Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Libertatis Sacra Fames (Author: Oscar Wilde)
p.699
- 1] Albeit nurtured in democracy,
2] And liking best that state republican
3] Where every man is Kinglike and no man
4] Is crowned above his fellows, yet I see,
5] Spite of this modern fret for Liberty,
6] Better the rule of One, whom all obey,
7] Than to let clamorous demagogues betray
8] Our freedom with the kiss of anarchy.
- 9] Wherefore I love them not whose hands profane
10] Plant the red flag upon the piled-up street
11] For no right cause, beneath whose ignorant reign
12] Arts, Culture, Reverence, Honour, all things fade,
13] Save Treason and the dagger of her trade,
14] And Murder with his silent bloody feet.