. The life and letters of Madame Élisabeth de France. andfor as long as they remain in this perishable world. I commend my children to my wife; I have never doubtedher maternal tenderness for them; I entreat her, above all,to make good Christians and honest beings of them, to teachthem to regard the grandeurs of this world (if they arecondemned to experience them) as dangerous and perish-able benefits, and to turn their eyes towards the only solidand durable glory of eternity. I beg my sister to continueher tenderness to my children, and to stand to them in placeof a mother should they have th
. The life and letters of Madame Élisabeth de France. andfor as long as they remain in this perishable world. I commend my children to my wife; I have never doubtedher maternal tenderness for them; I entreat her, above all,to make good Christians and honest beings of them, to teachthem to regard the grandeurs of this world (if they arecondemned to experience them) as dangerous and perish-able benefits, and to turn their eyes towards the only solidand durable glory of eternity. I beg my sister to continueher tenderness to my children, and to stand to them in placeof a mother should they have the misfortune to lose theirs. I beg my wife to forgive me for all the ills she hassuffered for me, and the griefs I may have caused her in thecourse of our union; just as she may be sure that I keepnothing against her should she think she has anything forwhich to blame herself. I request very earnestly of my children, after what theyowe to God who comes before all, to remain united with eachother, submissive and obedient to their mother and grateful. 1792] THE CAPTIVITY OF LOUIS XVI. 183 for all the care and trouble she gives herself for them, andin memory of me. I beg them to regard my sister as asecond mother. I beg my son, if he has the misfortune to become king, toreflect that he owes himself wholly to the welfare of his co-citizens ; that he ought to forget all hatred and all resent-ment, especially that which relates to the misfortunes andgriefs that I have borne; that he cannot make the happinessof the people except by reigning according to the laws ; but,at the same time, that a king cannot make the laws respectedand do the good which is in his heart to do unless he hasthe necessary authority; otherwise, being fettered in hisoperations and inspiring no respect, he is more harmful thanuseful. I commend to my son to take care of all the persons whohave been attached to me, so far as the circumstances inwhich he may be placed will give him the ability; to re-member that th
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