SAINT-JUST [_somber and exalted_]. The philosopher Jesus said to his disciples: "And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." And I say to you: if your friend is corrupt, and corrupts the Republic, cast him from the Republic; if your brother is corrupt and corrupts the Republic, cast him from the Republic. And if the blood of the Republic, if your own blood, flows from a gaping wound, let it flow. The Republic must be purified, or die! The Republic is virtue. If that virtue be stained, the Republic ceases to exist. VADIER [_aside_]. They are all mad. They ought to be put into strait-jackets. They must be put in cells.--On, then! [_He starts to go._] BILLAUD-VARENNE. Wait until I sign. VADIER. You have already signed. BILLAUD-VARENNE. Where? I don't remember. What have I done? Was I right? _Tristis est anima mea!_ Oh, if I could only stretch out in the fields, on the fresh earth; smell the scent of the woods; see a brook running between banks of willows! Rest! Rest-- ROBESPIERRE. The founders of the Republic have no rest this side the grave. ACT III [_The Revolutionary Tribunal._ _The Public Prosecutor_ FOUQUIER-TINVILLE; HERMAN, _the Judge, the Jury, gendarmes, and the People, are present. On the prisoners' bench are_ DANTON, DESMOULINS, HÉRAULT, PHILIPPEAUX, WESTERMANN, CHABOT _and the brothers_ FREY_--the last two of whom do not speak--and_ FABRE D'EGLANTINE, _who sits in an arm-chair in their midst. In the front row with the public, sits the painter_ DAVID _and some of his friends. The windows of the room are open, and through them the shouts of the crowd are heard. From time to time,_ VADIER'S _head is seen peering through the wicket in the door, behind the_ JUDGE, _watching the trial. General_ HANRIOT _stands at the door._ HERMAN _and_ FOUQUIER-TINVILLE _cast anxious glances toward him every few moments._ CHABOT _and the brothers_ FREY _are being questioned, and_ DANTON _is boiling with rage._ DESMOULINS _appears crushed and discouraged._ HÉRAULT _calmly looks on, smiling._ PHILIPPEAUX, _jaws set and eyes riveted on his judges, prepares his defense._ FABRE D'EGLANTINE, _who is ill and suffering, sits back in his chair. The crowd jostle and push, following the trial with great interest. They emphasize with their remarks and shouting each development in the trial, like an audience at a melodrama--amused and moved at the same time._] JUDGE [_to the brothers_ FREY], You are an agent of Pitt. You have tried to corrupt the Convention. In order to further your speculations and corrupt practices, you tried to bribe the representatives of the people. You have put a price on the conscience of every one you wished to buy. DANTON [_bursting forth_]. Judge, I demand a word! JUDGE. Your turn will come, Danton.