A SHAKESPEAREAN CENTO.
[TO TM EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.''j SIE,—The following is a Shakespearean address descriptive of the present military situation. I only claim that in it there is not a connecting particle but what is to be found in the poet's works.—I am,
"From point to point you may have heard the fundamental reason of this war, but vouchsafe to those that have not read the story that I may prompt them. Let me then speak proudly of our thrice valiant countrymen. Well have they done. But all's not done. Yet keeps the enemy the field. We can neither call this war perfect day nor night. Now sways it this way ; now sways it that. Now one the better, then another best. Both tugging to be victors breast to breast ; yet neither conqueror nor conquered. So is the equal poise of this fell war. But this island breeds very valiant creatures ; their mastiffs are of unmatchable courage, and the men do sympathize with the mastiffs in robustious and rough coming on. Give them groat meals of beef, and iron and steel, they will eat like wolves, and fight like devils. If the enemy then would have peace he must buy that peace, with full acoord to all our just demands. He may greet Europe with letters of commission, but Is all our travail to be turned to this effect, that we shall at last conclude an effeminate peace ? I know not why we lived .eo loug to say : This thing's not to do.' Sith we had cause and will and strength and means to prevent it. Action gross as earth exhorted us. Though war was not in question, defences, musters, and prepara- tions were maintained, assembled, and collected—as for a war in expectation. By underhand, corrupted, foul injustice the treacherous tyrant deceived our trust and entered upon a damned enterprise. To this war then we were driven. That stubborn foe broke oath on oath, committed wrong on wrong, and in conclusion drove us to seek this head of safety. We were enforced for safety sake to raise this present head, which he himself had forged against himself by unkind usage, dangerous countenance, and violation of all faith and truth, sworn to us. What followed when we disallowed of this ? Fierce and bloody war to enforce those rights so forcibly withheld. Rightly to be great is not to stir without great argument, but greatly to find quarrel in a straw (or scrap of paper ') when honour's at the stake. Then cheerily on to reap the harvest of perpetual peace by this one bloody trial of sharp war. On.! On t you- noblest English, and fellows in arms, bruised underneath the yoke of tyranny. Join bravely. The game's afoot ! Follow your spirit. Advance your standards, and our ancient word of courage, fair St. George, inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons !
' But after the slaughter of so many peers,
Son many captains, gentlemen, and soldiers, That in this quarrel have been overthrown, And sold their bodies for their country's benefit, Shall.we at last conclude effeminate peace ? '
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