St. Just. I may be heard then! much the times are changed, Shudder with horror. mands Henriot com When St. Just thanks this hall for hear- The marshall'd force of Paris. Hen ing him. Each patriot? shall the hireling slave of Yet league with villains, for with Robes Lebas. I will not share in this day's damning guilt. Long time in timid guilt the traitor Condemn me too. plann'd His fearful wiles-success emboldened sin And his stretch'd arm had grasp'd the diadem Ere now, but that the coward's heart recoil'd, Lest France awak'd should rouse her from her dream, And call aloud for vengeance. He, like Cæsar, With rapid step urged on his bold career, 260 Even to the summit of ambitious power, And deem'd the name of King alone was wanting. Was it for this we hurl'd proud Capet down? Is it for this we wage eternal war Against the tyrant horde of murderers, The crowned cockatrices whose foul [Great cry-Down with the Tyrants! (The two ROBESPIERRES, COUTHON, ST. JUST, and LEBAS are led off.) ACT III SCENE CONTINUES. Collot d'Herbois. Cæsar is fall'n! The baneful tree of Java, Whose death distilling boughs dropt poisonous dew, Is rooted from its base. This worse than Cromwell, The austere, the self-denying Robespierre, Even in this hall, where once with terror mute We listen'd to the hypocrite's harangues, Has heard his doom. Billaud Varennes. Yet must we not Tallien, like Brutus, lifts the avenging To save their country-never yet has arm; Paris Forsook the representatives of France. Tallien. It is the hour of danger. propose The arrest of all the traitors. Memorable This sitting be made permanent. I [Loud applauses. Swore I was not the friend of France. Collot d'Herbois. The tyrants threaten us as when they turn'd The cannon's mouth on Brissot. Enter another Messenger. Second Messenger. Vivier harangues the Jacobins the Club Espouse the cause of Robespierre. Enter another Messenger. Third Messenger. All's lost-the tyrant triumphs. Henriot leads The soldiers to his aid.-Already I hear The rattling cannon destined to surround This sacred hall. I spake of Liberty. Their honest hearts Tallien. Why, we will die like men Caught the warm flame. The general then, 39 shout burst forth, The representatives of France dare death, Live the Convention-Down with France shall be saved! her generous sons Expell'd me from their sittings. —Now, Will court again their fetters! easier Should gain the people once again to were it rise To hurl the cloud-capt mountain from its We are as dead! base, Tallien. And wherefore fear we death? Than force the bonds of slavery upon Did Brutus fear it? or the Grecian And bade them bow the knee to Robes- Espouse your cause. pierre. swear The men of Paris Vivier has 'scaped me. Curse his coward They will defend the delegates of Freedom. heart This fate-fraught tube of Justice in my hand, I rush'd into the hall. He mark'd mine eye That beam'd its patriot anger, and flash'd full With death-denouncing meaning. 'Mid the throng He mingled. I pursued-but stay'd my hand, Lest haply I might shed the innocent blood. [Applauses. Freron. They took from me my ticket. of admission Tallien. Hear ye this, Colleagues? hear ye this, my brethren? And does no thrill of joy pervade your Yet impotent to die. He lives all mangled By his own tremulous hand! All gash'd and gored 150 He lives to taste the bitterness of death. Even now they meet their doom. The bloody Couthon, The fierce St. Just, even now attend their tyrant To fall beneath the axe. I saw the torches Flash on their visages a dreadful lightI saw them whilst the black blood roll'd adown Each stern face, even then with dauntless eye Scowl round contemptuous, dying as they lived, |