England stands forth to the sword of Napoleon Nakedly--not an ally in support of her; Men and munitions dispersed inexpediently; Projects of range and scope poorly defined. ANGEL I Once more doth Pitt deem the land crying loud to him.-- Frail though and spent, and an-hungered for restfulness Once more responds he, dead fervours to energize, Aims to concentre, slack efforts to bind. ANGEL II Ere the first fruit thereof grow audible, Holding as hapless his dream of good guardianship, Jestingly, earnestly, shouting it serviceless, Tardy, inept, and uncouthly designed. ANGELS I AND II So now, to-night, in slashing old sentences, Hear them speak,--gravely these, those with gay-heartedness,-- Midst their admonishments little conceiving how Scarlet the scroll that the years will unwind! SPIRIT OF THE PITIES [to the Spirit of the Years] Let us put on and suffer for the nonce The feverish fleshings of Humanity, And join the pale debaters here convened. So may thy soul be won to sympathy By donning their poor mould. SPIRIT OF THE YEARS I'll humour thee, Though my unpassioned essence could not change Did I incarn in moulds of all mankind! SPIRIT IRONIC 'Tis enough to make every little dog in England run to mixen to hear this Pitt sung so strenuously! I'll be the third of the incarnate, on the chance of hearing the tune played the other way. SPIRIT SINISTER And I the fourth. There's sure to be something in my line toward, where politicians gathered together! [The four Phantoms enter the Gallery of the House in the disguise of ordinary strangers.] SHERIDAN [rising] The Bill I would have leave to introduce Is framed, sir, to repeal last Session's Act, By party-scribes intituled a Provision For England's Proper Guard; but elsewhere known As Mr. Pitt's new Patent Parish Pill. [Laughter.] The ministerial countenances, I mark, Congeal to dazed surprise at my straight motion-- Why, passes sane conjecture. It may be That, with a haughty and unwavering faith In their own battering-rams of argument, They deemed our buoyance whelmed, and sapped, and sunk To our hope's sheer bottom, whence a miracle Was all could friend and float us; or, maybe, They are amazed at our rude disrespect In making mockery of an English Law Sprung sacred from the King's own Premier's brain! --I hear them snort; but let them wince at will, My duty must be done; shall be done quickly By citing some few facts.