Shifting Scenes and Other Poems By J. Stanyan Bigg |
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VENGEANCE. |
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 | Shifting Scenes and Other Poems |  |
76
XII. VENGEANCE.
Scene: Outside the Royal Palace, wherein the King entertains Purmar and the Victorious Captains:— Ameer and Sivar, together.Ameer.
Now is the time for vengeance. Every hour
Rolls the doom onward.
Sivar.
Aye! the wine will mount,
And then the dark tale will unfold itself,
Before the gaping crowd, and then the ire—
The terrible ire—of Purmar will break out
Fiercer than fire.
Ameer.
Ere that, we'll see what fire
Will do to quench it!
Sivar.
Are you ready?
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Yes.
The faggots are besmeared, the train is set;
But I shall wait until the midnight hour,
When all the wine of revelry is red
And runs in riot through the festal halls,
And then a fiercer flame than burns the brim
Of sparkling goblets shall surprise them all,
And fold them warm in fiery winding-sheets!
Just at the midnight hour, we light a spark
Shall make a bonfire of Purmar; and all
The warriors who have “gained our victories”—
And Sidh Râj with the rest—feathers and all,
Plumes, purple robes of state, and crown, shall be
Cinders to-morrow! You will join me then?
Sivar.
I will!
| Shifting Scenes and Other Poems | |