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Show By ANTONIO MACIEIRA E julgareis qual e' mais excelente Se ser do mundo rei, se de tal gente. rei Alberto, é aquela mesma, que, no fundo-embora corn melhores palavras, e decerto, espero bem, em breve com actos-lhe prestaria e prestaré a nacionalidade portugueza. LUIZ DE CAMoEs, Luziadas, Canto 1, estancia 10 A " BARBARIE multiplicada pela sciencia " ou seja a accao alema, assim TRANSLATION by Florence Simmonds agonidefinida ha pouco e com rigor scientifico por M. Boutroux, to'rnou And you will judge which is the better : To be King of the world, or King of such a people. Luz DIE CAMofiNs, Lusiad, Canto 1, 1. to. sante o grande povo de uma pequena nacao. Essa barbarze civilisada faltou a fé dos tratados, trucidou, incendiou, matou, depois de tentar o suborno do povo laborioso que entregue ao seu progresso, sem ambicoes externaS, n50 dando razfio a odios nem odiando, jamais pretextara a feroz arremetida d0 imperia lisimo divinizado. Nem rigor de formulas, nem deveres de humanidade, nem simples piedade, nem intuitivo sentimento artistico ; ou seja : nem direito, nem ideias liberaes, nem lagrimas de inocentes, nem respeito pela beleza-nada poude detel-a ! N'essa tragedia formidavel que abriu ferida larga e funda em todas as almas piedosas, cxiste a mais admiravel licfio que um povo pode dar em fulguracoes de honra-licao que de ouvil-a a alma se arranca em convulsoes de dor, e que de pensal-a o espirito se alevanta na mais profunda e afectiva e grata das admiracoes. Grande povo na paz como na guerra, a Belgica! Nacao de herois que embargaram essa avancada fulminante que tentou esmagar a Vida da Franca -a Vida de nos todos-e impedir o esforco protector da Inglaterra, digna colaboradora na defeza das nossas vidas ! Nacao estremecida, relicario das maiores d6res sofridas sob o peso das maiores injusticas ! Sobre esse glorioso Paiz caem as sagradas bencaos dos que amam a liberdade querendo-a para todos, dos que adoram a belesa das ideias e da forma com a artistica paixao das almas simples. A Belgica é a nacao exemplar da dOr glorificada. O imperialismo alemfio nao venceu a Belgica, porque a dér dos povos n50 se vence ; a dOr dos povos fortalecc-os. Ondc quer que csteja 0 valoroso Rei dos Belgas, esta a Belgica ; onde quer que estcja essa figura de nobre Rainha que errou pelo territorio da sua Patria sempre bem perto de cada alma dos epicos lutadores que a defendiam, esta a Belgica. E se a Belgica existe na guerra moralmente mais querida, mais amada, maiS respeitada, mais forte com o seu territorio devastado, 0s seus monumentOS arrasados e o seu povo sem lar, na paz, que nao tardara, ela ficara moral e materialmente o padrfio das nacées que sabem lutar por sua honra, em defeza propria e das grandes causas da humanidade. Cidadao de uma Patria gloriosa que ama o seu territorio como a propria carne ; republicano de inteligencia e de sentimento, esta homenagem que presto comovidamente a0 bravo e alto representante do Grande Povo, 30 150 " Barbarism multiplied by science,' as ill. Boutroux has defined German action with scientific precision, has brought the pains of death upon the great people of a little nation. This " civilised barbarism." repudiating a solemn treaty, has proceeded to hill, burn, and massacre, after a vain attempt to suborn on industrious people, wholly absorbed in progress, cherishing no external ambitions, giving no pretext for hatred, and hating no one-a people who had never given the least justification for the savage onslaught of deified Imperialism. Rot/nag sufiiced to avert this-neither the duties of humanity, nor pure pity, nor artistic sentiment-Vin other reords : equity, liberal aspirations, the tears of innocence, beauty itself l From the dire tragedy that has so deeply wounded all souls capable of pity, we may learn the most admirable lesson of untarnishecl honour that any people could have given ; to listen to the lesson is to have one's heart torn by pain, to think of it is to feel one's spirit uplifted to the most intense, the most effective, and the most grateful of udmirations. Great is Belgium, both in peace and war! Heroic nation, which has arrested the thunderbolt aimed at the life of Franceiour common life-and foiled the attempt to baflie the protecting effort of England, worthy collaborator in the defence of that common li/e.' Nation groaning and travailing, the shrine of supreme suflering brought about by supreme injustice l Blessed be this glorious country by those who love liberty, desiring it for all, by those who worship the beauty of ideas and of form with the art-inspired passion of simple souls ! The Belgian nation is the prototype of Pain glorified. German Imperialism has not conquered Belgium, for triumphs cannot be achieved over a people's pain ,' a nation grows stronger by suffering. I'Vherever the brave King of the Belgians is, there is Belgium; wherever we find that noble Queen who has wandered over the territory of her kingdom, always close to the souls of its heroic defenders, there is Belgium. And if in war Belgium seems morally more beloved, more respected, and mightier, with her devastated fields, her ruined monuments, and her homeless people, in the peace that will come before long, she will remain the model for all nations who fight for their honour, for their own defence, and that of the great causes of humanity. Citizen of a glorious land, who loves his country as his own flesh and blood l Republican in heart and mind .' This homage I pay with deep emotion to the brave representative of a brave people is one with the homage which the Portuguese nation offers him in better terms-will ofier him shortly, I hope, in terms of action l By GEORGE H. PE RLEY (representing the Canadian Government in London) ALL honour to the boundless courage of the Belgians and their brave King ! They have given to the world the most splendid example of a small country fighting against enormous odds in defence of its soil and for the principles of freedom and liberty. We can never repay them for their tremendous sacrifices, but it is our duty to drive the enemy from Belgium as quickly as possible and to punish him for his ruthless slaughter and wanton destruction. t mustrll 'l |