ike a combatant, full-blooded, boiling over with
passion and energy. His strength in its outbursts appears boundless like
a force of nature, when speaking he is roaring like a bull and be
heard through closed windows fifty yards off in the street, employing
immoderate imagery, intensely in earnest, trembling with indignation,
revenge and patriotic sentiments, able to arouse savage instincts in
the most tranquil breast and generous instincts in the most brutal
personalities.[3158] He may be profane, using emphatic terms,[3159]
cynical, but not monotonous and affected like Hebert, but spontaneous
and to the point, full of crude jests worthy of Rabelais, possessing a
stock of jovial sensuality and good-humor, cordial and familiar in his
ways, frank, friendly in tone. He is, both outwardly and inwardly,
the best fitted for winning the confidence and sympathy of a Gallic,
Parisian populace. His talents all contribute to "his inborn,
practical popularity," and to make of him "a grand-seignior of
sans-cullotterie."[3160]--With such talents for acting, there is
a strong temptation to act it out the moment the theatre is ready,
whatever the theatre, even unlawful and murky, whatever the actors
rogues, scoundrels and loose women, whatever the part, ignoble,
murderous, and finally fatal to him who undertakes it.--To hold out
against such temptation, would require a sentiment of repugnance which
a refined or thorough culture develops in both sense and mind, but which
was completely wanting in Danton. Nothing disgusts him physically
or morally: he embraces Marat,[3161] fraternizes with drunkards,
congratulates the Septembriseurs, retorts in blackguard terms to the
insults of prostitutes, treats reprobates, thieves and jail-birds
as equals,--Carra, Westermann, Huguenin, Rossignol and the confirmed
scoundrels whom he sends into the departments after the 2nd of
September.

"Eh! What the hell! Do you think we ought to send young misses." [3162]
Garbage men are needed for the collection of garbage; one cannot hold
one's nose when they come for their wages; one must pay them well, talk
to them encouragingly, and leave them plenty of elbow room. Danton is
willing to play the part of the fire, and he humors vices; he has no
scruples, and lets people scratch and take.--He has stolen as much
to give as to keep, to maintain his role as much as to benefit by it,
squaring accounts by spending the money of the Court against the Court,
probably i