At length, after five days of continued sufferings, the Assembly
became weary of insulting and humiliating longer those who had been
robbed of their power and dignity; and it was announced to the royal
family that they would hereafter reside in the Temple, and be
perpetual prisoners of the nation.
On the morning of the 18th of August two great carriages, each drawn
by only two horses, stood in the court des Feuillants ready to carry
the royal family to the Temple. In the first of these sat the king,
the queen, their two children, Madame Elizabeth, Princess Lamballe,
Madame Tourzel and her daughter; and besides these, Potion the mayor
of Paris, the attorney-general, and a municipal officer. In the
second carriage were the servants of the king and two officials. A
detachment of the National Guards escorted the carriages, on both
sides of which dense masses of men stood, incessantly pouring out
their abuse and insults.
In the Place Vendome the procession stopped, and with scornful
laughter they showed the king the scattered fragments, upon the
pavements, of the equestrian statue of Louis XIV., which had stood
there, and which had been thrown from its pedestal by the anger of
the people. "So shall it be with all tyrants!" shouted and roared
the mob, raising their fists threateningly.
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