[Laughter, “Oh, oh,” cheers, and cries of “Divide.”] Has brought the millions to the verge of ruin, By pledging them to Continental quarrels Of which we see no end! [Cheers.] [The members rise to divide.] SPIRIT OF THE PITIES It irks me that they thus should Yea and Nay As though a power lay in their oraclings, If each decision work unconsciously, And would be operant though unloosened were A single lip! SPIRIT OF RUMOUR There may react on things Some influence from these, indefinitely, And even on That, whose outcome we all are. SPIRIT OF THE YEARS Hypotheses!--More boots it to remind The younger here of our ethereal band And hierarchy of Intelligences, That this thwart Parliament whose moods we watch-- So insular, empiric, un-ideal-- May figure forth in sharp and salient lines To retrospective eyes of afterdays, And print its legend large on History. For one cause--if I read the signs aright-- To-night's appearance of its Minister In the assembly of his long-time sway Is near his last, and themes to-night launched forth Will take a tincture from that memory, When me recall the scene and circumstance That hung about his pleadings.--But no more; The ritual of each party is rehearsed, Dislodging not one vote or prejudice; The ministers their ministries retain, And Ins as Ins, and Outs as Outs, remain. SPIRIT OF THE PITIES Meanwhile what of the Foeman's vast array That wakes these tones? SPIRIT OF THE YEARS Abide the event, young Shade: Soon stars will shut and show a spring-eyed dawn, And sunbeams fountain forth, that will arouse Those forming bands to full activity. [An honourable member reports that he spies strangers.] A timely token that we dally here! We now cast off these mortal manacles, And speed us seaward. [The Phantoms vanish from the Gallery. The members file out to the lobbies. The House and Westminster recede into the films of night, and the point of observation shifts rapidly across the Channel.] SCENE IV THE HARBOUR OF BOULOGNE [The morning breaks, radiant with early sunlight. The French Army of Invasion is disclosed. On the hills on either side of the town and behind appear large military camps formed of timber huts. Lower down are other camps of more or less permanent kind, the whole affording accommodation for one hundred and fifty thousand men.