 | Ephemeron |  |
Such—their shackles dashed in sunder—
Yet might join the valiant West,
Join to beat the Birds of Plunder
Back to their polluted Nest.
Yet might join the valiant West,
Join to beat the Birds of Plunder
Back to their polluted Nest.
But ye needs must pause and palter
With a crew, whose hearts the voice
Of an angel would not alter
From their safely selfish choice.
With a crew, whose hearts the voice
Of an angel would not alter
From their safely selfish choice.
Spiced with high considerations,
Gales of diplomatic breath
Woo the long-reluctant nations
Still, to join the Dance of Death.
Gales of diplomatic breath
Woo the long-reluctant nations
Still, to join the Dance of Death.
32
But the Thunderer's daily sermon,
Droning in his drowsy ear,
Fails to rouse the sullen German
From his quiet pipe and beer.
Droning in his drowsy ear,
Fails to rouse the sullen German
From his quiet pipe and beer.
Long the injured Dane shall ponder,
Feeling yet the ancient smart
Of the double scar left yonder
Deep in Copenhagen's heart.
Feeling yet the ancient smart
Of the double scar left yonder
Deep in Copenhagen's heart.
Long shall Prussia, bat-like, linger,
Lest she side against the strong—
Long ere Sweden lift a finger
To avenge an age of wrong.
Lest she side against the strong—
Long ere Sweden lift a finger
To avenge an age of wrong.
And the Vassal of the Kremlin,
Plying long his perjured trade,
Still shall keep, from loop-holed Semlin,
Cat-like watch on high Belgrade;
Plying long his perjured trade,
Still shall keep, from loop-holed Semlin,
Cat-like watch on high Belgrade;
That, when Æsop's Bear and Lion,
Wearied with their savage play—
Claws of brass and teeth of iron
Broken in the murderous fray—
Each his panting side shall lie on—
Sir Fox may bear the prize away!
Wearied with their savage play—
Claws of brass and teeth of iron
Broken in the murderous fray—
33
Sir Fox may bear the prize away!
| Ephemeron | |