Samuel Coleridge - The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Robespierre, what proofs were ask’d when Brissot died?

Legendre. What proofs adduced you when the Danton died?

When at the imminent peril of my life

I rose, and fearless of thy frowning brow,

Proclaim’d him guiltless?

Robespierre. I remember well 165

The fatal day. I do repent me much

That I kill’d Caesar and spar’d Antony.

But I have been too lenient. I have spared

The stream of blood, and now my own must flow

To fill the current. [Loud applauses.

Triumph not too soon, 170

Justice may yet be victor.

Enter ST. JUST, and mounts the Tribune.

St. Just. I come from the Committee — charged to speak

Of matters of high import. I omit

Their orders. Representatives of France,

Boldly in his own person speaks St. Just 175

What his own heart shall dictate.

Tallien. Hear ye this,

Insulted delegates of France? St. Just

From your Committee comes — comes charg’d to speak

Of matters of high import, yet omits

Their orders! Representatives of France, 180

That bold man I denounce, who disobeys

The nation’s orders. — I denounce St. Just. [Loud applauses.

St. Just. Hear me! [Violent murmurs.

Robespierre. He shall be heard!

Bourdon l’Oise. Must we contaminate this sacred hall

With the foul breath of treason?

Collot d’Herbois. Drag him away! 185

Hence with him to the bar.

Couthon. Oh, just proceedings!

Robespierre prevented liberty of speech —

And Robespierre is a tyrant! Tallien reigns,

He dreads to hear the voice of innocence —

And St. Just must be silent!

Legendre. Heed we well 190

That justice guide our actions. No light import

Attends this day. I move St. Just be heard.

Freron. Inviolate be the sacred right of man.

The freedom of debate. [Violent applauses.

St. Just. I may be heard then! much the times are chang’d, 195

When St. Just thanks this hall for hearing him.

Robespierre is call’d a tyrant. Men of France,

Judge not too soon. By popular discontent

Was Aristides driven into exile,

Was Phocion murder’d. Ere ye dare pronounce 200

Robespierre is guilty, it befits ye well,

Consider who accuse him. Tallien,

Bourdon of Oise — the very men denounced,

For that their dark intrigues disturb’d the plan

Of government. Legendre the sworn friend 205

Of Danton, fall’n apostate. Dubois Crancé,

He who at Lyons spared the royalists —

Collot d’Herbois —

Bourdon l’Oise. What — shall the traitor rear

His head amid our tribune — and blaspheme

Each patriot? shall the hireling slave of faction — 210

St. Just. I am of no one faction. I contend

Against all factions.

Tallien. I espouse the cause

Of truth. Robespierre on yester morn pronounced

Upon his own authority a report.

To-day St. Just comes down. St. Just neglects 215

What the Committee orders, and harangues

From his own will. O citizens of France

I weep for you — I weep for my poor country —

I tremble for the cause of Liberty,

When individuals shall assume the sway, 220

And with more insolence than kingly pride

Rule the Republic.

Billaud Varennes. Shudder, ye representatives of France,

Shudder with horror. Henriot commands

The marshall’d force of Paris. Henriot, 225

Foul parricide — the sworn ally of Hébert,

Denounced by all — upheld by Robespierre.

Who spar’d La Valette? who promoted him,

Stain’d with the deep dye of nobility?

Who to an ex-peer gave the high command? 230

Who screen’d from justice the rapacious thief?

Who cast in chains the friends of Liberty?

Robespierre, the self-stil’d patriot Robespierre —

Robespierre, allied with villain Daubigné —

Robespierre, the foul arch-tyrant Robespierre. 235

Bourdon l’Oise. He talks of virtue — of morality —

Consistent patriot! he Daubigné’s friend!

Henriot’s supporter virtuous! preach of virtue,

Yet league with villains, for with Robespierre

Villains alone ally. Thou art a tyrant! 240

I stile thee tyrant, Robespierre! [Loud applauses.

Robespierre. Take back the name. Ye citizens of France —

[Violent clamour. Cries of — Down with the Tyrant!

Tallien. Oppression falls. The traitor stands appall’d —

Guilt’s iron fangs engrasp his shrinking soul —

He hears assembled France denounce his crimes! 245

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 250

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 emboldened sin — 255

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 Caesar,

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, 265

The crownéd 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 270

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 275

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 280

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.)

Table of Contents

SCENE CONTINUES.

Collot d’Herbois. Caesar 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 5

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. 10

Freron. I denounce Fleuriot too, the mayor of Paris.

Enter DUBOIS CRANCÉ.

Dubois Crancé. 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 15

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