Slash, and stab, and maim, and hew--
What they like, that let them do.

With folded arms and steady eyes,
And little fear, and less surprise,
Look upon them as they slay,
Till their rage has died away.

And that slaughter to the Nation
Shall steam up like inspiration,
Eloquent, oracular--
A volcano heard afar.

Ending, the reader turned to the listener. But the listener had
understood little of the meaning, and less of the spirit. He hated
opposition to the powers on the part of any below himself, yet
scorned the idea of submitting to persecution.

"What think you of that, sir?" asked Donal.

"Sheer nonsense!" answered the minister. "Where would Scotland be
now but for resistance?"

"There's more than one way of resisting, though," returned Donal.
"Enduring evil was the Lord's way. I don't know about Scotland, but
I fancy there would be more Christians, and of a better stamp, in
the world, if that had been the mode of resistance always adopted by
those that called themselves such. Anyhow it was his way."

"Shelley's, you mean!"