ACT I

       Table of Contents

      SCENE — The Thuilleries.

      Barrere. The tempest gathers — be it mine to seek

       A friendly shelter, ere it bursts upon him.

       But where? and how? I fear the Tyrant’s soul —

       Sudden in action, fertile in resource,

       And rising awful ‘mid impending ruins; 5

       In splendor gloomy, as the midnight meteor,

       That fearless thwarts the elemental war.

       When last in secret conference we met,

       He scowl’d upon me with suspicious rage,

       Making his eye the inmate of my bosom. 10

       I know he scorns me — and I feel, I hate him —

       Yet there is in him that which makes me tremble! [Exit.

      Enter TALLIEN and LEGENDRE.

      Tallien. It was Barrere, Legendre! didst thou mark him?

       Abrupt he turn’d, yet linger’d as he went,

       And towards us cast a look of doubtful meaning. 15

      Legendre. I mark’d him well. I met his eye’s last glance;

       It menac’d not so proudly as of yore.

       Methought he would have spoke — but that he dar’d not —

       Such agitation darken’d on his brow.

      Tallien. ‘Twas all-distrusting guilt that kept from bursting 20

       Th’ imprison’d secret struggling in the face:

       E’en as the sudden breeze upstarting onwards

       Hurries the thundercloud, that pois’d awhile

       Hung in mid air, red with its mutinous burthen.

      Legendre. Perfidious Traitor! — still afraid to bask 25

       In the full blaze of power, the rustling serpent

       Lurks in the thicket of the Tyrant’s greatness,

       Ever prepared to sting who shelters him.

       Each thought, each action in himself converges;

       And love and friendship on his coward heart 30

       Shine like the powerless sun on polar ice;

       To all attach’d, by turns deserting all,

       Cunning and dark — a necessary villain!

      Tallien. Yet much depends upon him — well you know

       With plausible harangue ‘tis his to paint 35

       Defeat like victory — and blind the mob

       With truth-mix’d falsehood. They led on by him,

       And wild of head to work their own destruction,

       Support with uproar what he plans in darkness.

      Legendre. O what a precious name is Liberty 40

       To scare or cheat the simple into slaves!

       Yes — we must gain him over: by dark hints

       We’ll shew enough to rouse his watchful fears,

       Till the cold coward blaze a patriot.

       O Danton! murder’d friend! assist my counsels — 45

       Hover around me on sad Memory’s wings,

       And pour thy daring vengeance in my heart.

       Tallien! if but tomorrow’s fateful sun

       Beholds the Tyrant living — we are dead!

      Tallien. Yet his keen eye that flashes mighty meanings — 50

      Legendre. Fear not — or rather fear th’ alternative,

       And seek for courage e’en in cowardice —

       But see — hither he comes — let us away!

       His brother with him, and the bloody Couthon,

       And high of haughty spirit, young St. Just. [Exeunt. 55

      Enter ROBESPIERRE, COUTHON, ST. JUST, and ROBESPIERRE JUNIOR.

      Robespierre. What? did La Fayette fall before my power?

       And did I conquer Roland’s spotless virtues?

       The fervent eloquence of Vergniaud’s tongue?

       And Brissot’s thoughtful soul unbribed and bold?

       Did zealot armies haste in vain to save them? 60

       What! did th’ assassin’s dagger aim its point

       Vain, as a dream of murder, at my bosom?

       And shall I dread the soft luxurious Tallien?

       Th’ Adonis Tallien? banquet-hunting Tallien?

       Him, whose heart flutters at the dice-box? Him, 65

       Who ever on the harlots’ downy pillow

       Resigns his head impure to feverish slumbers!

      St. Just. I cannot fear him — yet we must not scorn him.

       Was it not Antony that conquer’d Brutus,

       Th’ Adonis, banquet-hunting Antony? 70