The Dynasts. Томас Харди

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СКАЧАТЬ What argue these late movements seen abroad?

       What of the country now the session's past;

       What of the country, eh? and of the war?

      PITT

       The thoughts I have laid before your Majesty

       Would make for this, in sum:—

       That Mr. Fox, Lord Grenville, and their friends,

       Be straightway asked to join. With Melville gone,

       With Sidmouth, and with Buckinghamshire too,

       The steerage of affairs has stood of late

       Somewhat provisional, as you, sir, know,

       With stop-gap functions thrust on offices

       Which common weal can tolerate but awhile.

       So, for the weighty reasons I have urged,

       I do repeat my most respectful hope

       To win your Majesty's ungrudged assent

       To what I have proposed.

      KING

       But nothing, sure,

       Has been more plain to all, dear Mr. Pitt,

       Than that your own proved energy and scope

       Is ample, without aid, to carry on

       Our just crusade against the Corsican.

       Why, then, go calling Fox and Grenville in?

       Such helps we need not. Pray you think upon't,

       And speak to me again.—We've had alarms

       Making us skip like crackers at our heels,

       That Bonaparte had landed close hereby.

      PITT

       Such rumours come as regularly as harvest.

      KING

       And now he has left Boulogne with all his host?

       Was it his object to invade at all,

       Or was his vast assemblage there a blind?

      PITT

       Undoubtedly he meant invasion, sir,

       Had fortune favoured. He may try it yet.

       And, as I said, could we but close with Fox—-

      KING

       But, but;—I ask, what is his object now?

       Lord Nelson's Captain—Hardy—whose old home

       Stands in a peaceful vale hard by us here—

       Who came two weeks ago to see his friends,

       I talked to in this room a lengthy while.

       He says our navy still is in thick night

       As to the aims by sea of Bonaparte

       Now the Boulogne attempt has fizzled out,

       And what he schemes afloat with Spain combined.

       The “Victory” lay that fortnight at Spithead,

       And Nelson since has gone aboard and sailed;

       Yes, sailed again. The “Royal Sovereign” follows,

       And others her. Nelson was hailed and cheered

       To huskiness while leaving Southsea shore,

       Gentle and simple wildly thronging round.

      PITT

       Ay, sir. Young women hung upon his arm,

       And old ones blessed, and stroked him with their hands.

      KING

       Ah—you have heard, of course. God speed him, Pitt.

      PITT

       Amen, amen!

      KING

       I read it as a thing

       Of signal augury, and one which bodes

       Heaven's confidence in me and in my line,

       That I should rule as King in such an age!...

       Well, well.—So this new march of Bonaparte's

       Was unexpected, forced perchance on him?

      PITT

       It may be so, your Majesty; it may.

       Last noon the Austrian ambassador,

       Whom I consulted ere I posted down,

       Assured me that his latest papers word

       How General Mack and eighty thousand men

       Have made good speed across Bavaria

       To wait the French and give them check at Ulm,

       That fortress-frontier-town, entrenched and walled,

       A place long chosen as a vantage-point

       Whereon to encounter them as they outwind

       From the blind shades and baffling green defiles

       Of the Black Forest, worn with wayfaring.

       Here Mack will intercept his agile foe

       Hasting to meet the Russians in Bohemia,

       And cripple him, if not annihilate.

       Thus now, sir, opens out this Great Alliance

       Of Russia, Austria, England, whereto I

       Have lent my earnest efforts through long months,

       And the realm gives her money, ships, and men.—

       It claps a muffler round the Cock's steel spurs,

       And leaves me sanguine on his overthrow.

       But, then,—this coalition of resources

       Demands a strong and active Cabinet

       To aid your Majesty's directive hand;

       And thus I urge again the said additions—

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