The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 3

SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

Well, no more this on what no mind can mete.

Our scope is but to register and watch By means of this great gift accorded us-- The free trajection of our ent.i.ties.

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

On things terrene, then, I would say that though The human news wherewith the Rumours stirred us May please thy temper, Years, 'twere better far Such deeds were nulled, and this strange man's career Wound up, as making inharmonious jars In her creation whose meek wraith we know.

The more that he, turned man of mere traditions, Now profits naught. For the large potencies Instilled into his idiosyncrasy-- To throne fair Liberty in Privilege' room-- Are taking taint, and sink to common plots For his own gain.

SHADE OF THE EARTH

And who, then, Cordial One, Wouldst subst.i.tute for this Intractable?

CHORUS OF THE EARTH

We would establish those of kindlier build, In fair Compa.s.sions skilled, Men of deep art in life-development; Watchers and warders of thy varied lands, Men surfeited of laying heavy hands, Upon the innocent, The mild, the fragile, the obscure content Among the myriads of thy family.

Those, too, who love the true, the excellent, And make their daily moves a melody.

SHADE OF THE EARTH

They may come, will they. I am not averse.

Yet know I am but the ineffectual Shade Of her the Travailler, herself a thrall To It; in all her labourings curbed and kinged!

SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

Shall such be mooted now? Already change Hath played strange pranks since first I brooded here.

But old Laws operate yet; and phase and phase Of men's dynastic and imperial moils Shape on accustomed lines. Though, as for me, I care not thy shape, or what they be.

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

You seem to have small sense of mercy, Sire?

SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

Mercy I view, not urge;--nor more than mark What designate your t.i.tles Good and Ill.

'Tis not in me to feel with, or against, These flesh-hinged mannikins Its hand upwinds To click-clack off Its preadjusted laws; But only through my centuries to behold Their aspects, and their movements, and their mould.

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

They are shapes that bleed, mere mannikins or no, And each has parcel in the total Will.

SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

Which overrides them as a whole its parts In other ent.i.ties.

SPIRIT SINISTER [aside]

Limbs of Itself: Each one a jot of It in quaint disguise?

I'll fear all men henceforward!

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

Go to. Let this terrestrial tragedy--

SPIRIT IRONIC

Nay, Comedy--

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

Let this earth-tragedy Whereof we spake, afford a spectacle Forthwith conned closelier than your custom is.--

SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

How does it stand? [To a Recording Angel]

Open and chant the page Thou'st lately writ, that sums these happenings, In brief reminder of their instant points Slighted by us amid our converse here.

RECORDING ANGEL [from a book, in recitative]

Now mellow-eyed Peace is made captive, And Vengeance is chartered To deal forth its dooms on the Peoples With sword and with spear.

Men's musings are busy with forecasts Of muster and battle, And visions of shock and disaster Rise red on the year.

The easternmost ruler sits wistful, And tense he to midward; The King to the west mans his borders In front and in rear.

While one they eye, flushed from his crowning, Ranks legions around him To shake the enisled neighbour nation And close her career!

SEMICHORUS I OF RUMOURS [aerial music]

O woven-winged squadrons of Toulon And fellows of Rochefort, Wait, wait for a wind, and draw westward Ere Nelson be near!

For he reads not your force, or your freightage Of warriors fell-handed, Or when they will join for the onset, Or whither they steer!