Then, began one of those extraordinary scenes with which the populace sometimes gratified their fickleness, or their better impulses towards generosity and mercy, or which they regarded as some set off against their swollen account of cruel rage.

• 于是出现了一个极不寻常的场面。 那是群众有时用以满足他们反复无常的心理，或是为了表现他们的宽容和慈悲的一种冲动，或是用以对消他们的暴戾恣睢和累累血债的。