The Fall of Robespierre. An Historic Drama/Act 2
ACT II.
SCENE, The Convention.
Robespierre mounts the Tribune.Once more befits it that the voice of truth,Fearless in innocence, though leagerd roundBy envy and her hateful brood of hell,Be heard amid this hall; once more befitsThe patriot, whose prophetic eye so oftHas pierced thro' faction's veil, to flash on crimesOf deadliest import. Mouldering in the graveSleeps Capet's caitiff corse; my daring handLevelled to earth his blood–cemented throne,
My voice declared his guilt, and stirred up FranceTo call for vengeance. I too dug the graveWhere sleep the Girondists, detested band!Long with the shew of freedom they abusedHer ardent sons. Long time the well-turn'd phraseThe high fraught sentence and the lofty toneOf declamation thunder'd in this hall,Till reason midst a labyrinth of wordsPerplex'd, in silence seem'd to yield assent.I durst oppose. Soul of my honoured friend, Spirit of Marat upon thee I call—Thou know'st me faithful, know'st with what warm zealI urg'd the cause of justice, stripp'd the maskFrom factions deadly visage, and destroy'dHer traitor brood. Whose patriot arm hurl'd downHebert and Rousin, and the villain friendsOf Danton, foul apostate! those, who longMask'd treason's form in liberty's fair garb,Long deluged France with blood, and durst defyOmnipotence! but I it seems am false! I am a traitor too! I—Robespierre!I—at whose name the dastard despot broodLook pale with fear, and call on saints to help them!Who dares accuse me? who shall dare belieMy spotless name? Speak, ye accomplice band,Of what am I accus'd? of what strange crimeIs Maximilian Robespierre accus'd,That through this hall the buz of discontentShould murmur? who shall speak?
Billaud Varennes.O patriot tongueBelying the foul heart! Who was it urg'dFriendly to tyrants that accurst decree,Whose influence brooding o'er this hallowed hall,Has chill'd each tongue to silence. Who destroyedThe freedom of debate, and carried through The fatal law, that doom'd the delegates,Unheard before their equals, to the barWhere cruelty sat throned, and murder reign'dWith her Dumas coequal? Say—thou manOf mighty eloquence, whose law was that?
Couthon.That law was mine. I urged it—I propos'd—The voice of France assembled in her sonsAssented, though the tame and timid voiceOf traitors murmur'd. I advis'd that law—I justify it. It was wise and good.
Barrere.Oh, wonderous wise and most convenient too!I have long mark'd thee, Robespierre—and nowProclaim thee traitor—tyrant!(Loud applauses.)
Robespierre.It is well.I am a traitor! oh, that I had fallenWhen Regnault lifted high the murderous knife,Regnault the instrument belike of thoseWho now themselves would fain assassinate,And legalize their murders. I stand hereAn isolated patriot—hemmed aroundBy factions noisy pack; beset and bay'dBy the foul hell-hounds who know no escapeFrom justice' outstretch'd arm, but by the forceThat pierces through her breast.(Murmurs, and shouts of—Down with the tyrant!)
Robespierre.Nay, but I will be heard. There was a timeWhen Robespierre began, the loud applausesOf honest patriots drown'd the honest sound. But times are chang'd, and villainy prevails.
Collot d'Herbois.No—villainy shall fall. France could not brookA monarch's sway—sounds the dictator's nameMore soothing to her ear?
Bourdon l'Oise.Rattle her chainsMore musically now than when the handOf Brissot forged her fetters; or the crewOf Hebert thundered out their blasphemies,And Danton talk'd of virtue?
Robespierre.Oh, that BrissotWere here again to thunder in this hall.That Hebert lived, and Danton's giant formScowl'd once again defiance! so my soulMight cope with worthy foes.People of FranceHear me! Beneath the vengeance of the law,Traitors have perish'd countless; more survive:The hydra-headed faction lifts anewHer daring front, and fruitful from her wounds,Cautious from past defects, contrives new wilesAgainst the sons of Freedom.
Tallien.Freedom lives!Oppression falls—for France has felt her chains,Has burst them too. Who traitor-like stept forthAmid the hall of Jacobines to saveCamille Desmoulines, and the venal wretch D'Eglantine?
Robespierre.I did—for I thought them honest.And Heaven forefend that vengeance ere should strike,Ere justice doom'd the blow.
Barrere.Traitor, thou didst.Yes, the accomplice of their dark designs,Awhile didst thou defend them, when the stormLower'd at safe distance. When the clouds frown'd darker,Fear'd for yourself and left them to their fate.Oh, I have mark'd thee long, and through the veilSeen thy foul projects. Yes, ambitious man,Self-will'd dictator o'er the realm of France,The vengeance thou hast plann'd for patriots,Falls on thy head. Look how thy brother's deedsDishonour thine! He the firm patriot,Thou the foul parricide of Liberty!
Robespierre, Junior.Barrere—attempt not meanly to divideMe from my brother. I partake his guilt,For I partake his virtue.
Robespierre.Brother, by my soul,More dear I hold thee to my heart, that thusWith me thou dar'st to tread the dangerous pathOf virtue, than that nature twined her cordsOf kindred round us.
Barrere.Yes, allied in guilt,Even as in blood ye are. Oh, thou worst wretch,Thou worse than Sylla! hast thou not proscrib'dYea, in most foul anticipation slaughter'dEach patriot representative of France?
Bourdon l'Oise.Was not the younger Cæsar too to reignO'er all our valiant armies in the south,And still continue there his merchant wiles?
Robespierre, Junior.His merchant wiles! Oh, grant me patience, heaven!Was it by merchant wiles I gain'd you backToulon, when proudly on her captive towersWav'd high the English flag? or fought I thenWith merchant wiles, when sword in hand I ledYour troops to conquest? fought I merchant like,Or barter'd I for victory, when deathStrode o'er the reeking streets with giant stride,And shook his ebon plumes, and sternly smil'dAmid the bloody banquet? when appal'dThe hireling sons of England spread the sailOf safety, fought I like a merchant then?Oh, patience! patience!
Bourdon l'Oise.How this younger tyrantMouths out defiance to us! even soHe had led on the armies of the south,Till once again the plains of France were drench'dWith her best blood.
Collot d'Herbois.Till once again display'dLyons' sad tragedy had call'd me forthThe minister of wrath, whilst slaughter byHad bathed in human blood.
Dubois Crance.No wonder, friend,That we are traitors—that our heads must fallBeneath the axe of death! when Cæsar—like Reigns Robespierre, 'tis wisely done to doomThe fall of Brutus. Tell me, bloody man,Hast thou not parcell'd out deluded FranceAs it had been some province won in fightBetween your curst triumvirate. You, Couthon,Go with my brother to the southern plains;St. Just, be yours the army of the north;Mean time I rule at Paris.
Robespierre.Matchless knave!What—not one blush of conscience on thy cheek—Not one poor blush of truth! most likely tale!That I who ruined Brissot's towering hopes,I who discovered Hebert's impious wiles,And sharp'd for Danton's recreant neck the axe,Should now be traitor! had I been so minded,Think ye I had destroyed the very menWhose plots resembled mine? bring forth your proofsOf this deep treason. Tell me in whose breastFound ye the fatal scroll? or tell me ratherWho forg'd the shameless falshood?
Collot d'Herbois.Ask you proofs?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 lifeI rose, and fearless of thy frowning brow,Proclaim'd him guiltless?
Robespierre.I remember wellThe fatal day. I do repent me muchThat I kill'd Cæsar and spar'd Antony. But I have been too lenient. I have spar'dThe stream of blood, and now my own must flowTo fill the current.(Loud applauses.) Triumph not too soon,Justice may yet be victor.
Enter St. Just, and mounts the Tribune.
St. Just.I come from the committee—charged to speakOf matters of high import. I omitTheir orders. Representatives of France,Boldly in his own person speaks St. JustWhat his own heart shall dictate.
Tallien.Hear ye this,Insulted delegates of France? St. JustFrom your committee comes—comes charg'd to speakOf matters of high import—yet omitsTheir orders! Representatives of France,That bold man I denounce, who disobeysThe nations 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 hallWith the foul breath of treason?
Collot d'Herbois.Drag him away!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 wellThat justice guide our actions. No light importAttends 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,When St. Just thanks this hall for hearing him.Robespierre is call'd a tyrant. Men of FranceJudge not too soon. By popular discontentWas Aristides driven into exile,Was Phocion murder'd? Ere ye dare pronounceRobespierre 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 planOf government. Legendre the sworn friendOf Danton fall'n apostate. Dubois Crance,He who at Lyons spar'd the royalists—Collot d'Herbois—
Bourdon l'Oise.What—shall the traitor rearHis head amid our tribune—and blasphemeEach patriot? shall the hireling slave of faction—
St. Just.I am of no one faction. I contendAgainst all factions.
Tallien.I espouse the causeOf truth. Robespierre on yester morn pronouncedUpon his own authority a report.To-day St. Just comes down. St. Just neglectsWhat the committee orders, and haranguesFrom his own will. O citizens of FranceI weep for you—I weep for my poor country—I tremble for the cause of Liberty,When individuals shall assume the sway,And with more insolence than kingly prideRule the republic.
Billaud Varennes.Shudder, ye representatives of France,Shudder with horror. Henriot commandsThe marshall'd force of Paris. Henriot,Foul parricide—the sworn ally of HebertDenounced by all—upheld by <>Robespierre.Who spar'd La Valette? who promoted him,Stain'd with the deep die of nobility?Who to an ex-peer gave the high command?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 Daubignè—Robespierre, the foul arch tyrant Robespierre.
Bourdon l'Oise.He talks of virtue—of morality—Consistent patriot! he Daubignè's friend!Henriot's supporter virtuous! preach of virtue,Yet league with villains, for with RobespierreVillains alone ally. Thou art a tyrant!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!He sees the mask torn from his secret sins——He trembles on the precipice of fate.Fall'n guilty tyrant! murder'd by thy rageHow many an innocent victim's blood has stain'dFair freedom's altar! Sylla-like thy handMark'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'dHis fearful wiles—success emboldened sin—And his stretch'd arm had grasp'd the diademEre 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,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 warAgainst the tyrant horde of murderers, The crowned cockatrices whose foul venomInfects all Europe? was it then for thisWe swore to guard our liberty with life,That Robespierre should reign? the spirit of freedomIs not yet sunk so low. The glowing flameThat animates each honest Frenchman's heartNot yet extinguish'd. I invoke thy shade,Immortal Brutus! I too wear a dagger;And if the representatives of France,Through fear or favor should delay the swordOf 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. MemorableWill be this day for France.
Robespierre.Yes! MemorableThis 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.)