It was into a cell adjoining that which the hapless queen had occupied that Madame Roland was cast. Here the proud daughter of the emperors of Austria and the humble child of the artisan, each, after a career of unexampled vicissitudes, found their paths to meet but a few steps from the scaffold. The victim of the monarchy and the victim of the Revolution were conducted to the same dungeons and perished on the same block. They met as antagonists in the stormy arena of the French Revolution. They were nearly of equal age. The one possessed the prestige of wealth, and rank, and ancestral power; the other, the energy of a vigorous and cultivated mind. Both were endowed with unusual attractions of person, spirits invigorated by enthusiasm, and the loftiest heroism. From the antagonism of life they met in death.
Examination of Madame Roland.--Her esteem for the Girondists.--Eloquent defence of Madame Roland.--Madame Roland's reasons for not escaping.--Madame Roland's opinion of the Girondists.--Madame Roland's opinion of the Revolution.--Madame Roland's estimate of her husband.--Madame Roland's correspondence with Duperret.--Effects of prejudices and violent animosities.--Madame Roland avows her opinions.--Madame Roland's apostrophe to Liberty.--Repeated examinations.--Madame Roland's self-possession.--Madame Roland's enthusiasm.--Her influence upon the prisoners.--Madame Roland's addresses to the prisoners.--Effects of her eloquence.--Madame Roland's musical voice.--Her friendship for the Girondists.--Charming character of Madame Roland.--She is loved and esteemed.--Madame Roland's advocate.--Her appearance at the tribunal.--Demand of the president.--Madame Roland's refusal.--The sentence.--Madame Roland's dignity and calmness.--She returns to her cell.--Madame Roland's requiem.--She attires herself for the bridal of death.--The passage to the guillotine.--Horrible pastime.--Madame Roland's appearance in the cart.--She addresses the mob.--Powerful emotions of Madame Roland.--Work of the executioners.--Scene at the scaffold.--Execution of the old man.--Situation of the guillotine.--Death of Madame Roland.--Wonderful attachment.--Grief of M. Roland.--Death of M. Roland.--Subsequent life of Eudora.