The legend of this medallion was: "Eripuit coelo fulmen, sceptrumque tyrannis." The King never declared his opinion upon an enthusiasm which his correct judgment no doubt led him to blame.

The Queen spoke out more plainly about the part France was taking respecting the independence of the American colonies, and constantly opposed it.

Far was she from foreseeing that a revolution at--such a distance could excite one in which a misguided populace would drag her from her palace to a death equally unjust and cruel.

She only saw something ungenerous in the method which France adopted of checking the power of England.
However, as Queen of France, she enjoyed the sight of a whole people rendering homage to the prudence, courage, and good qualities of a young Frenchman; and she shared the enthusiasm inspired by the conduct and military success of the Marquis de La Fayette.

The Queen granted him several audiences on his first return from America, and, until the 10th of August, on which day my house was plundered, I preserved some lines from Gaston and Bayard, in which the friends of M.de La Fayette saw the exact outline of his character, written by her own hand: "Why talk of youth, When all the ripe experience of the old Dwells with him?
In his schemes profound and cool, He acts with wise precaution, and reserves For time of action his impetuous fire.
To guard the camp, to scale the leaguered wall, Or dare the hottest of the fight, are toils That suit th' impetuous bearing of his youth; Yet like the gray-hair'd veteran he can shun The field of peril.