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 deeds
Dishonour thine! He the firm patriot,
Thou the foul parricide of Liberty! 105
Robespierre Junior. Barrere — attempt not meanly to divide
Me 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 thus
With me thou dar’st to tread the dangerous path 110
Of virtue, than that Nature twined her cords
Of kindred round us.
Barrere. Yes, allied in guilt,
Even as in blood ye are. O, thou worst wretch,
Thou worse than Sylla! hast thou not proscrib’d,
Yea, in most foul anticipation slaughter’d 115
Each patriot representative of France?
Bourdon l’Oise. Was not the younger Caesar too to reign
O’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! 120
Was it by merchant wiles I gain’d you back
Toulon, when proudly on her captive towers
Wav’d high the English flag? or fought I then
With merchant wiles, when sword in hand I led
Your troops to conquest? fought I merchant-like, 125
Or barter’d I for victory, when death
Strode o’er the reeking streets with giant stride,
And shook his ebon plumes, and sternly smil’d
Amid the bloody banquet? when appall’d
The hireling sons of England spread the sail 130
Of safety, fought I like a merchant then?
Oh, patience! patience!
Bourdon l’Oise. How this younger tyrant
Mouths out defiance to us! even so
He had led on the armies of the south,
Till once again the plains of France were drench’d 135
With her best blood.
Collot d’Herbois. Till once again display’d
Lyons’ sad tragedy had call’d me forth
The minister of wrath, whilst slaughter by
Had bathed in human blood.
Dubois Crancé. No wonder, friend,
That we are traitors — that our heads must fall 140
Beneath the axe of death! when Caesar-like
Reigns Robespierre, ‘tis wisely done to doom
The fall of Brutus. Tell me, bloody man,
Hast thou not parcell’d out deluded France,
As it had been some province won in fight, 145
Between your curst triumvirate? You, Couthon,
Go with my brother to the southern plains;
St. Just, be yours the army of the north;
Meantime I rule at Paris.
Robespierre. Matchless knave!
What — not one blush of conscience on thy cheek — 150
Not one poor blush of truth! most likely tale!
That I who ruined Brissot’s towering hopes,
I who discover’d Hébert’s impious wiles,
And sharp’d for Danton’s recreant neck the axe,
Should now be traitor! had I been so minded, 155
Think ye I had destroyed the very men
Whose plots resembled mine? bring forth your proofs
Of this deep treason. Tell me in whose breast
Found ye the fatal scroll? or tell me rather
Who forg’d the shameless falsehood?
Collot d’Herbois. Ask you proofs? 160
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.