Last letter of Marie Antoinette (original text)
The last letter of Marie Antoinette , written by ex Queen of France a few hours before climbing the steps of the guillotine, it is kept in the National Archives of the Hotel de Soubise.
The document, in addition to being poignant, is of fundamental importance for understanding the nature of its author.
It is, after all, the spiritual testament of a woman who is about to be executed and directs her last earthly thoughts to the people she loves.
In some places the ink appears faded, probably due to the tears that have fallen on the sheet.
To the recipient, the beloved young sister-in-law Madame Elisabetta , younger sister of Louis XVI, the last letter of Marie Antoinette will never arrive.
Around 4 am on October 16, 1793 , the illustrious prisoner of the Conciergerie she asked for pen and paper and, in the dim light of two candles, wrote a small masterpiece.
The letter begins like this:
"It is to you, my sister, that I am writing for the last time. I have been
condemned not to a shameful death, it is not such that
for delinquents, but to join your brother; innocent
like him, I hope to show the same firmness as he does in the last
moments. I am calm as it is when conscience is not
reproaches anything; I have a deep pain of abandoning mine
poor children; you know that I existed only for them and for
you, my good and tender sister, you who have for yours
friendship sacrificed everything to be with us, in what position I leave you! "
To read the full text of Marie Antoinette's last letter, I refer you to the page http://www.madamedepompadour.com/_m_antonietta_fersen/ita/lettere/ of the site madamedepompadour.com of my friend Lorenzo Crivellin.
It is one of the most beautiful, well-kept and information-rich portals on the subject that can be found online:highly recommended.