按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
open doors； and pillaging the magazine of arms。 Two hundred
thousand francs in Treasury notes are stolen or disappear； several
of the ruffians set fire to the building； while others hang an abbé。
The abbé is cut down； and the fire extinguished only just in time：
such are the interludes of the popular drama。 In the meantime； the
crowd of women increases on the Place de Grève； always with the same
unceasing cry； 〃Bread！〃 and 〃To Versailles！〃 One of the conquerors
of the Bastille； the usher Maillard； offers himself as a leader。 He
is accepted； and taps his drum； on leaving Paris； he has seven or
eight thousand women with him； and； in addition； some hundreds of
men ； by dint of remonstrances； he succeeds in maintaining some kind
of order amongst this rabble as far as Versailles。 But it is a
rabble notwithstanding； and consequently so much brute force； at
once anarchical and imperious。 On the one hand； each； and the worst
among them； does what he pleases which will be quite evident this
very evening。 On the other hand； its ponderous mass crushes all
authority and overrides all rules and regulations which is at
once apparent on reaching Versailles。 Admitted into the
Assembly； at first in small numbers； the women crowd against the
door； push in with a rush； fill the galleries； then the hall； the
men along with them； armed with clubs； halberds； and pikes； all
pell…mell； side by side with the deputies； taking possession of
their benches； voting along with them； and gathering about the
President； who； surrounded； threatened； and insulted； finally
abandons the position； while his chair is taken by a woman。＇34＇ A
fishwoman commands in a gallery； and about a hundred women around
her shout or keep silence at her bidding； while she interrupts and
abuses the deputies：
〃Who is that speaker there？ Silence that blabbermouth； he does not
know what he is talking about。 The question is how to get bread。
Let papa Mirabeau speak we want to hear him。〃
A decree on subsistence having been passed； the leaders demand
something in addition； they must be allowed to enter all places
where they suspect any monopolizing to be going on； and the price of
〃bread must be fixed at six sous the four pounds； and meat at six
sous per pound。〃
〃You must not think that we are children to be played with。 We are
ready to strike。 Do as you are bidden。〃
All their political injunctions emanate from this central idea。 And
further：
〃Send back the Flemish regiment it is a thousand men more to
feed； and they take bread out of our mouths。〃 〃Punish the
aristocrats； who hinder the bakers from baking。〃 〃Down with the
skull…cap； the priests are the cause of our trouble！ 〃 〃Monsieur
Mounier； why did you advocate that villainous veto？ Beware of the
lamp post ！ 〃
Under this pressure； a deputation of the Assembly； with the
President at its head； sets out on foot； in the mud； through the
rain； and watched by a howling escort of women and men armed with
pikes： after five hours of waiting and entreaty； it wrings from the
King； besides the decree on subsistence； about which there was no
difficulty； the acceptance； pure and simple； of the Declaration of
Rights； and his sanction to the constitutional articles。 Such is
the independence of the King and the Assembly。＇35＇ Thus are the new
principles of justice established； the grand outlines of the
Constitution； the abstract axioms of political truth under the
dictatorship of a crowd which extorts not only blindly； but which is
half…conscious of its blindness。
〃Monsieur le President；〃 some among the women say to Mounier； who
returns with the Royal sanction； 〃will it be of any real use to us？
will it give poor folks bread in Paris？〃
Meanwhile； the scum has been bubbling up around the chateau； and the
abandoned women subsidized in Paris are pursuing their calling。＇36＇
They slip through into the lines of the regiment drawn on the
square； in spite of the sentinels。 Théroigne； in an Amazonian red
vest； distributes money among them。
〃Side with us；〃 some say to the men； 〃we shall soon beat the King's
Guards； strip off their fine coats and sell them。〃
Others lie sprawling on the ground； alluring the soldiers； and make
such offers as to lead one of them to exclaim； 〃We are going to have
a jolly time of it ！〃 Before the day is over； the regiment is
seduced； the women have； according to their own idea； acted for a
good motive。 When a political idea finds its way into such heads；
instead of ennobling them； it becomes degraded there； its only
effect is to let loose vices which a remnant of modesty still keeps
in subjection； and full play is given to luxurious or ferocious
instincts under cover of the public good。 The passions；
moreover； become intensified through their mutual interaction；
crowds； clamor； disorder； longings； and fasting； end in a state of
frenzy； from which nothing can issue but dizzy madness and rage。
This frenzy began to show itself on the way。 Already； on setting
out； a woman had exclaimed；
〃We shall bring back the Queen's head on the end of a pike！〃＇37＇
On reaching the Sèvres bridge others added；
〃Let us cut her throat； and make cockades of her entrails！〃
Rain is falling； they are cold； tired； and hungry； and get nothing
to eat but a bit of bread； distributed at a late hour； and with
difficulty； on the Place d'Armes。 One of the bands cuts up a
slaughtered horse； roasts it； and consumes it half raw； after the
manner of savages。 It is not surprising that； under the names of
patriotism and 〃justice；〃 savage ideas spring up in their minds
against 〃members of the National Assembly who are not with the
principles of the people；〃 against 〃the Bishop of Langres； Mounier；
and the rest。〃 One man in a ragged old red coat declares that 〃he
must have the head of the Abbé Maury to play nine…pins with。〃 But it
is especially against the Queen； who is a woman； and in sight； that
the feminine imagination is the most aroused。
〃She alone is the cause of the evils we endure 。。。。 she must be
killed； and quartered。〃
Night advances； there are acts of violence； and violence
engenders violence。
〃How glad I should be；〃 says one man； 〃if I could only lay my hand
on that she…devil； and strike off her head on the first curbstone ！〃
Towards morning； some cry out；
〃Where is that cursed cat？ We must eat her heart out。。。 We'll take
off her head； cut her heart out； and fry her liver I 〃
With the first murders the appetite for blood has been awakened；
the women from Paris say that 〃they have brought tubs to carry away
the stumps of the Royal Guards；〃 and at these words others clap
their hands。 Some of the riffraff of the crowd examine the rope of
the lamp post in the court of the National Assembly； and judging it
not to be sufficiently strong； are desirous of supplying its place
with another 〃to hang the Archbish