O heavy news indeed!... Disastrous; dire! [He appears overcome as he sits, and covers his forehead with his hand.] WILTSHIRE I trust you are not ill, sir? PITT [after some moments] Could I have A little brandy, sir, quick brought to me? WILTSHIRE In one brief minute. [Brandy is brought in, and PITT takes it.] PITT Now leave me, please, alone. I'll call anon. Is there a map of Europe handy here? [WILTSHIRE fetches a map from the library, and spreads it before the minister. WILTSHIRE, courier, and servant go out.] O God that I should live to see this day! [He remains awhile in a profound reverie; then resumes the reading of the dispatch.] “Defeated--the Allies--quite overthrown At Austerlitz--last week.”--Where's Austerlitz? --But what avails it where the place is now; What corpse is curious on the longitude And situation of his cemetery!... The Austrians and the Russians overcome, That vast adventuring army is set free To bend unhindered strength against our strand.... So do my plans through all these plodding years Announce them built in vain! His heel on Europe, monarchies in chains To France, I am as though I had never been! [He gloomily ponders the dispatch and the map some minutes longer. At last he rises with difficulty, and rings the bell. A servant enters.] Call up my carriage, please you, now at once; And tell your master I return to Bath This moment--I may want a little help In getting to the door here. SERVANT Sir, I will, And summon you my master instantly. [He goes out and re-enters with WILTSHIRE. PITT is assisted from the room.] PITT Roll up that map. 'Twill not be needed now These ten years! Realms, laws, peoples, dynasties, Are churning to a pulp within the maw Of empire-making Lust and personal Gain! [Exeunt PITT, WILTSHIRE, and the servant; and in a few minutes the carriage is heard driving off, and the scene closes.] SCENE VII PARIS. A STREET LEADING TO THE TUILERIES [It is night, and the dim oil lamps reveal a vast concourse of citizens of both sexes around the Palace gates and in the neighbouring thoroughfares.] SPIRIT OF THE YEARS [to the Spirit of Rumour] Thou may'st descend and join this crowd awhile, And speak what things shall come into they mouth. SPIRIT SINISTER I'll harken! I wouldn't miss it for the groans on another Austerlitz! [The Spirit of Rumour enters on the scene in the disguise of a young foreigner.] SPIRIT [to a street-woman] Lady, a late hour this to be afoot! WOMAN