ery way 'in the confluence of
Infinitudes;' a mystery to himself and others: in the centre of two
Eternities, of three Immensities,--in the intersection of primeval Light
with the everlasting dark! Thus have there been, especially by vehement
tempers reduced to a state of desperation, very miserable things done.
Sicilian Vespers, and 'eight thousand slaughtered in two hours,' are
a known thing. Kings themselves, not in desperation, but only in
difficulty, have sat hatching, for year and day (nay De Thou says, for
seven years), their Bartholomew Business; and then, at the right moment,
also on an Autumn Sunday, this very Bell (they say it is the identical
metal) of St. Germain l'Auxerrois was set a-pealing--with effect. (9th
to 13th September, 1572, Dulaure, Hist. de Paris, iv. 289.) Nay the same
black boulder-stones of these Paris Prisons have seen Prison-massacres
before now; men massacring countrymen, Burgundies massacring Armagnacs,
whom they had suddenly imprisoned, till as now there are piled heaps
of carcasses, and the streets ran red;--the Mayor Petion of the time
speaking the austere language of the law, and answered by the Killers,
in old French (it is some four hundred years old): "Maugre bieu,
Sire,--Sir, God's malison on your justice, your pity, your right
reason. Cursed be of God whoso shall have pity on these false traitorous
Armagnacs, English; dogs they are; they have destroyed us, wasted this
realm of France, and sold it to the English." (Dulaure, iii. 494.)
And so they slay, and fling aside the slain, to the extent of 'fifteen
hundred and eighteen, among whom are found four Bishops of false and
damnable counsel, and two Presidents of Parlement.' For though it is
not Satan's world this that we live in, Satan always has his place in
it (underground properly); and from time to time bursts up. Well may
mankind shriek, inarticulately anathematising as they can. There are
actions of such emphasis that no shrieking can be too emphatic for them.
Shriek ye; acted have they.

Shriek who might in this France, in this Paris Legislative or Paris
Townhall, there are Ten Men who do not shriek. A Circular goes out from
the Committee of Salut Public, dated 3rd of September 1792; directed to
all Townhalls: a State-paper too remarkable to be overlooked. 'A part of
the ferocious conspirators detained in the Prisons,' it says, 'have been
put to death by the People; and it,' the Circular, 'cannot doubt but
the whole Nation,