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22 to the upper by means of a handkerchief. It had been separated by a musket-ball.

Thus perished Maximilian Robespierre, in the thirty-fifth year of his age. His character does not possess the least resemblance to any of the illustrious ruffians of antiquity, who have been rendered memorable either by their crimes or their exploits. Sylla and Marius, bred up to arms, and inured to warfare, were both brave to excess. Julius, before he crossed the Rubicon, and became the tyrant of his country, had displayed uncommon personal courage on many occasions. Even the luxurious Antony, and the vile Augustus-the latter of whom it has been too long the fashion to praise-were at times capable of exhibiting instances of intrepidity. Cataline, in the very hour of his death, was terrible; for his mutilated corpse was surrounded by heaps that had perished by his own hand. But Robespierre was a base coward, who, on all occasions, was solicitous for his own safety, and trembled like a woman at the very idea of danger. He was bold only in words and gestures.

On the 10th of August he hid himself as usual, and only came out of his lurking hole to claim the triumphs of that memorable day. Even on the 1st, 2d, and 3d of September, he is said to have been concealed, until he could safely read all the advantages of the barbarous murders committed by his partizans.

The person of Robespierre was below the middle size; the temperament of his body was nervous and irritable; and he had something hideous in his aspect, which was greatly increased by means of a pair of green spectacles. This acquired him the appellation of the Dragon