France -- History -- Louis XVI, 1774-1793; France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799
And now to Curtius’ Image-shop there;
to the Boulevards; to the four winds; and rest not till France be
on fire!
France, so long shaken and wind-parched, is probably at the right
inflammable point.—As for poor Curtius, who, one grieves to
think, might be but imperfectly paid,—he cannot make two words
about his Images. The Wax-bust of Necker, the Wax-bust of
D’Orléans, helpers of France: these, covered with crape, as in
funeral procession, or after the manner of suppliants appealing
to Heaven, to Earth, and Tartarus itself, a mixed multitude bears
off. For a sign! As indeed man, with his singular imaginative
faculties, can do little or nothing without signs: thus Turks
look to their Prophet’s banner; also Osier _Mannikins_ have been
burnt, and Necker’s Portrait has erewhile figured, aloft on its
perch.
In this manner march they, a mixed, continually increasing
multitude; armed with axes, staves and miscellanea; grim,
many-sounding, through the streets. Be all Theatres shut; let all
dancing, on planked floor, or on the natural greensward, cease!
Instead of a Christian Sabbath, and feast of _guinguette_
tabernacles, it shall be a Sorcerer’s Sabbath; and Paris, gone
rabid, dance,—with the Fiend for piper!
However, Besenval, with horse and foot, is in the Place Louis
Quinze. Mortals promenading homewards, in the fall of the day,
saunter by, from Chaillot or Passy, from flirtation and a little
thin wine; with sadder step than usual. Will the Bust-Procession
pass that way! Behold it; behold also Prince Lambesc dash forth
on it, with his Royal-Allemands! Shots fall, and sabre-strokes;
Busts are hewn asunder; and, alas, also heads of men. A sabred
Procession has nothing for it but to _explode_, along what
streets, alleys, Tuileries Avenues it finds; and disappear. One
unarmed man lies hewed down; a Garde Française by his uniform:
bear him (or bear even the report of him) dead and gory to his
Barracks;—where he has comrades still alive!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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