Siam : The Land of the White Elephant as It Was and IsBacon, George B. (George Blagden)
History
Siam : The Land of the White Elephant as It Was and Is
Bacon, George B. (George Blagden)
Thailand -- Description and travel; Thailand -- History
"On May 30th, the official seals of her husband were demanded from her;
the next day his arms, his papers, and his clothes were carried off;
another day boxes were sealed, and the keys taken away; a guard was
placed before her dwelling, and a sentinel at the door of her room to
keep her in sight. Hitherto nothing had shaken her equanimity; but this
last insult so confounded her, that she could not help complaining.
'What,' exclaimed she, weeping, 'what have I done to be treated like a
criminal?' This, however, was the only complaint drawn by adversity from
this noble Christian lady during the whole course of her trials. Even
this emotion of weakness, so pardonable in a woman of two-and-twenty who
had hitherto known nothing of misfortune, was quickly repaired; for two
Jesuits who happened to be with her on this occasion, having mildly
represented to her that Christians who have their treasure in heaven,
and who regard it as their country, should not afflict themselves like
pagans for the loss of wealth and freedom--'It is true,' said she,
recovering her tranquillity: 'I was wrong, my Fathers. God gave all; He
takes all away: may His holy name be praised! I pray only for my
husband's deliverance.'
"Scarcely two days had elapsed after the placing of the seals when a
mandarin, followed by a hundred men, came to break them by order of his
new master, and carried off all the money, furniture and jewels he found
in the apartments of this splendid palace. Madame Constance had the
firmness herself to conduct him, and to put into his hands all that he
wished to take; after which, looking at the Fathers, who still continued
with her, 'Now,' said she, calmly, 'God alone remains to us; but none
can separate us from Him.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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