Here where I stand, they slew you, brothers, whom
Hell’s wrongs unutterable had made as mad.
The rifle-shots re-echoed in his tomb,
The gilded scoundrel’s who had been so glad.
O Morny, O blood-sucker of thy race!
O brain, O hand that wrought out empire that
The lust in one for power, for tinsel place,
Might rest; one lecher’s hungry heart grow fat,—
Is it for nothing, now and evermore,
O you whose sin in life had death in ease,
The murder of your victims beats the door
Wherein your careless carrion lies at peace?
AUX TERNES. [46]
(Paris.)
She.—“Up and down, up and down,
From early eve to early day.
Life is quicker in the town;
When you’ve leisure, anyway!
“Down and up, down and up!
O will no one stop and speak?
I would really like to sup,
And my limbs are heavy and weak.
“What’s my price, sir? I’m no Jew.
If with me you wish to sleep,
’Tis five francs, sir. Surely you
Will admit that that is cheap?”
He.—“Christ, if you are not stone blind,
Stone deaf also, you know it is
Christian towns leave far behind
Sodom and those other cities.
“Bid your Father strike this town,
Wipe it utterly away!
Weary, hungry, up and down
From early eve to early day?
“Magdalen knew nought like this;
She had food and roof above;
Seven devils, too, did she possess;
This poor soul had but one—love!