"With gold I'll batter down the walls
Of public good, and social right;
I'll sap the base of moral law,

And blast the bonds of legal might.
In human form I'll devils send,

Who shall invade both Church and State, Who shall firm grasp the pen-your pow'r— And with it write in blood your fate!"

"What you supposed to be your strength,
I'll prove to be your weakness yet,
Your men of peace, I'll force to war,
Till they all human love forget;
The house where dwells sweet Liberty,
Shall totter with my vengeful breath,
Till I have proved that valiant men
Will seek for honor, e'en to death!”

"Nay-nay, in mercy hold your hand,
In mercy seek not to o'erthrow
The quiet of my peaceful house,
Nor lay it level with a blow;

I know the weakness of mankind,

I know how quick they fall from state, When once the demon, Discontent, Awakens in their bosoms hate!"

"What!—think you that I am so weak, As to gainsay what I have said?” Cried Mars, as with a ghastly smile,

He clenched his hands, all grim and red,

"A pretty pass, it were indeed,

To give myself the downright lie; I've said it, Peace!—it shall be so, E'en if, by it, all mankind die !"

Now all this time the God of gods,

Was gazing on this scene below,

He knew how weak was man's vile heartHow soon the blood of war would flow,If they were left now to themselves, Without his power to defend,

And said :—“ Weep not, oh! gentle Peace, For I, myself, will shape the end!”

Mars heard the voice, and trembling stood,
As if deprived of all his might,

Then with his sword hid 'neath his wings,
At once took to ignoble flight:
But Peace remained with upraised hands,
And beaming face so bright and fair,
Then o'er the busy world knelt down,
And raised her voice in holy prayer!

To work fierce Mars in due time went,
To bring about his purpose fell,
To Pandemonium he sped,

To ask aid of the King of Hell;

He found him there just as he wished—
For he had heard of Mars' design-
With goblets filled with liquid fire,
Which he drank off as men do wine.

On tables spread in his best style,
With iron plates all quite red hot,
While on a fire watched by small imps
Hung spit, and boiler, pan, and pot,
All filled with fiendish broils and stews,
Such as we ofť' have in this world,
But which here made such rich smell that,

The chief cook's nose with pleasure curl'd.

A red hot throne he sat upon,
And to another pointed Mars,
Who humbly begged to be excused,
As hell-like thrones left ugly scars;
Old Satan smiled, an awful smile,

Indeed he seem'd quite full of fun,
And said—“ That few men paused to think
What kind of throne they sat upon !"

The god of war in a few words,
The purpose of his visit told,
Old Pluto's eyes looked deadly hate,
But smiled when he did all unfold,
And said :—“ I take you at your word,
Will give you all the help I can,
For such an end, I'd pour hot hell,
And all its demons out on man!

"For long I've watch'd with jealous eye, The work of Peace, in that fair land, To bid defiance to my will,

And make impotent e'en my hand: But hell I need not empty out

To help you, and your pleasure share, For I long back have been at work, And have a host of imps now there.

"This you, perchance, may deem quite strange,
Not thinking that I knew your will,-
That you would to me come, and ask
My help, your bloody maw to fill;
Yet so it is, and I've arranged

All things complete, to meet that end;

So listen, now, and I'll relate

What I have done-and what intend!

66

'My imps have donn'd the human shape
With intellect to fit them for
All stations in the hated world,

Or any chance that may occur;
E'en now they crowd the Halls of State,
The Chair of Justice, too, they fill,
The social board they also grace,
All waiting but to do my will.

"This is a cunning way I have

Of making man mankind betray, I send them fiends in human shape, Who give advice, and they obey; If man knew what he was about,

While passing through life's busy mart, He'd often look to see who walks Beside him, to corrupt his heart.

"You know I had some old imps here,
Who almost set my will at naught,-
Who raised such thunder 'round my throne
That oft' I've had to spoil their sport;

Well those I've sent out in the world
To sway the Spirit of the Press,
According to my wish and will,

And well they 've done it, I confess.

“Then, in the Halls of State I've placed
A man-this I could not avoid,
For he, though old, and weak, and dull,
The people's confidence enjoyed!
He in the highest Seat I've placed,

To be employed as I think best,
While I have hedged the dotard in,
By imps in ev'ry honor drest.

"Among them all a Chief I have,-
I almost envy him his fate,-
He's doomed to have such hellish fun,
And raise on earth such fiendish hate,
E'en now by his own cunning he

Has gained a place of mortal fame,
First in what they the Cab'net call;
He I now need not pause to name.

"So 'tween them all, I think I'll reach The end for which I long have toiled, I would have done it long ago,

Had Peace-the jade-my game not spoiled; I long have waited for you, Mars,

You failed me when I last did try,

But then you know that jade, 'sweet Peace,' Did not, as now, your pow'r defy!

"Therefore, I'm sure, you ready are
To give me all the help you can,
We need but here devise the way-
The work will all be done by man;
They are such fools they know not how
To prize the bliss they once enjoy,
Therefore we'll find it not so hard,
The wisest of them to decoy!

"There was a time when I despair'd
Of ever reaching such an end;
But that is pass'd-no power now
That nation's welfare can defend !"
So come, Mars, with me take a sip
Of nectar, which I only make,

'Tis very pleasant to the taste,

But serves not much the thirst to slake."