delivered.
  • 冷冻未来

    冷冻未来

    尊敬的会员们,欢迎光临真理之门前。吾今日创建亡灵法师公会,将与汝等共同研究科学,思考哲学,探讨神学。仅希望各位以人类的智慧,解开未来的奥秘。前言:仅以此文向本人看得第一本硬科幻三体致敬,文中很多思路也是从三体中产生,只是希望通过这种不同的文体,揭开另一个不同的未来。
  • 黑道和尚

    黑道和尚

    北京三环这里算是所谓北漂一族比较集中的地方,人们长说这里是全中国梦想最集中的地方,因为来这里的人都有着种种的梦想或者理想,有想成为艺术家的,有想成为企业家的,有想成为小老板的,等等等等,但是他(她们都有一个共同的目的,那就是出人头地,想在这片全中国政治经济最集中的地方,混出一片属于他(她们自己的天地.也有人说这里是全中国最颓废的地方,和那些有着梦想的人一样,这些颓废甚至有些邋遢的人也曾经有着和他(她们一样,甚至比他(她们还要疯狂的梦想,但是现实的无奈击垮了他(她们,现在这个世界需要疯子吗?不需要,只需要逆来顺受的狗......可是真的不需要吗?
  • 修真界最后的魔

    修真界最后的魔

    一个本该有着美满幸福的绝美女子却在最好的时光里纵身悬崖。一个本该有着锦绣前程的有为青年却步入地狱。此生执一念,不死不灭!
  • 丢了半个世纪

    丢了半个世纪

    我距离你半个世纪我怎敢放弃我怕我刚放弃就再也找不到你毕竟我们本不该有太多太多交集
  • 文学研究会与中国现代文学制度

    文学研究会与中国现代文学制度

    本书吸取了当今文学制度研究的最新成果,并卓有成效地将其运用到对中国现代文学史上的“文学研究会”的考察中,分别从“文学研究会的文学社团组织制度”、“文学研究会的职业作家创作制度”、 “文学研究会的编辑体制与传播制度”、 “文学研究会的文学论争与批评制度”等几方面对“文学研究会”的制度体系进行了探讨,为文学社团研究提供了一个新的视角;一些为传统文本研究、作家研究、审美研究所忽视的材料,也得到了充分的重视,对拓宽与加深我们对中国现代文学的理解具有启示意义。
  • 拐个BOSS回家

    拐个BOSS回家

    乐惜秊远赴Y国任教,却不想捡到一只大BOSS。什么?第一次见面就要把人家带回家?好吧,回家就回家,谁让你是老大呢。教你妹汉语?那教吧。一起跳舞?那跳吧……这样会不会太温顺了点啊?姐要回家!