running flame, that all his signs of friendliness were
met by moves for war.

I

Attend and hear, for hear ye faintly may, his manifesto made at
Erfurt town,

II

That to arms only dares he now confide the safety and the honour
of his crown!

SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

Draw down the curtain, then, and overscreen
This too-protracted verbal fencing-scene;
And let us turn to clanging foot and horse,
Ordnance, and all the enginry of Force!

[Clouds close over the perspective.]

SCENE III

THE STREETS OF BERLIN

[It is afternoon, and the thoroughfares are crowded with citizens
in an excited and anxious mood. A central path is left open for
some expected arrival.

There enters on horseback a fair woman, whose rich brown curls
stream flutteringly in the breeze, and whose long blue habit
flaps against the flank of her curvetting white mare. She is
the renowned LOUISA, QUEEN OF PRUSSIA, riding at the head of a
regiment of hussars and wearing their uniform. As she prances
along the thronging citizens acclaim her enthusiastically.]

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

Who is this fragile fair, in fighting trim?

SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

She is the pride of Prussia, whose resolve
Gives ballast to the purpose of her spouse,
And holds him to what men call governing.

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

Queens have engaged in war; but war's loud trade
Rings with a roar unnatural, fitful, forced,
Practised by woman's hands!

SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

Of her view
The enterprise is that of scores of men,
The strength but half-a-ones.

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

Would fate had ruled
The valour had been his, hers but the charm!

SPIRIT OF RUMOUR

But he has nothing on't, and she has all.
The shameless satires of the bulletins
dispatched to Paris, thence the wide world through,
Disturb the dreams of her by those who love her,
And thus her brave adventurers for the realm
Have blurred her picture, soiled her gentleness,
And wrought her credit harm.

FIRST CITIZEN [vociferously]

Yes, by God: send and ultimatum to Paris, by God; that's what we'll
do, by God. The Confederation of the Rhine was the evil thought of
an evil man bent on ruining us!

SECON