FIRE, FAMINE, AND SLAUGHTER. A WAR ECLOGUE. WITH AN APOLOGETIC PREFACE." The Scene a desolated Tract in la Vendée. FAMINE is discovered lying on the ground; to her enter FIRE and SLAUGHTER. FAMINE. SISTERS! sisters! who sent you here? SLAUGHTER (to Fire.) I will whisper it in her ear. FIRE. No! no! no! Spirits hear what spirits tell : "Twill make an holiday in Hell. Myself, I named him once below, Leaped up at once in anarchy, Clapped their hands and danced for glee. Printed at the end of this volume. They no longer heeded me; But laughed to hear Hell's burning rafters Unwillingly re-echo laughters! No! no! no! Spirits hear what spirits tell: FAMINE. Whisper it, sister! so and so! SLAUGHTER. Letters four do form his name And who sent you? Вотн. The same! the same! SLAUGHTER. He came by stealth, and unlocked my den, Вотн. Who bade you do 't? SLAUGHTER. The same! the same! Letters four do form his name. He let me loose, and cried Halloo ! FAMINE. Thanks, sister, thanks! the men have bled, To frighten the wolf and carrion-crow And the homeless dog-but they would not go. I heard a groan and a peevish squall, Вотн. Whisper, it sister! in our ear. FAMINE. A baby beat its dying mother: I had starved the one and was starving the other! Вотн. Who bade you do 't? FAMINE. The same! the same! Letters four do form his name. He let me loose, and cried, Halloo! FIRE. Sisters! I from Ireland came! To see the sweltered cattle run With uncouth gallop through the night, Scared by the red and noisy light! By the light of his own blazing cot The house-stream met the flame and hissed, That deal in discontent and curses. Who bade you do 't? Вотн. FIRE. The same! The same! Letters four do form his name. He let me loose, and cried Halloo! To him alone the praise is due. ALL. He let us loose, and cried Halloo! How shall we yield him honour due? FAMINE. Wisdom comes with lack of food. They shall seize him and his brood SLAUGHTER. They shall tear him limb from limb! FIRE. O thankless beldames and untrue! Cling to him everlastingly. 1796. |