Hæc finis Priami fatorum; hic exitus illum
Sorte tulit, Trojam incensam et prolapsa videntem
Pergama; tot quondam populis, terrisque, superbum
Regnatorem Asiæ. Jacet ingens littore truncus,
Avulsumque humeris caput, et sine nomine corpus.
[504] Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France.
[505] In his "Emilie." The memorable remark of Madame de Pompadour will not soon be forgotten; "Après nous le Déluge," "After us, the Deluge."
[506] Rousseau's prophecy of this great catastrophe has been already inserted; but the most remarkable prediction, specifying even the precise period of its fulfilment, is to be found in Fleming's "Apocalyptic Key," published so far back as the year 1701. In this work is the following passage. "Perhaps the French monarchy may begin to be considerably humbled about that time: that whereas the present French King (Lewis XIV.) takes the Sun for his emblem, and this for his motto, "nec pluribus impar," he may at length, or rather his successors, and the monarchy itself, at least before the year 1794, be forced to acknowledge that in respect to neighbouring potentates, he is even singulis impar."*
We add one more very curious prediction.
"Yes; that Versailles, which thou hast made for the glory of thy names, I will throw to the ground, and all your insolent inscriptions, figures, abominable pictures. And Paris; Paris, that imperial city, I will afflict it dreadfully. Yes, I will afflict the Royal Family. Yes, I will avenge the iniquity of the King upon his grand-children."—Lacy's Prophetic Warnings, Lond. 1707, p. 42.
*By referring to Revelation xvi. 8, it will be seen that the fourth vial is poured out on the Sun, which is interpreted as denoting the humiliation of some eminent potentates of the Romish communion, and therefore principally to be understood of the House of Bourbon, which takes precedence of them all.
[507] Psalm xlviii. 12-14.
[508] Private correspondence.