DE LAUNEY [to JULIE]. You've saved us, little one!
THE PEOPLE. She conquered you, too, comrades. The little mite took the Bastille.
MARAT. You are our good conscience!
THE PEOPLE. You are our little Liberty! [They stretch out their arms. The women blow hisses to her.]
HOCHE [clapping HULIN on the shoulder]. Well, Hulin? You everlasting doubter, are you at last convinced?
HULIN [wiping his eyes, but still a little obstinate]. Yes, although—[Laughter from HOCHE and the People drown out the rest. He stops and laughs louder than the others. He looks about him, and catching sight of a statue of the King in a niche by the entrance to the court, he picks it up.] Down with you! Make way for Liberty! [He throws the statue down, then runs to JULIE, picks her up and puts her in the niche.] The Bastille fallen at last! I did it! We did it! We'll do a lot more, too! Let's clean the stables of Augias, rid the earth of its monsters, and strangle the lion of royalty. Our fists will lay low all despotism! Comrades, we shall forge the Republic! We've been held down too long, and now we're bursting our bonds! Roll on, oh, torrent of the Revolution!
THE OLD FRUIT-SELLER [astride a cannon, with a red kerchief about her head]. To the King! Here's my horse. I took him. I'll hitch him to my little cart and we'll go to Versailles to make a visit to big Louis! I've got a lot to say to him. Lord, for centuries I've lived in misery, I've been so patient! I'm choking; I must get rid of the feeling. I was a good old animal! I thought I had to suffer, in order to enjoy riches. Now at last I understand. I want to live, I want to live! I'm sorry I'm so old. God Almighty, I want to make up for lost time! Get up, old fellow, to the Court! [The gun-carriage is pushed forward by the People, and the old woman, in her helmet and trappings, rides past in triumph.]
THE PEOPLE. On to the Court! On to Versailles! We've suffered too long! We want to be happy! We'll be happy!
DESMOULINS [carrying a green branch]. The forest of Liberty has sprung up from the stones. Green leaves wave in the wind. The old heart of Paris will flower once again. Spring has come!
THE PEOPLE [bursting with joy and pride, all wave branches, and decorate themselves with green cockades, green ribbons, etc]. Free! The Heavens are free! [The sunset filters in through the draw-bridge opening, and bathes in purple the inner court of the Bastille and the People with their waving branches.]