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.

How busy are the Revolutionary Committees; Sections with their Forty
Halfpence a-day! Arrestment on arrestment falls qu