Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Poem
April 8, 1805
Portland Gazette
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
The ghost of Robespierre rises from the underworld to lament the loss of revolutionary ideals in France, cursing the nation's fickleness and the rise of Bonaparte to the throne once held by Capet.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From a London Paper.
THE GHOST OF ROBESPIERRE.
WRAPT in the sanguine shroud of guilt and fear,
From the dark regions where the wicked dwell,
Uprose the grimly Ghost of Robespierre,
And bellow'd thus around, with hideous yell:
"Where art thou rampant pow'r of Liberty,
What wild notes pierc'd the welkin's startled ear?
Equality! what's now become of thee,
To renovated Gallia once so dear?
Where are those vows of hatred to all Kings,
And all abettors too of kingly sway?
O grand Republic! Where are all these things,
That mark'd with brilliancy thy rising day?
Where are ye, Jacobins! my trusty Friends,
Who cleans'd foul Royalty's Augean stall?
Are ye too gone? The thought my spirit rends!
My curse light on thee, fickle, faithless Gaul!
Where is the Bonnet-rouge-the Mountain-sign
Of Revolution's terrible monster?
Where is the pride-depressing Guillotine?
Where Ca Ira's soul-animating tune?
Departed all-or barter'd in exchange,
For worse than those vile shackles that ye tore!
O degradation! O delusion strange!
For this did Frenchmen shed such floods of gore!
What blasted vision now invades my view—
What torment, passing all by Demons known?
Is my dim sight deceived?—Can it be true?
Does Bonaparte sit on Capet's throne!
'Tis true, by Styx! there sits the perjur'd knave!
Sworn the Republic's honor to defend!
I cannot bear it!—To my gloomiest cave,
O Erebus! once more let me descend."
HAFIZ.
THE GHOST OF ROBESPIERRE.
WRAPT in the sanguine shroud of guilt and fear,
From the dark regions where the wicked dwell,
Uprose the grimly Ghost of Robespierre,
And bellow'd thus around, with hideous yell:
"Where art thou rampant pow'r of Liberty,
What wild notes pierc'd the welkin's startled ear?
Equality! what's now become of thee,
To renovated Gallia once so dear?
Where are those vows of hatred to all Kings,
And all abettors too of kingly sway?
O grand Republic! Where are all these things,
That mark'd with brilliancy thy rising day?
Where are ye, Jacobins! my trusty Friends,
Who cleans'd foul Royalty's Augean stall?
Are ye too gone? The thought my spirit rends!
My curse light on thee, fickle, faithless Gaul!
Where is the Bonnet-rouge-the Mountain-sign
Of Revolution's terrible monster?
Where is the pride-depressing Guillotine?
Where Ca Ira's soul-animating tune?
Departed all-or barter'd in exchange,
For worse than those vile shackles that ye tore!
O degradation! O delusion strange!
For this did Frenchmen shed such floods of gore!
What blasted vision now invades my view—
What torment, passing all by Demons known?
Is my dim sight deceived?—Can it be true?
Does Bonaparte sit on Capet's throne!
'Tis true, by Styx! there sits the perjur'd knave!
Sworn the Republic's honor to defend!
I cannot bear it!—To my gloomiest cave,
O Erebus! once more let me descend."
HAFIZ.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Political
Liberty Independence
What keywords are associated?
Robespierre Ghost
French Revolution
Bonaparte
Liberty
Republic
Jacobins
Guillotine
What entities or persons were involved?
Hafiz.
Poem Details
Title
The Ghost Of Robespierre.
Author
Hafiz.
Subject
Lament On The Fall Of The French Republic And Rise Of Bonaparte
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Wrapt In The Sanguine Shroud Of Guilt And Fear,
From The Dark Regions Where The Wicked Dwell,
Uprose The Grimly Ghost Of Robespierre,
And Bellow'd Thus Around, With Hideous Yell:
Does Bonaparte Sit On Capet's Throne!
'Tis True, By Styx! There Sits The Perjur'd Knave!
Sworn The Republic's Honor To Defend!
I Cannot Bear It!—To My Gloomiest Cave,