f
those swinging Cassolettes, 'pressing his sword's point firmly there,'
pronounce the Oath, To King, to Law, and Nation (not to mention 'grains'
with their circulating), in his own name and that of armed France.
Whereat there is waving of banners and acclaim sufficient. The National
Assembly must swear, standing in its place; the King himself audibly.
The King swears; and now be the welkin split with vivats; let citizens
enfranchised embrace, each smiting heartily his palm into his fellow's;
and armed Federates clang their arms; above all, that floating battery
speak! It has spoken,--to the four corners of France. From eminence to
eminence, bursts the thunder; faint-heard, loud-repeated. What a stone,
cast into what a lake; in circles that do not grow fainter. From Arras
to Avignon; from Metz to Bayonne! Over Orleans and Blois it rolls, in
cannon-recitative; Puy bellows of it amid his granite mountains; Pau
where is the shell-cradle of Great Henri. At far Marseilles, one can
think, the ruddy evening witnesses it; over the deep-blue Mediterranean
waters, the Castle of If ruddy-tinted darts forth, from every cannon's
mouth, its tongue of fire; and all the people shout: Yes, France is
free. O glorious France that has burst out so; into universal sound and
smoke; and attained--the Phrygian Cap of Liberty! In all Towns, Trees of
Liberty also may be planted; with or without advantage. Said we not, it
is the highest stretch attained by the Thespian Art on this Planet, or
perhaps attainable?

The Thespian Art, unfortunately, one must still call it; for behold
there, on this Field of Mars, the National Banners, before there could
be any swearing, were to be all blessed. A most proper operation;
since surely without Heaven's blessing bestowed, say even, audibly or
inaudibly sought, no Earthly banner or contrivance can prove victorious:
but now the means of doing it? By what thrice-divine Franklin
thunder-rod shall miraculous fire be drawn out of Heaven; and descend
gently, life-giving, with health to the souls of men? Alas, by the
simplest: by Two Hundred shaven-crowned Individuals, 'in snow-white
albs, with tricolor girdles,' arranged on the steps of Fatherland's
Altar; and, at their head for spokesman, Soul's Overseer
Talleyrand-Perigord! These shall act as miraculous thunder-rod,--to such
length as they can. O ye deep azure Heavens, and thou green all-nursing
Earth; ye Streams ever-flowing; deciduous Forests that die and are