DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62134#0071
LYING IN STATE.
63
behind, whenever the gates should open, or to be crushed,
whilst waiting, against the embossed ornaments upon the
gates. Luckily, however, no such accident occurred.
But if the crowd had behaved in an irreverent manner
outside the house of death, within they behaved even
worse; rushing up-stairs, laughing, and making a terrible
hubbub. I was well pleased that gendarmes, and solemn
servants, at the head of the staircase, stood ready to
rebuke them. Passing through one or two rooms where
furniture stood about in desolate disorder, the crowd
crushed into a small room hung with black cloth and
escutcheons, and lighted brilliantly with numerous waxen
tapers. In the centre of the room, upon a high couch
draped with black, decorated with blooming flowers, and
surrounded with tapers burning in tall golden candlesticks,
reclined the corpse; it was arrayed in black velvet. The
pale brow was crowned with a tiara, from which fell, half
concealing the figure, a long veil of white lace. There was
rouge no longer upon the white cheeks. You were more
than ever struck with the commanding profile, and pecu-
liarly arched eye-brows. There was something very solemn
and affecting in the face.
Round the room knelt her court-ladies, shrouded in long
black veils, and several gentlemen in brilliant uniforms.
On one side of the room rose a small altar, where, at
certain periods of the day, mass was celebrated. To-
morrow is to be the funeral.
The Duchess is said to have been singularly beautiful in
her youth. It was related to me by Praulein Sanchen, that
when in Italy, the peasants fell down and prayed before her,
believing her to be the “ Madonna.” This seems to be a
popular legend here.
May Wth.—At four o’clock this afternoon the grand
63
behind, whenever the gates should open, or to be crushed,
whilst waiting, against the embossed ornaments upon the
gates. Luckily, however, no such accident occurred.
But if the crowd had behaved in an irreverent manner
outside the house of death, within they behaved even
worse; rushing up-stairs, laughing, and making a terrible
hubbub. I was well pleased that gendarmes, and solemn
servants, at the head of the staircase, stood ready to
rebuke them. Passing through one or two rooms where
furniture stood about in desolate disorder, the crowd
crushed into a small room hung with black cloth and
escutcheons, and lighted brilliantly with numerous waxen
tapers. In the centre of the room, upon a high couch
draped with black, decorated with blooming flowers, and
surrounded with tapers burning in tall golden candlesticks,
reclined the corpse; it was arrayed in black velvet. The
pale brow was crowned with a tiara, from which fell, half
concealing the figure, a long veil of white lace. There was
rouge no longer upon the white cheeks. You were more
than ever struck with the commanding profile, and pecu-
liarly arched eye-brows. There was something very solemn
and affecting in the face.
Round the room knelt her court-ladies, shrouded in long
black veils, and several gentlemen in brilliant uniforms.
On one side of the room rose a small altar, where, at
certain periods of the day, mass was celebrated. To-
morrow is to be the funeral.
The Duchess is said to have been singularly beautiful in
her youth. It was related to me by Praulein Sanchen, that
when in Italy, the peasants fell down and prayed before her,
believing her to be the “ Madonna.” This seems to be a
popular legend here.
May Wth.—At four o’clock this afternoon the grand