Page:The robbers - a tragedy (IA robberstragedy00schiiala).pdf/202

This is a stroke of hell!—Let them now call us villains.—Now, by all the dragons of darkness, we never did any thing half so horrible!

Yes, and by all the groans of those poor wretches whom your daggers have dispatched—by those who perished on that dreadful day when fire and ruin raged at our command—no murderous plan shall be devised, no scheme of rapine be resolved or meditated, till every man among us glut his steel, and dye his garments purple in that monster's blood.—Who could e'er have thought that we were destined to serve as instruments in the Almighty's hand, and minister to his justice? Our fate's mysterious clue is now unravelling. This day the invisible arm of a superior Power gives dignity to our vocation.—Adore his Majesty, who honours you this day as agents in his hands to execute his wondrous purposes!—employs you as his angels to execute his stern decrees, and pour the vials of his wrath.——Be all uncovered! fall on your knees, and humbly kiss the dust—then rise all hallowed men! (They fall on their knees, and make a solemn prostration to the earth.)