Literary Remains | Page 9

Clamour. Cries of --Down with the tyrant!]
TALLlEN. Oppression falls. The traitor stands appall'd-- Guilt's iron
fangs engrasp his shrinking soul-- He hears assembled France denounce
his crimes! He sees the mask torn from his secret sins-- He trembles on
the precipice of fate. Fall'n guilty tyrant! murder'd by thy rage, How
many an innocent victim's blood has stain'd Fair freedom's altar!
Sylla-like thy hand Mark'd down the virtues, that, thy foes removed,
Perpetual Dictator thou might'st reign, And tyrannize o'er France, and
call it freedom! Long time in timid guilt the traitor plann'd His fearful
wiles--success embolden'd sin-- And his stretch'd arm had grasp'd the
diadem Ere now, but that the coward's heart recoil'd, Lest France
awaked, should rouse her from her dream, And call aloud for
vengeance. He, like Caesar, With rapid step urged on his bold career,
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 venom Infects all Europe? was it then
for this We swore to guard our liberty with life, That Robespierre
should reign? the spirit of freedom Is not yet sunk so low. The glowing
flame That animates each honest Frenchman's heart Not yet
extinguish'd. I invoke thy shade, Immortal Brutus! I too wear a dagger;
And if the representatives of France Through fear or favour should
delay the sword Of justice, Tallien emulates thy virtues; Tallien, like
Brutus, lifts the avenging arm; Tallien shall save his country.
[Violent Applauses.]
BILLAUD VARENNES. I demand The arrest of all the traitors.
Memorable Will be this day for France.
ROBESPIERRE. Yes! Memorable This day will be for France--for
villains triumph.
LEBAS. I will not share in this day's damning guilt. Condemn me too.
[Great cry --Down with the tyrants! The two Robespierres, Couthon, St.
Just, and Lebas are led off.]

ACT III.
SCENE continues.
COLLOT D'HERBOIS. Caesar is fallen! 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 suppose The tyrant will fall
tamely. His sworn hireling Henriot, the daring desperate Henriot
Commands the force of Paris. I denounce him.
FRERON. I denounce Fleuriot too, the mayor of Paris.
[Enter DUBOIS CRANCE.]
DUBOIS CRANCE. Robespierre is rescued. Henriot, at the head Of the
arm'd force, has rescued the fierce tyrant.
COLLOT D'HERBOIS. Ring the tocsin--call all the citizens To save
their country--never yet has Paris Forsook the representatives of
France.
TALLIEN. It is the hour of danger. I propose This sitting be made
permanent.
[Loud Applauses.]
COLLOT D'HERBOIS. The national Convention shall remain Firm at
its post.
[Enter a MESSENGER.]
MESSENGER. Robespierre has reach'd the Commune. They espouse
The tyrant's cause. St. Just is up in arms! St. Just--the young, ambitious,
bold St. Just Harangues the mob. The sanguinary Couthon Thirsts for
your blood.
[Tocsin rings.]
TALLIEN. These tyrants are in arms against the law: Outlaw the
rebels.
[Enter MERLIN OF DOUAY.]
MERLIN. Health to the representatives of France! I pass'd this moment
through the armed force-- They ask'd my name--and when they heard a
delegate, 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 destin'd to
surround This sacred hall.
TALLIEN. Why, we will die like men then. The representatives of
France dare death, When duty steels their bosoms.
[Loud Applauses.]
TALLIEN [addressing the galleries.] Citizens! France is insulted in her
delegates-- The majesty of the Republic is insulted-- Tyrants are up in
arms. An armed force Threats the Convention. The Convention swears
To die, or save the country!
[Violent Applauses from the galleries.]
CITIZEN [from above.] We too swear To die, or save the country.
Follow me.
[All the men quit the galleries.]
[Enter another MESSENGER.]
FOURTH MESSENGER. Henriot is taken!--
[Loud Applauses.]
Henriot is taken. Three of your brave soldiers Swore they would seize
the rebel slave of tyrants, Or perish in the attempt. As he patroll'd The
streets of Paris, stirring up the mob, They seized him.
[Applauses.]
BILLAUD VARENNES. Let the names of these brave men Live to the
future day.
[Enter BOURDON L'OISE, sword in hand.]
BOURDON L'OISE. I have clear'd the Commune.
[Applauses.]
Through the throng I rush'd, Brandishing my good sword to drench