THE FALL OF ROBESPIERRE.
33
But Freron enters not the club again
'Till it be purg'd of guilt—'till, purified
Of tyrants and of traitors, honest men
May breathe the air in safety.
(Shouts from without.)
'Till it be purg'd of guilt—'till, purified
Of tyrants and of traitors, honest men
May breathe the air in safety.
(Shouts from without.)
Barrere.
What means this uproar! if the tyrant band
Should gain the people once again to rise—
We are as dead!
What means this uproar! if the tyrant band
Should gain the people once again to rise—
We are as dead!
Tallien.
And wherefore fear we death?
Did Brutus fear it? or the Grecian friends
Who buried in Hipparchus breast the sword,
And died triumphant? Cæsar should fear death,
Brutus must scorn the bugbear.
(Shouts from without. Live the Convention—Down
with the Tyrants!)
And wherefore fear we death?
Did Brutus fear it? or the Grecian friends
Who buried in Hipparchus breast the sword,
And died triumphant? Cæsar should fear death,
Brutus must scorn the bugbear.
(Shouts from without. Live the Convention—Down
with the Tyrants!)
Tallien.
Hark! again
The sounds of honest Freedom!
Hark! again
The sounds of honest Freedom!
Enter Deputies from the Sections.
Citizen.
Citizens! representatives of France!
Hold on your steady course. The men of Paris
Espouse your cause. The men of Paris swear
They will defend the delegates of Freedom.
Citizens! representatives of France!
Hold on your steady course. The men of Paris
Espouse your cause. The men of Paris swear
They will defend the delegates of Freedom.
Tallien.
Hear ye this, Colleagues? hear ye this, my brethren?
And does no thrill of joy pervade your breasts?
My bosom bounds to rapture. I have seen
Hear ye this, Colleagues? hear ye this, my brethren?
And does no thrill of joy pervade your breasts?
My bosom bounds to rapture. I have seen
