THE MASQUE OF ANARCHY: WRITTEN ON THE OCCASION OF THE MASSACRE AT MANCHESTER.、 I. As I lay asleep in Italy, There came a voice from over the sea, And with great power it forth led me To walk in the visions of Poesy. II. I met Murder on the way- III. All were fat; and well they might For one by one, and two by two, He tossed them human hearts to chew, IV. Next came Fraud, and he had-on, Like Eldon, an ermined gown. His big tears, for he wept well, V. And the little children who Round his feet played to and fro, Thinking every tear a gem, Had their brains knocked out by them. VI. Clothed with the bible, as with light And the shadows of the night, Like Sidmouth next, Hypocrisy VII. And many more Destructions played In this ghastly masquerade, All disguised, even to the eyes, Like bishops, lawyers, peers, or spies. VIII. Last came Anarchy; he rode On a white horse splashed with blood; He was pale even to the lips, Like Death in the Apocalypse. IX. And he wore a kingly crown, And in his grasp a sceptre shone; X. With a pace stately and fast XI. And a mighty troop around With their trampling shook the ground, Waving each a bloody sword For the service of their lord. XII. And with glorious triumph they Rode through England, proud and gay, Drunk as with intoxication Of the wine of desolation. XIII. O'er fields and towns, from sea to sea, Passed the pageant swift and free, XIV. And each dweller, panic-stricken, Hearing the tempestuous cry XV. For with pomp to meet him came, XVI. "We have waited, weak and lone, For thy coming, Mighty One! Our purses are empty, our swords are cold; Give us glory, and blood, and gold." XVII. Lawyers and priests, a motley crowd, XVIII. Then all cried with one accord, "Thou art King, and God, and Lord; Anarchy, to thee we bow ; Be thy name made holy now! XIX. And Anarchy the skeleton Bowed and grinned to every one As well as if his education Had cost ten millions to the nation. XX. For he knew the palaces Of our kings were nightly his; His the sceptre, crown, and globe, And the gold-inwoven robe. XXI. So he sent his slaves before To seize upon the Bank and Tower, XXII. When one fled past, a maniac maid, XXIII. "My father Time is weak and grey XXIV. "He has had child after child, And the dust of death is piled Over every one but me- XXV. Then she lay down in the street `Right before the horses' feet, Expecting with a patient eye Murder, Fraud, and Anarchy: XXVI. When between her and her foes XXVII. Till, as clouds grow on the blast And glare with lightnings as they fly, And speak in thunder to the sky, XXVIII. It grew a shape arrayed in mail XXIX. On its helm seen far away A planet like the morning's lay; And those plumes its light rained through, Like a shower of crimson dew. XXX. With step as soft as wind it passed That they knew the presence there, And looked-and all was empty air. XXXI. As flowers beneath May's footstep waken, As stars from Night's loose hair are shaken, As waves arise when loud winds call, Thoughts sprung where'er that step did fall. XXXII. And the prostrate multitude XXXIII. And Anarchy, the ghastly birth, To dust the murderers thronged behind. XXXIV. A rushing light of clouds and splendour, |