This is part of a series about why Hortense broke the law. When we last left off, Hortense’s Belgian friend was about to be kicked out of Rome for suggesting human rights reforms to stave off a public uprising to the ruling priests. Hortense also mentions that her nephew was considered for the throne of Belgium and that he couldn’t try for the throne of France if he got the throne of Belgium and neither throne was all that likely for him.
Hortense writes:
-France frankly entered into [Hortense’s nephew’s] interests; and that was not likely. However, the Pope, ready to lose his states, threw himself into the arms of Austria.
Italy was anxiously awaiting what France was going to decide. If, after its revolution, it had loudly proclaimed that it would not support any revolutions, the people would not have had any reproaches to make against it, if, by rising, they were abandoned. But at the podium the inviolability of the principle of non-intervention was proclaimed; everyone was deceived.
It is quite simple that an energetic, unhappy and enterprising youth was too. The newspapers and the various reports had added to everything that had just happened in Rome. My children were worried knowing that I was alone in the midst of some dangers; and in spite of my letters, which were to reassure them, they wrote to me that they begged me in grace to leave Rome, and added that they were going decidedly the next day to get me.
This letter, like the announcement of a great misfortune, struck me with a terrible blow.
The insurrection was approaching. Maybe they’d get caught in the middle of it. I saw them lost in such an unequal fight, because I was realistic about the results that would occur.
Unable to control my fears and worries, I decided to leave immediately. I had to be with them to feel safe. I left Rome with a lively feeling of regret. This sky had been sweet to my sufferings; these cordial people had inspired me with a real interest.
There, I liked everything; my sons were both near me, and the very exile had lost some of its bitterness for me. This hospitable land is truly the homeland of all great misfortunes; the image of human vicissitudes presents itself everywhere; and if these vast ruins, which seize our admiration, show us that all greatness is transient, these pious monuments erected near them at the same time remind our hearts of the only consolations whose source is immortal. M. de Bressieux is with me. I leave the wounded man, who was better, in the care of faithful servants; I take to the seat of my carriage the other -
To be continued.
Cela fait partie d'une série pour laquelle Hortense a enfreint la loi. La dernière fois que nous nous sommes quittés, un ami belge de Hortense était sur le point d’être expulsé de Rome pour avoir suggéré des réformes des droits de l’homme afin d’éviter un soulèvement public. Hortense mentionne également que son neveu était considéré pour le trône de Belgique et qu'il ne pourrait pas essayer pour le trône de France s'il obtenait le trône de Belgique et qu'aucun trône n'était tout à fait probable pour lui. Hortense écrit:
