Some days afterwards, Roland hearing the news of what happened on the 8th, embraces his kind Friends at Rouen, leaves their kind house which had given him refuge; goes forth, with farewell too sad for tears.  On the morrow morning, 16th of the month, ’some four leagues from Rouen, Paris-ward, near Bourg-Baudoin, in M. Normand’s Avenue,’ there is seen sitting leant against a tree, the figure of rigorous wrinkled man; stiff now in the rigour of death; a cane-sword run through his heart; and at his feet this writing:  ’Whoever thou art that findest me lying, respect my remains:  they are those of a man who consecrated all his life to being useful; and who has died as he lived, virtuous and honest.’  ’Not fear, but indignation, made me quit my retreat, on learning that my Wife had been murdered.  I wished not to remain longer on an Earth polluted with crimes.’ (Memoires de Madame Roland introd., i. 88.)

Barnave’s appearance at the Revolutionary Tribunal was of the bravest; but it could not stead him.  They have sent for him from Grenoble; to pay the common smart, Vain is eloquence, forensic or other, against the dumb Clotho-shears of Tinville.  He is still but two-and-thirty, this Barnave, and has known such changes.  Short while ago, we saw him at the top of Fortune’s Wheel, his word a law to all Patriots:  and now surely he is at the bottom of the Wheel; in stormful altercation with a Tinville Tribunal, which is dooming him to die! (Foster, ii. 629.) And Petion, once also of the Extreme Left, and named Petion Virtue, where is he?  Civilly dead; in the Caves of Saint-Emilion; to be devoured of dogs.  And Robespierre, who rode along with him on the shoulders of the people, is in Committee of Salut; civilly alive:  not to live always.  So giddy-swift whirls and spins this immeasurable tormentum of a Revolution; wild-booming; not to be followed by the eye.  Barnave, on the Scaffold, stamped his foot; and looking upwards was heard to ejaculate, “This then is my reward?”

Deputy Ex-Procureur Manuel is already gone; and Deputy Osselin, famed also in August and September, is about to go:  and Rabaut, discovered treacherously between his two walls, and the Brother of Rabaut.  National Deputies not a few!  And Generals:  the memory of General Custine cannot be defended by his Son; his Son is already guillotined.  Custine the Ex-Noble was replaced by Houchard the Plebeian:  he too could not prosper in the North; for him too there was no mercy; he has perished in the Place de la Revolution, after attempting suicide in Prison.  And Generals Biron, Beauharnais, Brunet, whatsoever General prospers not; tough old Luckner, with his eyes grown rheumy; Alsatian Westermann, valiant and diligent in La Vendee:  none of them can, as the Psalmist sings, his soul from death deliver.