SCENE VII

Tlu three Jcuohin leaders, Danton, Robespierre and Marat, are vtet together in Marat^s house, Danton asks the others what is to be done now the Girondins are overthrown. He recommends the restorcUion of order and the showing of mercy, Robespierre moralises on the difficulty of reforms, which can only be brought about by educating the people, Danton asks for something more practical for the présent, and annoys Robespierre, Marat then puts forward his plan of having a dictator, whose sole work is to be executing the enemies of the Révolution, He déclares that Danton has degenerated, His own aim is to reverse the order of society, and make the poor lord it over the rich, Danton objects to ail clcus tyranny of any kind; but Marat returns to the charge, declaring that ail aristocrcUs should be killed — an aristocrat being anyonc -ujfio lvo« and àrtsscx

well. Danton trUs to quiet hinit but Marat TMiunis his own pairiotism. Ile calls for fresh victims and tkreatens Danton if he wishes to show mercy, Danton défies him^ and urges cUnuncy, Robespierre takes up a position between them ; he holds that exécutions are necessary till civil discord is put down. Danton jeers at him and goes out in disgust,

L 190i. Le triomphe est complet àf*c. This * Scène of the Triumvirs' is by common consent the finest and strongest in the play; and it is also the truest and closest to history.

1. 1906. comités, The govemment under the Convention was carried on by a number of Committees, a word borrowed from the Ënglish Parliament. There was the Committee of General Safety, the Committee of Subsistences (provisions), and the most celebrated was the Committee of Public Safety which govemed France under the Terror.

L 1917. oi^ cela s^applaudit^ 'where that remark wins applause.'