Page:Redemption, a Poem.djvu/47

 REDEMPTION. 41

And black as night, the giant monster stood. Than him no pow'r superior hell could boast, Save who contrived their primitive revolt, None dreaded more, and into silence waned The din composed, frowning, his goary locks He shakes, and with stentorian voice displodes :

" Fallen indeed ye are, and reprobate, Who can without revolt to such advice Give ear, or seek ignoble peace. Have we Not sworn eternal war 'gainst heaven's King ? And pledg'd with wrathful fires perpetual To re-invade his works, them to destroy, Or t' our use convert ? And shall we now preach Peace? Peace ! hisses that sound upon mine ear. Is peace an attribute of hell? I laugh At peace, and gorgon horrors hail ; hail blood, And discord hail. Confusion, turmoil, war, Hate, malice, rage, revenge, rapine and spoils, These be my peace; these the conditions sole Of my existence. Ye gods! it irks me To stand here and prate, or idly sit, whilst Our useless arms hang weary at our sides, And nothing worthy of our cause subvenes. Secure in your possessions on the earth, Here have ye sat, the gates of Clusius shut, The dogs of war within their kennels leash'd, And all the world at peace; while Heav'n looks down, Our pow'rs inactive sees, and some new scheme, (What, is not yet explain'd,) devises there To our hurt. Or man, or child, or woman, Me concerns not. If man, the more my rage And fondness for revenge incite ; if child,

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