The Fall of Robespierre

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 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 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 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 crownèd 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 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 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 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 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 another 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 past this moment through the armèd 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 destined 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 armèd 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. 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 seiz’d 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 its blade Deep in the tyrant’s heart. The timid rebels Gave way. I met the soldiery⁠—I spake Of the dictator’s crimes⁠—of patriots chain’d In dark deep dungeons by his lawless rage⁠— Of knaves secure beneath his fostering power. I spake of Liberty. Their honest hearts Caught the warm flame. The general shout burst forth, “Live the Convention⁠—Down with Robespierre!” Applauses. Shouts from without⁠—Down with the Tyrant!
Tallien	I hear, I hear the soul-inspiring sounds, France shall be saved! her generous sons attached To principles, not persons, spurn the idol They worshipp’d once. Yes, Robespierre shall fall As Capet fell! Oh! never let us deem That France shall crouch beneath a tyrant’s throne, That the almighty people who have broke On their oppressors’ heads the oppressive chain, Will court again their fetters! easier were it To hurl the cloud-capt mountain from its base, Than force the bonds of slavery upon men Determined to be free! Applauses.
	Enter Legendre⁠—a pistol in one hand, keys in the other.
Legendre	Flinging down the keys. So⁠—let the mutinous Jacobins meet now In the open air. Loud applauses. A factious turbulent party Lording it o’er the state since Danton died, And with him the Cordeliers.⁠—A hireling band Of loud-tongued orators controull’d the Club, And bade them bow the knee to Robespierre. Vivier has ’scaped me. Curse his coward 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— Expell’d me from their sittings.⁠—Now, forsooth, Humbled and