Joseph II. and His Court | Page 9

to testify, in your own sovereign person, to the tyranny of our two
northern allies. It remains, therefore, to speak of Sardinia
alone--Sardinia, who HELD LOMBARDY IN CHECK. No sooner had
Victor Amadeus put his royal signature to the treaty made by him with
Austria, than he turned to his confidants and said (loud enough for us to
hear him in Vienna): 'Lombardy is mine. I will take it, but I shall eat it
up, leaf by leaf, like an artichoke.' And methinks his majesty of
Sardinia has proved himself to be a good trencherman. He has already
swallowed several leaves of his artichoke, in that he is master of several
of the fairest provinces of Lombardy. It is true that this royal gourmand
has laid aside his crown; and that in his place reigns Victor Emanuel, of
whom Lord Chesterfield, in a burst of enthusiasm, has said, that `he
never did and never will commit an act of injustice.' Concede that
Victor Emanuel is the soul of honor; still," added Kaunitz with a shake

of the head, and an incredulous smile "still--the Italian princes are
abominable geographers--and they are inordinately fond of artichokes.
[Footnote: Kaunitz's own words. Kotmayr, "Austrian Plutarch," vol. xi.]
Now their fondness for this vegetable is as dangerous to Austria as the
too loving grasp of her northern allies, who with their friendly hands
not only close their ports against us, but lay the weight of their favors
so heavily upon our heads as to force us down upon our knees before
them. What have we from England and Holland but their subsidies?
And Austria can now afford to relinquish them-- Austria is rich,
powerful, prosperous enough to be allowed to proffer her friendship
where it will be honorably returned. Austria, then, must be freed from
her oppressive alliance with the maritime powers. She has youth and
vitality enough to shake off this bondage, and strike for the new path
which shall lead her to greatness and glory. There is a moral and
intangible greatness, of whose existence these trading Englishmen have
no conception, but which the refined and elevated people of France are
fully competent to appreciate. France extends to us her hand, and offers
us alliance on terms of equality. Cooperating with France, we shall
defy the enmity of all Europe. With our two-edged sword we shall turn
the scales of future European strife, and make peace or war for other
nations. France, too, is our natural ally, for she is our neighbor. And she
is more than this, for she is our ally by the sacred unity of one faith.
The Holy Father at Rome, who blesses the arms of Austria, will no
longer look sorrowfully upon Austria's league with heresy. When
apostolic France and we are one, the blessings of the Church will
descend upon our alliance. Religion, therefore, as well as honest
statesmanship, call for the treaty with France."
"And I," cried Maria Theresa, rising quickly from her seat, her eyes
glowing with enthusiastic fire, "I vote joyfully with Count Kaunitz. I,
too, vote for alliance with France. The count has spoken as it stirs my
heart to hear an Austrian speak. He loves his fatherland, and in his
devotion he casts far from him all thought of worldly profit or
advancement. I tender him my warmest thanks, and I will take his
words to heart."
Overcome with the excitement of the moment, the empress reached her
hand to Kaunitz, who eagerly seized and pressed it to his lips.
Count Uhlefeld watched this extraordinary scene with astonishment

and consternation. Bartenstein, so long the favorite minister of Maria
Theresa, was deadly pale, and his lips were compressed as though he
were trying to suppress a burst of rage. Harrach, Colloredo, and
Khevenhuller hung their heads, while they turned over in their little
minds how best to curry favor with the new minister.
The empress saw nothing of the dismayed faces around her. Her soul
was filled with high emotions, and her countenance beamed gloriously
with the fervor of her boundless patriotism.
"Everything for Austria! My heart, my soul, my life, all are for my
fatherland," said Maria Theresa, with her beautiful eyes raised to
heaven. "And now, my lords," added she, after a pause, "I must retire,
to beg light and counsel from the Almighty. I have learned your
different views on the great question of this day; and when Heaven
shall have taught me what to do, I will decide."
She waved her hand in parting salutation, and with her loftiest imperial
bearing left the room.
Until the doors were closed, the lords of the council remained standing
with inclined heads. Then they looked from one to another with faces
of wonder and inquiry. Kaunitz alone seemed unembarrassed; and
gathering up his papers