I
“In these last word, then, of this pregnant parle; I trust I
may persuade your Excellency
II
“That in no circumstance, on no pretence, a party to our pact can
Russia be.”
SPIRIT SINISTER
Fortunately for the manufacture of corpses by machinery Napoléon
sticks to this veto, and so wards off the awkward catastrophe of
a general peace descending upon Europe. Now England.
RUMOURS [continuing]
I
Thereon speeds down through Kent and Picardy, evenly as some
southing sky-bird’s shade:
II
“We gather not from your Imperial lines a reason why our words
should be reweighed.
I
“We hold Russia not as our ally that is to be: she stands fully-
plighted so;
II
“Thus trembles peace upon this balance-point: will you that
Russia be let in or no?”
I
Then France rolls out rough words across the strait: “To treat
with you confederate with the Tsar,
II
“Presumes us sunk in sloughs of shamefulness from which we yet
stand gloriously afar!
I
“The English army must be Flanders-fed, and entering Picardy with
pompous prance,
II
“To warrant such! Enough. Our comfort is, the crime of further
strife lies not with France.”