The Dynasts. Томас Харди

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       Will far outstrip him, and the thousands called

       Duly to join the ranks by its provisions,

       In process sure, if slow, will ratch the lines

       Of English regiments—seasoned, cool, resolved—

       To glorious length and firm prepotency.

       And why, then, should we dream of its repeal

       Ere profiting by its advantages?

       Must the House listen to such wilding words

       As this proposal, at the very hour

       When the Act's gearing finds its ordered grooves

       And circles into full utility?

       The motion of the honourable gentleman

       Reminds me aptly of a publican

       Who should, when malting, mixing, mashing's past,

       Fermenting, barrelling, and spigoting,

       Quick taste the brew, and shake his sapient head,

       And cry in acid voice: The ale is new!

       Brew old, you varlets; cast this slop away! [Cheers.]

       But gravely, sir, I would conclude to-night,

       And, as a serious man on serious things,

       I now speak here.... I pledge myself to this:

       Unprecedented and magnificent

       As were our strivings in the previous war,

       Our efforts in the present shall transcend them,

       As men will learn. Such efforts are not sized

       By this light measuring-rule my critic here

       Whips from his pocket like a clerk-o'-works!...

       Tasking and toilsome war's details must be,

       And toilsome, too, must be their criticism,—

       Not in a moment's stroke extemporized.

       The strange fatality that haunts the times

       Wherein our lot is cast, has no example.

       Times are they fraught with peril, trouble, gloom;

       We have to mark their lourings, and to face them.

       Sir, reading thus the full significance

       Of these big days, large though my lackings be,

       Can any hold of those who know my past

       That I, of all men, slight our safeguarding?

       No: by all honour no!—Were I convinced

       That such could be the mind of members here,

       My sorrowing thereat would doubly shade

       The shade on England now! So I do trust

       All in the House will take my tendered word,

       And credit my deliverance here to-night,

       That in this vital point of watch and ward

       Against the threatenings from yonder coast

       We stand prepared; and under Providence

       Shall fend whatever hid or open stroke

       A foe may deal.

       [He sits down amid loud ministerial cheers, with symptoms of

       great exhaustion.]

      WINDHAM

       The question that compels the House to-night

       Is not of differences in wit and wit,

       But if for England it be well or no

       To null the new-fledged Act, as one inept

       For setting up with speed and hot effect

       The red machinery of desperate war.—

       Whatever it may do, or not, it stands,

       A statesman' raw experiment. If ill,

       Shall more experiments and more be tried

       In stress of jeopardy that stirs demand

       For sureness of proceeding? Must this House

       Exchange safe action based on practised lines

       For yet more ventures into risks unknown

       To gratify a quaint projector's whim,

       While enemies hang grinning round our gates

       To profit by mistake?

       My friend who spoke

       Found comedy in the matter. Comical

       As it may be in parentage and feature,

       Most grave and tragic in its consequence

       This Act may prove. We are moving thoughtlessly,

       We squander precious, brief, life-saving time

       On idle guess-games. Fail the measure must,

       Nay, failed it has already; and should rouse

       Resolve in its progenitor himself

       To move for its repeal! [Cheers.]

      WHITBREAD

       I rise but to subjoin a phrase or two

       To those of my right honourable friend.

       I, too, am one who reads the present pinch

       As passing all our risks heretofore.

       For why? Our bold and reckless enemy,

       Relaxing not his plans, has treasured time

       To mass his monstrous force on all the coigns

       From which our coast is close assailable.

       Ay, even afloat his concentrations work:

       Two vast united squadrons of his sail

       Move at this moment viewless on the seas.—

       Their whereabouts, untraced, unguessable,

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