Written by Rouget de Lisle when France
declared war against Austria in 1792,
LA MARSEILLAISE,
seen here personified by Rude 

on the Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile in Paris,
was often mocked for the ferocity
and blood-thirstiness of its words.
Today they seem apt.
There are many many words to La Marseillaise
but only the following verse and refrain are usually sung:

Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!
Contre nous de la tyrannie,
L'étendard sanglant est levé, (bis)
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras
Égorger nos fils, nos compagnes!

Aux armes, citoyens,
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons! (bis)
 
Arise, children of the Motherland,
The day of glory has arrived!
Against us tyranny's
Bloody banner is raised,(repeat)
Do you hear, in the countryside,
The roar of those ferocious soldiers?
They're coming right into our arms
To cut the throats of our sons, our companions!

To arms, citizens,
Form your battalions,
Let's march, let's march!
So impure blood
Flows in our furrows! (Repeat)

Drawing by Charlie Hebdo cartoonist Joann Sfar

No prayers for Paris, thank you. Fluctuat nec mergitur!
Paris is an ancient city, it has seen many other terrorist campaigns and wars, some of which brought it to its knees but didn’t stop it rising again
to be the epitome of love, beauty, freedom and joie-de-vivre 

that the world knows and loves.
Vive Paris et vive la France!