Les amazones

The plot, which concerns the reconciliation of two warring peoples, was intended to symbolise the peace between France and Austria.

The worst thing which went wrong was the denouement which, one might say, fell from a great height, since Jupiter himself appeared up in the air to recognise Amphion and Zethus as his sons.

At the very moment when this revelation should have stopped short the Amazons, ready to strike down the unknown children of their queen, a cloud chariot was indeed seen to descend from the flies, but no Jupiter; the deus ex machina was missing.

Absorbed in conversation, the actor Bertin had failed to hear the machine operator's whistle, and the chariot left without the god.

"[3] Méhul gave up writing for the stage for a while and retired to his house at Pantin in order to devote himself to his passion for gardening.