It was witless to believe that Parma contemplated any such measure, and utterly monstrous to believe in its success.
Thus far the butchers.

Soon afterwards came sixteen colonels of militia, as representatives of their branch of the multiform government.

These personages, attended by many officers of inferior degree, sustained the position of the butchers with many voluble and vehement arguments.

Not the least convincing of their conclusions was the assurance that it would be idle for the authorities to attempt the destruction of the dyke, seeing that the municipal soldiery itself would prevent the measure by main force, at all hazards, and without regard to their own or others' lives.
The violence of this opposition, and the fear of a serious internecine conflict at so critical a juncture, proved fatal to the project.

Much precious time was lost, and when at last the inhabitants of the city awoke from their delusion, it was to find that repentance, as usual, had come many hours too late.
For Parma had been acting while his antagonists had been wrangling.