is your cause—yours, Danton—yours, Philippeaux, as you very well know!
Philippeaux. I know, Westermann. It's because you attacked Rossignol, Ronsin, and all the blackguards, as I did, who dishonor the army. And the Jacobins are yelping after us. We shan't desert you.
Camille [to Danton]. We must do something. I offer my pen, and Westermann his sword. Guide us, Danton. You know how to handle the crowd, you understand the strategy of revolutions. Lead us; we have another Tenth of August ahead.
Danton. Later.
Philippeaux. You've disappeared from the arena; they are forgetting you. Show yourself. What have you been doing these many weeks, hidden in the country?
Danton. I have been communing with mother earth, in order to draw new strength from it, like Anteus.
Philippeaux. Rather you are looking for a pretext to retire from the fray.
Danton. I cannot lie: you speak the truth.
Camille. What's the trouble?
Danton. I am sick of humanity. I vomit men.
Hérault. You are not so sick of women, it seems?
Danton. The women at least are frank enough to be merely themselves and nothing more. They are what we all are: animals. They seek pleasure directly, and never lie to themselves and cover up their instincts with the cloak of reason. I hate the hypocrisy of the intelligence, the sanguinary idiocy of these idealists,
