Tea at Trianon: Death and the Maiden

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Friday, August 5, 2011

Death and the Maiden

The final victims of the Terror in Nantes were four young girls.

“I do not want pardon, I want to die,” cried the innocent child. “I see my sisters, they are ascending up to heaven. They are calling me, they are waiting for me. O, have pity, executioner, and let me die. I am guilty—just as guilty as they were. I hate the Republic—I detest it! Vive le Roi! Vive le Roi!”(Read entire article.)

Stephanie A. Mann said...: So, sometimes "Death" did have a conscience!
This has really been a wonderful CWG conference--I am sorry you could not attend. Jerry Webster says Hello! I told him that you and he should do a panel next year about your reverse experiences re: publishing books yourself to finding a publisher!
The conference won't be in Valley Forge next year because the Trade Show needs to find a new home (a casino is going to be built here!); August 5, 2011 at 6:33:00 AM EDT
elena maria vidal said...: Tell Jerry that I think it is a great idea, too, and that I want a copy of his new book to review!; August 5, 2011 at 9:55:00 AM EDT
anothertwocents said...: Ms. Vidal,

Some of your readers may be interested by this tv documentary about a king who was able to prevent a revolution in his kingdom just within the past few months.

It's interesting to see that the themes you broach in the rear-view mirror have not yet run their course.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amgNWPS-aU4&feature=feedu_more; August 5, 2011 at 12:11:00 PM EDT