200

St. Just. I may be heard then ! much Shudder with horror. Henriot comthe times are changed,

mands When St. Just thanks this hall for hear. The marshall'd force of Paris. Hening him.

riot, Robespierre is callid a tyrant. Men of Foul parricide—the sworn ally of Hébert, France,

Denounced by all — upheld by RobesJudge not too soon. By popular dis

pierre. content

Who spar'd La Valette ? who promoted Was Aristides driven into exile,

him, Was Phocion murder'd. Ere ye dare Stain'd with the deep dye of nobility ? pronounce

Who to an ex-peer gave the high comRobespierre is guilty, it befits ye well,

mand?

230 Consider who accuse him. Tallien, Who screen'd from justice the rapacious Bourdon of Oise — the very men de

thief? nounced,

Who cast in chains the friends of For that their dark intrigues disturb'd

Liberty? the plan

Robespierre, the self-stild patriot RobesOf government. Legendre the sworn

pierrefriend

Robespierre, allied with villain DauOf Danton, fall'n apostate.

Dubois

bignéCrancé,

Robespierre, the foul arch-tyrant RobesHe who at Lyons spared the royalists

pierre. Collot d'Herbois

Bourdon l'Oise. He talks of virtueBourdon l'Oise. What-shall the traitor

of moralityrear

Consistent patriot! he Daubigné's friend ! His head amid our tribune-and blas- Henriot's supporter virtuous ! preach of pheme

virtue, Each patriot? shall the hireling slave of Yet league with villains, for with Robesfaction

pierre St. Just. I am of no one faction. I Villains alone ally. Thou art a tyrant ! contend I stile thee tyrant, Robespierre !

241 Against all factions.

[Loud applauses. Tallien.

I espouse the cause Robespierre. Take back the name. Of truth. Robespierre on yester morn

Ye citizens of Francepronounced

[Violent clamour.

Cries of Upon his own authority a report.

Down with the Tyrant ! To-day St. Just comes down. St. Just Tallien. Oppression falls. The traitor neglects

stands appal'dWhat the Committee orders, and

orders, and Guilt's iron fangs engrasp his shrinking harangues

soulFrom his own will. O citizens of France He hears assembled France denounce his I weep for you — I weep for my poor

crimes ! country

He sees the mask torn from his secret I tremble for the cause of Liberty,

sinsWhen individuals shall assume the sway, Ile trembles on the precipice of fate. And with more insolence than kingly Fall'n guilty tyrant! murder'd by thy pride

rage Rule the Republic.

Ilow many an innocent victim's blood Billaud Varennes. Shudder, ye repre

has stain'd sentatives of France,

Fair freedom's altar! Sylla-like thy hand

210

221

260

Mark'd down the virtues, that, thy foes Robespierre. Yes ! Memorable removed,

251 This day will be for France--for villains Perpetual Dictator thou might'st reign,

triumph.

281 And tyrannize o'er France, and call it Lebas. I will not share in this day's freedom!

damning guilt. Long time in timid guilt the traitor Condemn me too. plann'd

[Great cry-Down with the Tyrants ! His fearful wiles-success emboldened

(The two ROBESPIERRES, COUTHON, ST. sin

JUST, and LEBAS are led off) And his stretch'd arm had grasp'd the

diadem Ere now, but that the coward's heart re

ACT III coil'd, Lest France awak'd should rouse her

SCENE CONTINUES. from her dream,

Collot d'Herbois. Cæsar is fall'n! The And call aloud for vengeance.

He, like

baneful tree of Java, Cæsar,

Whose death - distilling boughs dropt With rapid step urged on his bold

poisonous dew, career, Even to the summit of ambitious power,

Is rooted from its base. This worse than

Cromwell, And deem'd the name of King alone was

The austere, the self-denying Robespierre, wanting.

Even in this hall, where once with terror Was it for this we hurl'd proud Capet

mute down?

We listen’d to the hypocrite's harangues, Is it for this we wage eternal war

Has heard his doom. Against the tyrant horde of murderers,

Billaud Varennes. Yet must we not The crowned cockatrices whose foul

suppose venom

The tyrant will fall tamely. His sworn Infects all Europe? was it then for this

hireling We sworė to guard our liberty with life,

Henriot, the daring desperate Henriot, That Robespierre should reign? the

Commands the force of Paris. I denounce spirit of freedom

him. Is not yet sunk so low.

The glowing

Freron. I denounce Fleuriot too, the flame

270 That animates each honest Frenchman's heart

Enter DUBOIS CRANCÉ. Not yet extinguish'd. I invoke thy shade,

Dubois Crancé. Robespierre is rescued. Immortal Brutus! I too wear a dagger ;

Henriot at the head And if the representatives of France, Of the arm'd force has rescued the fierce Through fear or favour, should delay the

tyrant. sword

Collot d'Herbois. Ring the tocsin-call Of justice, Tallien emulates thy virtues;

all the citizens Tallien, like Brutus, lifts the avenging To save their country--never yet has arm ;

Paris Tallien shall save his country.

Forsook the representatives of France. [Violent applauscs. Tallien. It is the hour of danger. I Billaud Varennes.

I demand

propose The arrest of all the traitors. Memorable This sitting be made permanent. Will be this day for France.

[Loud applauses.

IO

mayor of Paris.

Collot d'Herbois. The National Con- The majesty of the Republic is insultedvention shall remain

Tyrants are up in arms. An armed force Firm at its post.

20 Threats the Convention. The Conven

tion swears Enter a Messenger.

To die, or save the country ! Messenger. Robespierre has reach'd [Violent applauses from the galleries. the Commune. They espouse

Citizen (from above). We too swear The tyrant's cause.

St. Just is up in | To die, or save the country. Follow me. arms !

[All the men quit the galleries. St. Just-the young ambitious bold St. Just

Enter another Messenger.
Harangues the mob.

The sanguinary
Couthon

Fourth Messenger. Henriot is taken ! Thirsts for your blood. [Tocsin rings.

[Loud applauses. Tallien. These tyrants are in arms

Three of your brave soldiers against the law :

Swore they would seize the rebel slave Outlaw the rebels.

of tyrants,

49 Or perish in the attempt. As he patrollid Enter MERLIN OF DOUAY. The streets of Paris, stirring up the Merlin. Health to the representatives They seiz’d 'him.

mob,

[Applauses. of France !

Billaud Varennes. Let the names of I past this moment through the armed

these brave men force

Live to the future day. They ask'd my name--and when they heard a delegate,

30

Enter BOURDON L'OISE, sword in hand. Swore I was not the friend of France. Collot d'Herbois. The tyrants threaten

Bourdon l'Oise. I have clear'd the us as when they turn’d

Commune.

[Applauses. The cannon's mouth on Brissot.

Through the throng I rush'd, Enter another Messenger.

Brandishing my good sword to drench its

blade Second Messenger. Vivier harangues Deep in the tyrant's heart. The timid the Jacobins—the Club

rebels Espouse the cause of Robespierre. Gave way. I met the soldiery- I spake Enter another Messenger.

Of the dictator's crimes — of patriots

chain'd Third Messenger. All's lost--the tyrant in dark deep dungeons by his lawless triumphs. Henriot leads

rageThe soldiers to his aid. --Already I hear Of knaves secure beneath his fostering The rattling cannon destined to surround

power.

бо 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 When duty steels their bosoms.

Robespierre !' [Applauses. [Loud applauses. (Shouts from without-Down with the Tallien (addressing the galleries). Citi

Tyrant !) zens !

Tallien. I hear, I hear the soul-inspirFrance is insulted in her delegates

ing sounds,

90

71

France shall be saved ! her generous sons Expell’d me from their sittings.- Now, attached

forsooth, To principles, not persons, spurn the idol Humbled and trembling re-insert my They worshipp'd once. Yes, Robespierre

name. shall fall

But Freron enters not the Club again As Capet fell! Oh! never let us deem 'Till it be purged of guilt :’till, purified That France shall crouch beneath a Of tyrants and of traitors, honest men tyrant's throne,

May breathe the air in safety. That the almighty people who have broke

[Shouts from without, On their oppressors' heads the oppressive Barrere. What means this uproar ! chain,

if the tyrant band Will court again their fetters! easier Should gain the people once again to were it

riseTo 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 men

friends Determined to be free ! [ Applauses. Who buried in Hipparchus' breast the

sword,

100 Enter LEGENDRE-a pistol in one hand, :

And died triumphant? Cæsar should keys in the other.

fear death, Legendre (flinging down the keys). So Brutus must scorn the bugbear.

-let the mutinous Jacobins meet (Shouts from without--Live the Conveninow

tion !--- Down with the Tyrants :) In the open air. [Loud applauses. Tallien.

Hark ! again A factious turbulent party The sounds of honest Freedom ! Lording it o'er the state since Danton died,

Enter Deputies from the Sections. And with him the Cordeliers. -A hireling Citizen. Citizens ! representatives of band

France ! Of loud-tongued orators controull'd the Hold on your steady course. The men Club,

of Paris And bade them bow the knee to Robes- Espouse your cause. The men of Paris pierre.

swear Vivier has 'scaped me. Curse his coward | They will defend the delegates of Freedom. heart

Tallien. Hear ye this, Colleagues ? This fate-fraught tube of Justice in my hear ye this, my brethren? hand,

And does no thrill of joy pervade your I rush'd into the hall. He mark'd mine

breasts? eye

My bosom bounds to rapture. I have That beam'd its patriot anger, and flash'd

seen

ΙΙΟ full

The sons of France shake off the tyrant With death-denouncing meaning. 'Mid

yoke; the throng

I have, as much as lies in mine own arm, He mingled. I pursued—but stay'd my Hurl'd down the usurper. --Come death hand,

when it will, Lest haply I might shed the innocent I have lived long enough. blood. [Applauses.

[Shouts without. Freron. They took from me my ticket Barrere. Hark! how the noise inof admission

creases ! through the gloom

80

I20

Of the still evening-harbinger of death, The sentence of the law, the clamorous Rings the tocsin ! the dreadful generale

cry Thunders through Paris-'

Of joyful thousands hailing their destruc[Cry without--Down with the Tyrant !

tion,

Each sought by suicide to escape the Enter LECOINTRE.

dread

Of death. Lebas succeeded. From the Lecointre. So may eternal justice

window blast the foes

Leapt the younger Robespierre, but his Of France ! so perish all the tyrant

fractur'd limb brood,

Forbade to escape.

The self-will'd As Robespierre has perish'd! Citizens,

dictator Caesar is taken.

Plunged often the keen knife in his dark [Loud and repeated applauses.

breast, I marvel not that with such fearless front Yet impotent to die. He lives all He braved our vengeance, and with

mangled angry eye

By his own tremulous hand! All gash'd Scowled round the hall defiance. He

and gored

150 relied

He lives to taste the bitterness of On Henriot's aid—the Commune's villain

death. friendship,

Even now they meet their doom. The And Henriot's boughten succours. Ye

bloody Couthon, have heard

The fierce St. Just, even now attend How Henriot rescued him-how with

their tyrant open arms

To fall beneath the axe. I saw the The Commune welcom'd in the rebel

torches tyrant

Flash on their visages a dreadful lightHow Fleuriot aided, and seditious Vivier I saw them whilst the black blood rollid Stirr'd up the Jacobins. All had been

adown lost

131 Each stern face, even then with dauntThe representatives of France had perish'd

Scowl round contemptuous, dying as Freedom had sunk beneath the tyrant

they lived, arm

Fearless of fate! Of this foul parricide, but that her

[Loud and repeated applauses. spirit

Barrere mounts the Tribune. For ever Inspir'd the men of Paris. Henriot

hallowed be this glorious day, call'd

When Freedom, bursting her oppressive • To arms' in vain, whilst Bourdon's

chain,

161 patriot voice

Tramples on the oppressor. When the Breathed eloquence, and o'er the Jaco

tyrant bins

Hurl'd from his blood-cemented throne, Legendre frown'd dismay. The tyrants

by the arm fled

Of the almighty people, meets the death They reach'd the Hôtel. We gather'd He plann'd for thousands. round—we call'd

sickening heart For vengeance ! Long time, obstinate Has sunk within me, when the various in despair,

140

woes With knives they hack'd around them. Of my brave country crowded o'er my 'Till foreboding

less eye

Oh! my