by Coleridge · Cluster: Blood · Verse Drama · Revenge
Abstract
A variant fragment of ‘Fire, Famine, and Slaughter’ preserving alternate readings of the personified Famine and Slaughter dialogue; themes of war’s cost, famine and political blame.
Connections
Motifs: Blood Themes & Concepts: War and its Cost, Power and Corruption Forms & Genres: Fragment, Verse Drama
Testo integrale / Full text
Then sound it not, yet let me know; Darkly hint it — soft and low! M. P. In a dark hint, soft and low. An. Anth. And I have spill’d the blood since then Of thrice ten hundred thousand men. M. P. with my great strides An. Anth. For him that did so much for you. [To Slaughter. For you he turn’d the dust to mud With his fellow creatures’ blood! [To Famine. And hunger scorch’d as many more, To make your cup of joy run o’er. [To Both. Full ninety moons, he by my troth! Hath richly cater’d for you both! And in an hour would you repay An eight years’ debt? Away! away! I alone am faithful! I Cling to him everlastingly. LABERIUS. M. P. [Below 81] 1798] 1796 S. L. 1828, 1829, and 1834.