These are the plagues heaven sends o'er every land
Before it sink, the portents of the street,
Not of the air, lest nations should complain
Of distance or of dimness in the signs,
Flaring from far to Wisdom's eye alone:
These are the last! these, when the sun rides high,
In the forenoon of doomsday, revelling,
Make men abhor the earth, arraign the skies.
Ye who behold them spoil field after field,
Despising them in individual strength,
Not with one torrent sweeping them away
Into the ocean of eternity,
Arise! despatch! no renovating gale,
No second spring awaits you--up, begone -
If you have force and courage even for flight -
The blast of dissolution is behind.
SIS. How terrible! how true! what voice like thine
Can rouse and warn the nation! if she rise,
Say, whither go, where stop we?
OPAS. God will guide.
Let us pursue the oppressor to destruction;
The rest is heaven's: must we move no step
Because we cannot see the boundaries
Of our long way, and every stone between?
SIS. Is not thy vengeance for the late affront,
For threats and outrage and imprisonment -
OPAS. For outrage, yes--imprisonment and threats
I pardon him, and whatsoever ill
He could do ME.
SIS. To hold Covilla from me!
To urge her into vows against her faith,
Against her beauty, youth, and inclination,
Without her mother's blessing, nay without
Her father's knowledge and authority -
So that she never will behold me more,
Flying afar for refuge and for help
Where never friend but God will comfort her -
OPAS.
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