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184 member that your father has forgiven, as Christ once forgave,” and he rises to bless them all. “Ah! human nature can endure no more,” exclaims poor Louis. “To-morrow I will see you again; adieu, adieu," and, tearing him self from those eight arms that clasp him with frenzy, the King escapes to the oratory and bolts the door behind

him.

“ Pity !”

“ Open !”

“Papa!”

Marie Antoinette rushes to the door;

she would tear it asunder with her hands. It does not yield, and there she stands in agony, her children and Madame Elizabeth at her feet, while, without, Simon dares to sing “ The Car magnole.” “ This is not the theatre,” we say, as

the curtain

falls.

“It is

France in 1793.” Act 5th._-It is the morning of Jan

and then to obtain the Queen’s signa ture to a paper approving of all the past actions of the republic. The expression of Marie Antoinette's face as she listens to the reading of this document sur passes language. Her denunciation of her husband’s murderers is the passion of majesty itself; and when Simon ap pears as the Dauphin‘s future guardian, her one indignant “Thou!” is a. whirl wind of contempt. Yes, Simon will

make an excellent guardian.

He will

teach little Capet all manner of ﬁne things, “The Carmagnole,” for example. “ Come,” he says, and goes to the bed where the Dauphin lies. Oh! was there

ever anything grander than the terrible rage of Marie Antoinette at this mo ment? “Infamous reptile, away! My muscles are steel. . . . My mouth is bathed with the bloody foam of the

uary ztst, I793. and we are again in

wounded tiger.

the Temple. but the scene is different, for the Queen’s apartment is now before

fore your impure breath shall profane

us.

limb_vile! vile! vile!”

They have passed a woeful night,

these unfortunates. and now all but the Queen await the King‘s coming. She feels that she has gazed her last upon him. Fever burns her up, and Madame Royale starts terriﬁed in her sleep, thinking to have seen her father dead, and awakes in tears. A noise! The King? Oh no. lt is only Simon come to torture them, to prove that there be devils in this world if there be none in the next. 'And while he tells of the King’s last moments in prison, drums are heard. “ Long live the nation!” he shouts, twirling his cap in the face of death, and rushing out to enjoy the murder. Drums and a dirge! their hearts’ blood freezes.

Down, down on

their knees before God, their only stay. “ God of goodness!” murmurs Marie Antoinette, but her torn heart can ﬁnd no other words. Sobs are her only prayer, and while the dirge is heard, while Louis advances to the guillotine, Madame Royale implores the mercy of Heaven. In the midst of this fearful agony fearful for spectator as well as for actor

Before your hands, be

this angel, I will rend you limb from defending its young.

It is a tiger

Wonderful power!

wonderful art! Can Simon be deﬁed? Alas! no. Is he not the republic? Pleading even will do no good. “ The child,” demands Simon. “Death ﬁrst!” replies Marie Antoinette.

“Death be it," threatens

the jailor. and raises his sword to strike the Dauphin. Too much. Ma.rie An toinette must yield as she has ever done, only let her have time. “An hour,_a half hour,_quarter of an hour,—ﬁve minutes,” she gasps, pressing the child to her heart. “We have waited long

enough," answers the brute.

On her

knees the wretched Queen pleads that her angel may be treated tenderly. One kiss more! one more! No; the Dau phin is snatched from her--has disap peared. “My son!” shrieks Marie An toinette; she rises, falls, rises again, the door is closed upon her. Gone for ever; and, seized with

catalepsy, the

Malesherbes brings the last words and

Queen stands motionless with her hands in her hair, a living statue of such hor rible despair as Michael Angelo alone could convey to marble.

testament of the martyr king, and San terre enters, ﬁrst to seize Malesherbes,

Last scene of all-the Epilogue. The