France -- History -- Louis XVI, 1774-1793; France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799
The Third Estate triumphs; Versailles Town shouting round it; ten
thousand whirling all day in the Palais Royal; and all France
standing a-tiptoe, not unlike whirling! Let the Œil-de-Bœuf look
to it. As for King Louis, he will swallow his injuries; will
temporise, keep silence; will at all costs have present peace. It
was Tuesday the 23d of June, when he spoke that peremptory royal
mandate; and the week is not done till he has written to the
remaining obstinate Noblesse, that they also must oblige him, and
give in. D’Espréménil rages his last; Barrel Mirabeau “breaks his
sword,” making a vow,—which he might as well have kept. The
“Triple Family” is now therefore complete; the third erring
brother, the Noblesse, having joined it;—erring but pardonable;
soothed, so far as possible, by sweet eloquence from President
Bailly.
So triumphs the Third Estate; and States-General are become
National Assembly; and all France may sing _Te Deum_. By wise
inertia, and wise cessation of inertia, great victory has been
gained. It is the last night of June: all night you meet nothing
on the streets of Versailles but “men running with torches” with
shouts of jubilation. From the 2nd of May when they kissed the
hand of Majesty, to this 30th of June when men run with torches,
we count seven weeks complete. For seven weeks the National
Carroccio has stood far-seen, ringing many a signal; and, so much
having now gathered round it, may hope to stand.
Chapter 1.5.III.
Broglie the War-God.
The Court feels indignant that it is conquered; but what then?
Another time it will do better. Mercury descended in vain; now
has the time come for Mars.—The gods of the Œil-de-Bœuf have
withdrawn into the darkness of their cloudy Ida; and sit there,
shaping and forging what may be needful, be it “billets of a new
National Bank,” munitions of war, or things forever inscrutable
to men.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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