Ha! ha! I think it looks....
It dares to look—the flat face—at my nose!
(Brandishes his sword.)
What say you?....That it's useless?....Don't I know?
But valiant hearts contend not for success!
It's nobler to defend a hopeless cause!
—Who are you all? I count a thousand....more!
I know you now: my enemies of old!
You're Falsehood!—
(Strikes the open air with his sword.)
Here!—Ha! ha! and Compromise,
And Prejudice, and Cowardice!....
(He strikes.)
Submit?
No, never! Ah! here's Imbecility!....
I know that, in the end, I must succumb,
I dare you, though, and strike! and strike! and strike!
(Strikes right and left with his sword, and stops exhausted.)
You take my all, the laurel and the rose!....
Well, take them!.... But, in spite of you, there is
A something that I bear along with me
To sweep to-night with grandeur, as I pass,
The threshold and the gates of heaven's blue;
A something that's unsullied and is mine....
Do what you will!
(Rushes forward, sword aloft.)