Page:History of the Empress Josephine (2).pdf/5

 HISTORY OF THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE. 5

rce seized my hand. She appeared to be under the greatest gitation. Amused at these absurdities, as I thought them, allowed her to proceed, saying, 'So you discover something extraordinary in my destiny?-_'Yes ?-'Is happiness on misfortune to be my lot ?–Misfortune. Ah, stop!-and. happiness too.'--'You take care not to commit yourself, my good dame ; your oracles are not the most intelligible.'-'I am not permitted to render them more clear,' said the woman, raising her eyes with a mysterious expression towards heaven. But to the point,' replied I, for my curiosity began to be excited ; 'What read you concerning me in futurity ? What do I see in the future? You will not believe me if speak.'-'Yes, indeed, I assure you. Come, my good mother, chat am I to fear and hope ??- 'On your own head be it then, Isten : you will be married soon: that union will not be happy; you will become a widow, and then---then you will e queen of France ! Some happy years will be yours ; but you will die in an hospital, amid civil commotion.' "On concluding these words,' continued Josephine, the old woman burst from the crowd, and hurried away, as fast s her limbs, enfeebled by age, would permit. I forbade the taystanders to molest or banter the pretended prophetess n this ridiculous prediction; and took occasion, from the teeming absurdity of the whole proceeding, to caution the young negresses how they gave heed to such matters.'" We have already stated that Josephine was arrested; and she merited but dreadful end of Robespierre alone saved Madame de Beauharnois, with about seventy others, destined for the usual morning sacrifice to the "deities of Reason and Revolution." Had we not her own confession, it night be deemed altogether incredible, that, undor such circumstances, Josephine's thoughts should involuntarily revert to, and Mwell upon, the singular prediction which has been reported in the commencement of these mem sirs. "In spite of my- self," said the empress, long after, to her ladies," I inces- santly revolved in my mind this prophecy. Accustomed thus to exercise imagination, every thing that had been told me began to appear less absurd, and finally terminated in