as ever, in that thing, doing other than a
small one! O Champ-de-Mars Federation, with three hundred drummers,
twelve hundred wind-musicians, and artillery planted on height after
height to boom the tidings of it all over France, in few minutes! Could
no Atheist-Naigeon contrive to discern, eighteen centuries off, those
Thirteen most poor mean-dressed men, at frugal Supper, in a mean Jewish
dwelling, with no symbol but hearts god-initiated into the 'Divine depth
of Sorrow,' and a Do this in remembrance of me;--and so cease that small
difficult crowing of his, if he were not doomed to it?

Chapter 2.1.X.

Mankind.

Pardonable are human theatricalities; nay perhaps touching, like the
passionate utterance of a tongue which with sincerity stammers; of a
head which with insincerity babbles,--having gone distracted. Yet,
in comparison with unpremeditated outbursts of Nature, such as an
Insurrection of Women, how foisonless, unedifying, undelightful; like
small ale palled, like an effervescence that has effervesced! Such
scenes, coming of forethought, were they world-great, and never so
cunningly devised, are at bottom mainly pasteboard and paint. But the
others are original; emitted from the great everliving heart of Nature
herself: what figure they will assume is unspeakably significant. To us,
therefore, let the French National Solemn League, and Federation, be the
highest recorded triumph of the Thespian Art; triumphant surely, since
the whole Pit, which was of Twenty-five Millions, not only claps hands,
but does itself spring on the boards and passionately set to playing
there. And being such, be it treated as such: with sincere cursory
admiration; with wonder from afar. A whole Nation gone mumming deserves
so much; but deserves not that loving minuteness a Menadic Insurrection
did. Much more let prior, and as it were, rehearsal scenes of Federation
come and go, henceforward, as they list; and, on Plains and under
City-walls, innumerable regimental bands blare off into the Inane,
without note from us.

One scene, however, the hastiest reader will momentarily pause on: that
of Anacharsis Clootz and the Collective sinful Posterity of Adam.--For
a Patriot Municipality has now, on the 4th of June, got its plan
concocted, and got it sanctioned by National Assembly; a Patriot King
assenting; to whom, were he even free to dissent, Federative harangues,
overflowing with loyalty, have doubtless a transient sweetness. There