We had to do things that not only were vile, but felt vile.

We had to destroy men who not only were noble, but looked noble.

They were men like Wolfe Tone, a statesman in the grand style who was not suffered to found a state; and Robert Emmet, lover of his land and of a woman, in whose very appearance men saw something of the eagle grace of the young Napoleon.

But he was luckier than the young Napoleon; for he has remained young.

He was hanged; not before he had uttered one of those phrases that are the hinges of history.