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Full text of "The Dynasts : Parts First And Second"

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PART SECOND
SIXTH CITIZEN
The Archduke Charles
Is passing along the Ringstrass' just by now, His regiment at his heels!
The younger sitters jump up with animation, and go out, the elder mostly remaining.
SECOND CITIZEN
Realm never faced The grin of a more fierce necessity For horrid war, than ours at this tense time!
The sounds of band-playing and huzzaing wane away.    Citizens return.
FIRST CITIZEN More news, my friends, of swiftly swelling zeal ?
RE-ENTERED CITIZENS
j
Ere passing down the Ring, the Archduke paused And gave the soldiers speech, enkindling them As sunrise a confronting throng of panes That glaze a many-windowed east facade: Hot volunteers vamp in from vill and plain— More than we need in furthest sacrifice!
FIRST, SECOND, ETC., CITIZENS
Huzza!    Right so!    Good!    Forwards!    God be praised!
They stand up, and a clinking of glasses follows, till they subside to quietude and a reperusal of newspapers. Nightfall succeeds. Dancing-rooms are lit up in an opposite street, and dancing begins. The figures are seen gracefully moving round to the throbbing strains of a string-band, which plays a new waltzing movement with a warlike name, soon to spread over Europe. The dancers sing patriotic words as they whirl.
The night closes over.
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