18

PLATE XVII.— THE EMFEROR.

!5eated on a throne, and holding in his hand the sword of state,he is attentively listening to an advocate pleading in a soothingtone, against an unfortunate peasant, who trembling waits, inthe most suppliant posture, the decree that is to determine hisfate. Death at this moment displays all his power; he proudlytakes possession of the bottom of the throne, and is carelesslyleaning his arm on the Monarch's crown. The angry aspect, withwhich the Emperor views the advocate and his two clients, whoare seen standingwith theirheads uncovered, is a happy presagefor the poor oppressed peasant. At the foot of the throne arelying the sceptre and globe of the empire, placed on a cushion.Death has set down his fatal glass be«ide these attributes of gran-deur, which he can cause to vanish at his pleasure.

Dispone domui tua?,quia morieristu, etnon vives.Isaiaexxxviii.l.lbi morieris, et ibi erit currus gloriae tuae. Isaiae xxii. 18.

PLANCHE XVII.— L'EMPEREUR.

jf\.ssis sur son tröne, & tenant dans sa main le glaive de Tem-pire, il ecoute attentivementun avocat qui plaide d'un ton douce-reux contre un malheureux paysan, tandis que celui-ci attendcn tremblant, & dans la posture la plus suppliante, l'arret quidoit decider de son sort. La Mort developpe en ce momenttoute sa puissance; eile occupe fierement la fbnd du tröne, &appuie nonchalemment son brass sur la couronne du Monarque.L'air irrite avec lequel le Chef de 1'Empire regarde Tavocat &»es deux cliens qu'on voit, la tete decouverte, ä cöte de leur de-fenseur, est d'un heureux presage pour le pauvre opprime. Onvait au bas du tröne le sceptre & le globe de Tempire poses surun coussin. La Mort a place son sable fatal ä cöte de ces at-ributs d'une grandeur qu'elle peut fair evanouir ä »on gre.