XXXV. The spirits were in neutral space, before The gate of heaven; like eastern thresholds is A civil aspect: though they did not kiss, XXXVI. The Archangel bowed, not like a modern beau, Pressing one radiant arm just where below The heart in good men is supposed to tend. He turned as to an equal, not too low, But kindly; Sathan met his ancient friend With more hauteur, as might an old Castilian Poor noble meet a mushroom rich civilian. XXXVII. He merely bent his diabolic brow An instant; and then raising it, he stood In act to assert his right or wrong, and show Cause why King George by no means could or should Make out a case to be exempt from woe Eternal, more than other kings endued With better sense and hearts, whom history mentions, Who long have "paved hell with their good intentions." XXXVIII. Michael began: "What wouldst thou with this man, "Now dead, and brought before the Lord? What ill "Hath he wrought since his mortal race began, "That thou can'st claim him? Speak! and do thy will, "If it be just: if in this earthly span "He hath been greatly failing to fulfil "His duties as a king and mortal, say, "And he is thine; if not, let him have way." XXXIX. "Michael!" replied the Prince of Air, "even here, "To thee and thine, because nor wine nor lust XL. "Look to our earth, or rather mine; it was, XLI. "And these but as a kind of quit-rent, to "Well know) superfluous; they are grown so bad, “That hell has nothing better left to do "Than leave them to themselves: so much more mad "And evil by their own internal curse, "Heaven cannot make them better, nor I worse. XLII. "Look to the earth, I said, and say again: "When this old, blind, mad, helpless, weak, poor worm, "Began in youth's first bloom and flush to reign, "The world and he both wore a different form, "And much of earth and all the watery plain "Of ocean call'd him king: through many a storm "His isles had floated on the abyss of Time; "For the rough virtues chose them for their clime. LXIII. "He came to his sceptre, young; he leaves it, old: "Look to the state in which he found his realm, "And left it; and his annals too behold, "How to a minion first he gave the helm ;" "How grew upon his heart a thirst for gold, "The beggar's vice, which can but overwhelm "The meanest hearts; and for the rest, but glance "Thine eye along America and France! XLIV. ""Tis true, he was a tool from first to last; "More drench'd with gore, more cumber'd with the slain! LXV. "He ever warr'd with freedom and the free: "Nations as men, home subjects, foreign foes, "So that they utter'd the word 'Liberty!' "Found George the Third their first opponent. Whose "History was ever stain'd as his will be "With national and individual woes? "I grant his household abstinence; I grant XLVI. "I know he was a constant consort; own I grant him all the kindest can accord; XLVII. "The new world shook him off; the old yet groans XLVIII. "Five millions of the primitive, who hold "The faith which makes ye great on earth, implored "A part of that vast all they held of old, "Freedom to worship-not alone your Lord, "Michael, but you, and you, Saint Peter! Cold "Must be your souls, if you have not abhorr'd "The foe to Catholic participation "In all the licence of a Christian nation. XLIX. "True! he allow'd them to pray God; but as "A consequence of prayer, refused the law "Which would have placed them upon the same base "With those who did not hold the saints in awe." But here Saint Peter started from his place, And cried, "You may the prisoner withdraw : "Ere Heaven shall ope her portals to this Guelf, "While I am guard, may I be damn'd myself! |