DEDICATION. TO H. MARTIN, ESQ. DEAR SIR, OF JESUS COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. ACCEPT, as a small testimony of my grateful attachment, the following Dramatic Poem, in which I have endeavoured to detail, in an interesting form, the fall of a man, whose great bad actions have cast a disastrous lustre on his name. In the execution of the work, as intricacy of plot could not have been attempted without a gross violation of recent facts, it has been my sole aim to imitate the impassioned and highly figurative language of the French Orators, and to develop the characters of the chief actors on a vast stage of horrors. Yours fraternally, S. T. COLERidge. JESUS COLLEGE, September 22, 1794. DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. ROBESPIERRE. BARRERE. TALLIEN. LEGENDRE. ROBESPIERRE JUNIOR. COUTHON. ST-JUST. BILLAUD VARENNES. BOURDON L'OISE. COLLOT D'HERBOIS. DUBOIS CRANCÉ. FRERON. LECOINTRE. MERLIN OF DOUOY. DEPUTIES. MESSENGERS. CITIZENS. ADELAIDE. THE FALL OF ROBESPIERRE. ACT I. SCENE-The Tuilleries. Bar. The tempest gathers-be it mine to seek And rising awful 'mid impending ruins; I know he scorns me-and I feel, I hate him— Enter Tallien and Legendre. [Exit. Tal. It was Barrere, Legendre! didst thou mark him? Abrupt he turned, yet linger'd as he went, And towards us cast a look of doubtful meaning. Legen. I mark'd him well. I met his eye's last glance; It menaced not so proudly as of yore. Methought he would have spoke-but that he dared not Such agitation darken'd on his brow. Tal. "Twas all-distrusting guilt that kept from bursting Th' imprison'd secret struggling in the face; Tal. Yet much depends upon him-well you know With plausible harangue 'tis his to paint Defeat like victory-and blind the mob With truth-mix'd falsehood. They, led on by him, Legen. O what a precious name is Liberty O Danton! murdered friend! assist my counsels- And pour thy daring vengeance in my heart. Beholds the tyrant living—we are dead! Tal. Yet his keen eye that flashes mighty meanings Legen. Fear not-or rather fear th' alternative, And seek for courage e'en in cowardiceBut see-hither he comes-let us away! His brother with him, and the bloody Couthon, And high of haughty spirit, young St-Just. [Exeunt. Enter Robespierre, Couthon, St-Just, and Robespierre Junior. Robesp. What! did La Fayette fall before my power? And did I conquer Roland's spotless virtues? St-Just. I cannot fear him-yet we must not scorn him. |