The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 54

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

Here, then, ends My hope for Europe's reason-wrought repose!

He was the friend of peace--did his great best To shed her balms upon humanity; And now he's gone! No subst.i.tute remains.

SPIRIT IRONIC

Ay; the remainder of the episode is frankly farcical. Negotiations are again affected; but finally you discern Lauderdale applying for pa.s.sports; and the English Parliament declares to the nation that peace with France cannot be made.

RUMOURS [concluding]

I

The smouldering dudgeon of the Prussian king, meanwhile, upon the horizon's rim afar

II

Bursts into running flame, that all his signs of friendliness were met by moves for war.

I

Attend and hear, for hear ye faintly may, his manifesto made at Erfurt town,

II

That to arms only dares he now confide the safety and the honour of his crown!

SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

Draw down the curtain, then, and overscreen This too-protracted verbal fencing-scene; And let us turn to clanging foot and horse, Ordnance, and all the enginry of Force!

[Clouds close over the perspective.]

SCENE III

THE STREETS OF BERLIN

[It is afternoon, and the thoroughfares are crowded with citizens in an excited and anxious mood. A central path is left open for some expected arrival.

There enters on horseback a fair woman, whose rich brown curls stream flutteringly in the breeze, and whose long blue habit flaps against the flank of her curvetting white mare. She is the renowned LOUISA, QUEEN OF PRUSSIA, riding at the head of a regiment of hussars and wearing their uniform. As she prances along the thronging citizens acclaim her enthusiastically.]

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

Who is this fragile fair, in fighting trim?

SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

She is the pride of Prussia, whose resolve Gives ballast to the purpose of her spouse, And holds him to what men call governing.

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

Queens have engaged in war; but war's loud trade Rings with a roar unnatural, fitful, forced, Practised by woman's hands!

SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

Of her view The enterprise is that of scores of men, The strength but half-a-ones.

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

Would fate had ruled The valour had been his, hers but the charm!

SPIRIT OF RUMOUR

But he has nothing on't, and she has all.

The shameless satires of the bulletins dispatched to Paris, thence the wide world through, Disturb the dreams of her by those who love her, And thus her brave adventurers for the realm Have blurred her picture, soiled her gentleness, And wrought her credit harm.

FIRST CITIZEN [vociferously]

Yes, by G.o.d: send and ultimatum to Paris, by G.o.d; that's what we'll do, by G.o.d. The Confederation of the Rhine was the evil thought of an evil man bent on ruining us!

SECOND CITIZEN

This country double-faced and double-tongued, This France, or rather say, indeed, this Man-- [Peoples are honest dealers in the ma.s.s]-- This man, to sign a stealthy scroll with Russia That shuts us off from all indemnities, While swearing faithful friends.h.i.+p with our King, And, still professing our safe wardenry, To fatten other kingdoms at our cost, Insults us grossly, and makes Europe clang With echoes of our wrongs. The little states Of this antique and homely German land Are severed from their blood-allies and kin-- Hereto of one tradition, interest, hope-- In calling lord this rank adventurer, Who'll thrust them as a sword against ourselves.-- Surely Great Frederick sweats within his tomb!

THIRD CITIZEN

Well, we awake, though we have slumbered long, And She is sent by Heaven to kindle us.

[The QUEEN approaches to pa.s.s back again with her suite. The vociferous applause is repeated. They regard her as she nears.]

To cry her Amazon, a bl.u.s.terer, A brazen comrade of the bold dragoons Whose uniform she dons! Her, whose each act Shows but a mettled modest woman's zeal, Without a hazard of her dignity Or moment's sacrifice of seemliness, To fend off ill from home!