Nevertheless all things do end.  Vergniaud arrives with Legislative Deputation, the Evening Session having now opened.  Mayor Petion has arrived; is haranguing, ‘lifted on the shoulders of two Grenadiers.’  In this uneasy attitude and in others, at various places without and within, Mayor Petion harangues; many men harangue:  finally Commandant Santerre defiles; passes out, with his Sansculottism, by the opposite side of the Chateau.  Passing through the room where the Queen, with an air of dignity and sorrowful resignation, sat among the tables and Grenadiers, a woman offers her too a Red Cap; she holds it in her hand, even puts it on the little Prince Royal.  “Madame,” said Santerre, “this People loves you more than you think.” (Toulongeon, ii. 173; Campan, ii. c. 20.)—­About eight o’clock the Royal Family fall into each other’s arms amid ‘torrents of tears.’  Unhappy Family!  Who would not weep for it, were there not a whole world to be wept for?

Thus has the Age of Chivalry gone, and that of Hunger come.  Thus does all-needing Sansculottism look in the face of its Roi, Regulator, King or Ableman; and find that he has nothing to give it.  Thus do the two Parties, brought face to face after long centuries, stare stupidly at one another, This am I; but, Good Heaven, is that thou?—­and depart, not knowing what to make of it.  And yet, Incongruities having recognised themselves to be incongruous, something must be made of it.  The Fates know what.

This is the world-famous Twentieth of June, more worthy to be called the Procession of the Black Breeches.  With which, what we had to say of this First French biennial Parliament, and its products and activities, may perhaps fitly enough terminate.

BOOK 2.VI.

THE MARSEILLESE

Chapter 2.6.I.

Executive that does not act.

How could your paralytic National Executive be put ‘in action,’ in any measure, by such a Twentieth of June as this?  Quite contrariwise:  a large sympathy for Majesty so insulted arises every where; expresses itself in Addresses, Petitions ’Petition of the Twenty Thousand inhabitants of Paris,’ and such like, among all Constitutional persons; a decided rallying round the Throne.

Of which rallying it was thought King Louis might have made something.  However, he does make nothing of it, or attempt to make; for indeed his views are lifted beyond domestic sympathy and rallying, over to Coblentz mainly:  neither in itself is the same sympathy worth much.  It is sympathy of men who believe still that the Constitution can march.  Wherefore the old discord and ferment, of Feuillant sympathy for Royalty, and Jacobin sympathy for Fatherland, acting against each other from within; with terror of Coblentz and Brunswick acting from without:—­this discord and ferment must hold on its course, till a catastrophe do ripen and come.  One would think, especially as Brunswick is near marching, such catastrophe cannot now be distant.  Busy, ye Twenty-five French Millions; ye foreign Potentates, minatory Emigrants, German drill-serjeants; each do what his hand findeth!  Thou, O Reader, at such safe distance, wilt see what they make of it among them.