Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CHERUBS; SUGGESTED BY AN APOLOGUE IN THE WORKS OF FRANKLIN, by THOMAS CAMPBELL Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Two spirits reached this world of ours Last Line: The devil himself astounded. Subject(s): Evil; Devil; War; Hypocrisy | ||||||||
Two spirits reached this world of ours: The lightning's locomotive powers Were slow to their agility: In broad daylight they moved incog, Enjoying, without mist or fog, Entire invisibility. The one, a simple cherub lad, Much interest in our planet had, Its face was so romantic; He couldn't persuade himself that man Was such as heavenly rumors ran, A being base and frantic. The elder spirit, wise and cool, Brought down the youth as to a school; But strictly on condition, Whatever they should see or hear, With mortals not to interfere; 'Twas not in their commission. They reached a sovereign city proud, Whose emperor prayed to God aloud, With all his people kneeling, And priests performed religious rites: "Come," said the younger of the sprites, "This shows a pious feeling." YOUNG SPIRIT. "Ar'n't these a decent godly race?" OLD SPIRIT. "The direst thieves on Nature's face." YOUNG SPIRIT. "But hark, what cheers they're giving Their emperor! -- And is he a thief?" OLD SPIRIT. "Ay, and a cut-throat too; -- in brief, THE GREATEST SCOUNDREL LIVING." YOUNG SPIRIT. "But say, what were they praying for, This people and their emperor?" OLD SPIRIT. "Why, but for God's assistance To help their army, late sent out: And what that army is about, You'll see at no great distance." On wings outspeeding mail or post, Our sprites o'ertook the Imperial host; In massacres it wallowed: A noble nation met its hordes, But broken fell their cause and swords, Unfortunate, though hallowed. They saw a late bombarded town, Its streets still warm with blood ran down; Still smoked each burning rafter; And hideously, 'midst rape and sack, The murderer's laughter answered back His prey's convulsive laughter. They saw the captive eye the dead, With envy of his gory bed, -- Death's quick reward of bravery: They heard the clank of chains, and then Saw thirty thousand bleeding men Dragged manacled to slavery. "Fie! fie!" the younger heavenly spark Exclaimed -- "we must have missed our mark, And entered hell's own portals: Earth can't be stained by crimes so black; Nay, sure, we've got among a pack Of fiends and not of mortals." "No," said the elder; "no such thing: Fiends are not fools enough to wring The necks of one another: -- They know their interests too well: Men fight; but every devil in hell Lives friendly with his brother. "And I could point you out some fellows, On this ill-fated planet Tel us, In royal power that revel, Who, at the opening of the book Of judgment, may have cause to look With envy at the devil." Name but the devil, and he'll appear, Old Satan in a trice was near, With smutty face and figure: But spotless spirits of the skies, Unseen to e'en his saucer eyes, Could watch the fiendish nigger. "Halloo!" he cried, "I smell a trick: A mortal supersedes Old Nick, The scourge of earth appointed: He robs me of my trade, outrants The blasphemy of hell, and vaunts Himself the Lord's anointed. "Folks make a fuss about my mischief: D -- d fools, they tamely suffer this chief To play his pranks unbounded." The cherubs flew; but saw from high, At human inhumanity, The devil himself astounded. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOWNFALL OF POLAND [FALL OF WARSAW, 1794] by THOMAS CAMPBELL EXILE OF ERIN by THOMAS CAMPBELL FREEDOM AND LOVE by THOMAS CAMPBELL HALLOWED GROUND by THOMAS CAMPBELL HOHENLINDEN by THOMAS CAMPBELL LORD ULLIN'S DAUGHTER by THOMAS CAMPBELL NAPOLEON AND THE BRITISH [OR ENGLISH] SAILOR [BOY] by THOMAS CAMPBELL SONG TO THE MEN OF ENGLAND by THOMAS CAMPBELL THE EVENING STAR by THOMAS CAMPBELL THE LAST MAN by THOMAS CAMPBELL |
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