blood of a people that is now awaking to life, be our rallying emblem, our pledge of victory; you are the color of hope, of the sea, of young and free Nature! [He breaks off a small branch from a chestnut tree.] In hoc signo vinces. Liberty! Liberty!
The People. Liberty! [They crowd about Desmoulins, embracing and kissing him.]
La Contat [putting leaves in her hair]. Oh, young Liberty! Bloom in my hair and flourish in my heart! [She throws handfuls of leaves to the people.] Friends, deck yourselves with the cockades of summer! [The Crowd strip the trees of their leaves.]
The Old Woman Shopkeeper. Against the King! He was right! You must go to the King!—On to Versailles, my children!
Hulin [pointing to the Old Woman and La Contat]. Now they are more excited than the rest!
Hoche. You'll have a hard time stopping them!
The People. To the Champ de Mars! Before the people of Versailles! We'll show them!—Scoundrels! They thought they could down the people of Paris!
The Old Woman. I'll have their hides! I'll show those nasty Germans who's master!
Desmoulins. They have banished our Necker. Now we banish them! We want Necker to remain. We will show the world what we want.
The People. Let's parade in honor of Necker!—Here's his portrait, in Curtius' shop, among the wax figures. Let's carry it in triumph!—The shop's closed!—Break it in!
