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to say； with a naked sword on defense…less people； introduces into his
animal and moral machine two extraordinary and disproportionate
emotions which unsettle it； on the one hand； a sensation of
omnipotence exercised uncontrolled； unimpeded； without danger； on
human life； on throbbing flesh＇103＇ and； on the other hand； an
interest in bloody and diversified death； accompanied with an ever new
series of contortions and exclamations；＇104＇ formerly； in the Roman
circus； one could not tear one's self away from it； the spectacle once
seen； the spectator always returned to see it again。 Just at this time
each prison court is a circus； and what makes it worse is that the
spectators are likewise actors。 Thus； for them； two fiery liquids
mingle together in one draught。 To moral intoxication is added
physical intoxication； wine in profusion； bumpers at every pause；
revelry over corpses； and we see rising out of this unnatural creature
the demon of Dante； at once brutal and refined； not merely a
destroyer； but； again； an executioner； instigator and calculator of
suffering； and radiant and joyous over the evil it accomplishes。
They are merry； they dance around each new corpse； and sing the
carmagnole；＇105＇ they arouse the people of the quarter 〃to amuse
them；〃 and that they may have their share of 〃the fine fête。〃＇106＇
Benches are arranged for 〃gentlemen〃 and others for 〃ladies〃： the
latter； with greater curiosity； are additionally anxious to
contemplate at their ease 〃the aristocrats〃 already slain；
consequently； lights are required； and one is placed on the breast of
each corpse。 Meanwhile； the slaughter continues； and is carried to
perfection。 A butcher at the Abbaye＇107＇ complains that 〃the
aristocrats die too quick； and that those only who strike first have
the pleasure of it〃； henceforth they are to be struck with the backs
of the swords only； and made to run between two rows of their
butchers； like soldiers formerly running a gauntlet。 If there happens
to be well…known person； it is agreed to take more care in prolonging
the torment。 At La Force； the Federates who come for M。 de Rulhières
swear 〃with frightful imprecations that they will cut the head of
anyone daring to end his sufferings with a thrust of his pike〃； the
first thing is to strip him naked； and then； for half an hour； with
the flat of their sabers； they cut and slash him until he drips with
blood and is 〃skinned to his entrails。〃 All the monstrous instincts
who grovels chained up in the dregs of the human heart； not only
cruelty with its bared fangs；＇108＇ but also the slimier desires； unite
in fury against women whose noble or infamous repute makes them
conspicuous； against Madame de Lamballe； the Queen's friend； against
Madame Desrues； widow of the famous poisoner； against the flower…girl
of the Palais…Royal； who； two years before； had mutilated her lover； a
French guardsman； in a fit of jealousy。 Ferocity here is associated
with lewdness to add debasement to torture； while life is violated
through outrages on modesty。 In Madame de Lamballe； killed too
quickly； the libidinous butchers could outrage only a corpse； but for
the widow；＇109＇ and especially the flower…girl； they revive； like so
many Neros； the fire…circle of the Iroquois。＇110＇ From the Iroquois
to the cannibal； the gulf is small； and some of them jump across it。
At the Abbaye； an old soldier named Damiens； buries his saber in the
side of the adjutant…general la Leu； thrusts his hand into the
opening； tears out the heart 〃and puts it to his mouth as if to eat
it〃； 〃the blood；〃 says an eye…witness； 〃trickled from his mouth and
formed a sort of mustache for him。〃＇111＇ At La Force； Madame de
Lamballe is carved up。 What Charlot； the wig…maker； who carried her
head did； I to it； should not be described。 I merely state that
another wretch； in the Rue Saint…Antoine； bore off her heart and 〃ate
it。〃＇112＇
They kill and they drink； and drink and kill again。 Weariness comes
and stupor begins。 One of them； a wheelwright's apprentice； has
dispatched sixteen for his share； another 〃has labored so hard at this
merchandise as to leave the blade of his saber sticking in it〃； 〃I was
more tired；〃 says a Federate； 〃with two hours pulling limbs to pieces；
right and left； than any mason who for two days has been plastering a
wall。〃＇113＇ The first excitement is gone； and now they strike
automatically。＇114＇ Some of them fall asleep stretched out on benches。
Others； huddled together； sleep off the fumes of their wine； removed
on one side。 The exhalation from the carnage is so strong that the
president of the civil committee faints in his chair；＇115＇ the fumes
of the tavern blending with those from the charnel…house。 A heavy；
dull state of torpor gradually overcomes their clouded brains； the
last glimmerings of reason dying out one by one； like the smoky lights
on the already cold breasts of the corpses lying around them。 Through
the stupor spreading over the faces of butchers and cannibals； we see
appearing that of the idiot。 It is the revolutionary idiot； in which
all conceptions； save two； have vanished； two fixed； rudimentary； and
mechanical ideas； one destruction and the other that of public safety。
With no others in his empty head； these blend together through an
irresistible attraction； and the effect proceeding from their contact
may be imagined。 〃Is there anything else to do？ 〃asks one of these
butchers in the deserted court。 〃If there is no more to do；〃 reply
a couple of women at the gate； 〃you will have to think of
something；〃＇116＇ and； naturally； this is done。
As the prisons are to be cleaned out； it is as well to clean them all
out； and do it at once。 After the Swiss； priests； the aristocrats； and
the 〃white…skinned gentlemen；〃 there remain convicts and those
confined through the ordinary channels of justice； robbers； assassins；
and those sentenced to the galleys in the Conciergerie； in the
Chatelet； and in the Tour St。 Bernard； with branded women； vagabonds；
old beggars； and boys confined in Bicêtre and the Salpétrière。 They
are good for nothing； cost something to feed；＇117＇ and； probably；
cherish evil designs。 At the Salpétrière； for example； the wife of
Desrues； the poisoner； is； assuredly； like himself； 〃cunning； wicked；
and capable of anything〃； she must be furious at being in prison； if
she could； she would set fire to Paris； she must have said so； she did
say it＇118＇ one more sweep of the broom。 This time； as the job is
more foul； the broom is wielded by fouler hands； among those who seize
the handle are the frequenters of jails。 The butchers at the Abbaye
prison； especially towards the close； had already committed
thefts；＇119＇ here； at the Chatelet and the Conciergerie prisons； they
carry away 〃everything which seems to them suitable；〃 even to the
clothes of the dead； prison sheets and coverlids； even the small
savings of the jailers； and； besides this； they enlist their cronies。