Some ‘Twelve unfortunately shot,’ reports Bailly, counting by units; but Patriotism counts by tens and even by hundreds.  Not to be forgotten, nor forgiven!  Patriotism flies, shrieking, execrating.  Camille ceases Journalising, this day; great Danton with Camille and Freron have taken wing, for their life; Marat burrows deep in the Earth, and is silent.  Once more Patrollotism has triumphed:  one other time; but it is the last.

This was the Royal Flight to Varennes.  Thus was the Throne overturned thereby; but thus also was it victoriously set up again—­on its vertex; and will stand while it can be held.

BOOK 2.V.

PARLIAMENT FIRST

Chapter 2.5.I.

Grande Acceptation.

In the last nights of September, when the autumnal equinox is past, and grey September fades into brown October, why are the Champs Elysees illuminated; why is Paris dancing, and flinging fire-works?  They are gala-nights, these last of September; Paris may well dance, and the Universe:  the Edifice of the Constitution is completed!  Completed; nay revised, to see that there was nothing insufficient in it; solemnly proferred to his Majesty; solemnly accepted by him, to the sound of cannon-salvoes, on the fourteenth of the month.  And now by such illumination, jubilee, dancing and fire-working, do we joyously handsel the new Social Edifice, and first raise heat and reek there, in the name of Hope.

The Revision, especially with a throne standing on its vertex, has been a work of difficulty, of delicacy.  In the way of propping and buttressing, so indispensable now, something could be done; and yet, as is feared, not enough.  A repentant Barnave Triumvirate, our Rabauts, Duports, Thourets, and indeed all Constitutional Deputies did strain every nerve:  but the Extreme Left was so noisy; the People were so suspicious, clamorous to have the work ended:  and then the loyal Right Side sat feeble petulant all the while, and as it were, pouting and petting; unable to help, had they even been willing; the two Hundred and Ninety had solemnly made scission, before that:  and departed, shaking the dust off their feet.  To such transcendency of fret, and desperate hope that worsening of the bad might the sooner end it and bring back the good, had our unfortunate loyal Right Side now come! (Toulongeon, ii. 56, 59.)

However, one finds that this and the other little prop has been added, where possibility allowed.  Civil-list and Privy-purse were from of old well cared for.  King’s Constitutional Guard, Eighteen hundred loyal men from the Eighty-three Departments, under a loyal Duke de Brissac; this, with trustworthy Swiss besides, is of itself something.  The old loyal Bodyguards are indeed dissolved, in name as well as in fact; and gone mostly towards Coblentz.  But now also those Sansculottic violent Gardes Francaises,