The Devil's Dictionary: Retribution

2023 Autor: Oscar Ramacey | [email protected]. Naposledy zmenené: 2023-05-20 20:24

by Ambrose Bierce

RETALIATION

REVEILLE

RETRIBUTION

-n.

A rain of fire-and-brimstone that falls alike upon the just and such of the unjust as have not procured shelter by evicting them.

In the lines following, addressed to an Emperor in exile by Father Gassalasca Jape, the reverend poet appears to hint his sense of the improduence of turning about to face Retribution when it is talking exercise:

What, what! Dom Pedro, you desire to go

Back to Brazil to end your days in quiet?

Why, what assurance have you 'twould be so?

'Tis not so long since you were in a riot, And your dear subjects showed a will to fly at

Your throat and shake you like a rat. You know

That empires are ungrateful; are you certain

Republics are less handy to get hurt in?