UNDER-SECRETARY
Is the King of Rome really dead, and the gorgeous gold cradle wasted?
PERCEVAL
O no, he is alive and waxing strong: That tale has been set travelling more than once.
But touching it, booms echo to our ear Of graver import, unimpeachable.
UNDER-SECRETARY
Your speech is dark.
PERCEVAL
Well, a new war in Europe.
Before the year is out there may arise A red campaign outscaling any seen.
Russia and France the parties to the strife-- Ay, to the death!
UNDER-SECRETARY
By Heaven, sir, do you say so?
[Enter CASTLEREAGH, a tall, handsome man with a Roman nose, who, seeing them, approaches.]
PERCEVAL
Ha, Castlereagh. Till now I have missed you here.
This news is startling for us all, I say!
CASTLEREAGH
My mind is blank on it! Since I left office I know no more what villainy"s afoot, Or virtue either, than an anch.o.r.et Who mortifies the flesh in some lone cave.
PERCEVAL
Well, happily that may not last for long.
But this grave pother that"s just now agog May reach such radius in its consequence As to outspan our lives! Yes, Bonaparte And Alexander--late such bosom-friends-- Are closing to a mutual murder-bout At which the lips of Europe will wax wan.
Bonaparte says the fault is not with him, And so says Alexander. But we know The Austrian knot began their severance, And that the Polish question largens it.
Nothing but time is needed for the clash.
And if so be that Wellington but keep His foot in the Peninsula awhile, Between the pestle and the mortar-stone Of Russia and of Spain, Napoleon"s brayed.
SPIRIT OF RUMOUR [to the Spirit of the Years]
Permit me now to join them and confirm, By what I bring from far, their forecasting?
SPIRIT OF THE YEARS
I"ll go. Thou knowest not greatly more than they.
[The SPIRIT OF THE YEARS enters the apartment in the shape of a pale, hollow-eye gentleman wearing an embroidered suit. At the same time re-enter the REGENT, LORDS MOIRA, YARMOUTH, KEITH, LADY HERTFORD, SHERIDAN, the DUKE OF BEDFORD, with many more notables.
The band changes into the popular dance, "Down with the French,"
and the characters aforesaid look on at the dancers.]
SPIRIT OF THE YEARS [to Perceval]
Yes, sir; your text is true. In closest touch With European courts and cabinets, The imminence of dire and deadly war Betwixt these east and western emperies Is lipped by special pathways to mine ear.
You may not see the impact: ere it come The tomb-worm may caress thee [Perceval shrinks]; but believe Before five more have joined the shotten years Whose useless films infest the foggy Past, Traced thick with teachings glimpsed unheedingly, The rawest Dynast of the group concerned Will, for the good or ill of mute mankind, Down-topple to the dust like soldier Saul, And Europe"s mouldy-minded oligarchs Be propped anew; while garments roll in blood To confused noise, with burning, and fuel of fire.
Nations shall lose their n.o.blest in the strife, And tremble at the tidings of an hour!
[He pa.s.ses into the crowd and vanishes.]
PRINCE REGENT [who has heard with parted lips]
Who the devil is he?
PERCEVAL
One in the suite of the French princes, perhaps, sir?--though his tone was not monarchical. He seems to be a foreigner.
CASTLEREAGH
His manner was that of an old prophet, and his features had a Jewish cast, which accounted for his Hebraic style.
PRINCE REGENT
He could not have known me, to speak so freely in my presence!
SHERIDAN
I expected to see him write on the wall, like the gentleman with the Hand at Belshazzar"s Feast.
PRINCE REGENT [recovering]