On his return from Varennes, the king should have abdicated.

The Revolution would have adopted his son, and have educated it in its own image.

He did not abdicate--he consented to accept the pardon of his people; he swore to execute a constitution from which he had fled.

He was a king in a state of amnesty.

Europe beheld in him but a fugitive from his throne led back to his punishment, the nation but a traitor, and the Revolution but a plaything..