"The king of a free people is alone a powerful king."
Over a picture—a woman chaining lions to her ear, with Force and Power in her suite, and leaning on the book of the law. The king and queen holding the dauphin by the hand, follow, preceded by a group of sages. A combat is exhibited with a dreadful hydra, whose head was seen struck off.
"We dread you no more, ye subordinate tyrants, who oppressed us under a hundred various names."
In another place an immense multitude listening with attention to the sage exhortations of a victorious warrior, who seemed to say,
"You prize this liberty, you possess it while you do: Shew yourselves worthy to preserve it."
At one o'clock the van of the procession appeared under this triumphal arch.
M. de la Fayette leading a body of cavalry, himself mounted on a milk white charger, rode into the amphitheatre amid the acclamations of the people, Vive la Fayette! The cavalry filed off to the right, and ranged themselves in the exterior line, on the opposite side to the entrance. The company of grenadiers formed under the steps of the amphitheatre, as well as all the companies who were employed as escorts.
The civil bodies took the places allotted for them, which was previously marked out. The battalion of youths of the military school, formed about one hundred paces from the grand altar, crossing the Champ de Mars; but facing the altar on the side next the military school.
While the national assembly passed through the triumphal arch, the escort of colours passed through the lateral gates, and the members took their seats on the right and left of the chair of state, and the chair of their own president.
The battalion of veterans was placed a hundred paces behind the altar, across the Champ de Mars, but facing the altar.