LITMIR.BIZ

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two-stalled horse-box; transports with three low masts; and

       long narrow pinnaces arranged for many oars.

       Timber, saw-mills, and new-cut planks spread in profusion

       around, and many of the town residences are seen to be adapted

       for warehouses and infirmaries.]

      DUMB SHOW

       Moving in this scene are countless companies of soldiery, engaged

       in a drill practice of embarking and disembarking, and of hoisting

       horses into the vessels and landing them again. Vehicles bearing

       provisions of many sorts load and unload before the temporary

       warehouses. Further off, on the open land, bodies of troops are at

       field-drill. Other bodies of soldiers, half stripped and encrusted

       with mud, are labouring as navvies in repairing the excavations.

       An English squadron of about twenty sail, comprising a ship or two of

       the line, frigates, brigs, and luggers, confronts the busy spectacle

       from the sea.

       The Show presently dims and becomes broken, till only its flashes and

       gleams are visible. Anon a curtain of cloud closes over it.

      SCENE V

       LONDON. THE HOUSE OF A LADY OF QUALITY

       [A fashionable crowd is present at an evening party, which

       includes the DUKES of BEAUFORT and RUTLAND, LORDS MALMESBURY,

       HARROWBY, ELDON, GRENVILLE, CASTLEREAGH, SIDMOUTH, and MULGRAVE,

       with their ladies; also CANNING, PERCEVAL, TOWNSHEND, LADY

       ANNE HAMILTON, MRS. DAMER, LADY CAROLINE LAMB, and many other

       notables.]

      A GENTLEMAN [offering his snuff-box]

       So, then, the Treaty anxiously concerted

       Between ourselves and frosty Muscovy

       Is duly signed?

      A CABINET MINISTER

       Was signed a few days back,

       And is in force. And we do firmly hope

       The loud pretensions and the stunning dins

       Now daily heard, these laudable exertions

       May keep in curb; that ere our greening land

       Darken its leaves beneath the Dogday suns,

       The independence of the Continent

       May be assured, and all the rumpled flags

       Of famous dynasties so foully mauled,

       Extend their honoured hues as heretofore.

      GENTLEMAN

       So be it. Yet this man is a volcano;

       And proven 'tis, by God, volcanos choked

       Have ere now turned to earthquakes!

      LADY

       What the news?—

       The chequerboard of diplomatic moves

       Is London, all the world knows: here are born

       All inspirations of the Continent—

       So tell!

       GENTLEMAN

       Ay. Inspirations now abound!

      LADY

       Nay, but your looks are grave! That measured speech

       Betokened matter that will waken us.—

       Is it some piquant cruelty of his?

       Or other tickling horror from abroad

       The packet has brought in?

      GENTLEMAN

       The treaty's signed!

      MINISTER

       Whereby the parties mutually agree

       To knit in union and in general league

       All outraged Europe.

      LADY

       So to knit sounds well;

       But how ensure its not unravelling?

      MINISTER

       Well; by the terms. There are among them these:

       Five hundred thousand active men in arms

       Shall strike [supported by the Britannic aid

       In vessels, men, and money subsidies]

       To free North Germany and Hanover

       From trampling foes; deliver Switzerland,

       Unbind the galled republic of the Dutch,

       Rethrone in Piedmont the Sardinian King,

       Make Naples sword-proof, un-French Italy

       From shore to shore; and thoroughly guarantee

       A settled order to the divers states;

       Thus rearing breachless barriers in each realm

       Against the thrust of his usurping hand.

      SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

       They trow not what is shaping otherwhere

       The while they talk this stoutly!

      SPIRIT OF RUMOUR

       Bid me go

       And join them, and all blandly kindle them

       By bringing, ere material transit can,

       A new surprise!

      SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

       Yea, for a moment, wouldst.

       [The Spirit of Rumour enters the apartment in the form of a

       personage of fashion, newly arrived. He advances and addresses

       the group.]

      SPIRIT

       The Treaty moves all tongues to-night.—Ha, well—

       So much on paper!

      GENTLEMAN

       What on land and sea?

       You look, old friend, full primed with latest thence.

      SPIRIT

       Yea, this. The Italy our mighty pact

       Delivers from the French and Bonaparte

       Makes haste to crown him!—Turning from Boulogne

       He speeds toward Milan, there to glory him

       In second coronation by the Pope,

       And set upon his irrepressible brow

       Lombardy's iron crown.

       [The Spirit of Rumour mingles with the throng, moves away, and

       disappears.]

      LADY

       Fair Italy,

       Alas, alas!

      LORD

       Yet thereby English folk

       Are freed him.—Faith, as ancient people say,

       It's an ill wind that blows good luck to none!

      MINISTER

       Who is your friend that drops so airily

       This precious pinch of salt on our raw skin?

      GENTLEMAN

       Why, Norton. You know Norton well enough?

      MINISTER

      

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