Marie Antoinette

Read 'Marie Antoinette' by 'Robert William Service' and provide your summary and literary analysis in the comments section below.

Marie Antoinette by Robert William Service

 They told to Marie Antoinette:
 "The beggers at your gate
Have eyes too sad for tears to wet,
 And for your pity wait."
But Marie only laughed and said:
 "My heart they will not ache:
If people starve for want of bread
 Let them eat cake."

The Court re-echoed her bon mot;
 It rang around the land,
Till masses wakened from their woe
 With scyth and pick in hand.
It took a careless, callous phrase
 To rouse the folk forlorn:
A million roared the Marseillaise:
 Freedom was born.

And so to Marie Antoinette
 Let's pay a tribute due;
Humanity owes her a debt,
 (Ironical, it's true).
She sparked world revolution red,
 And as with glee they bore
Upon a pike her lovely head
 --Her curls dripped gore.

Form: Ballad Comments

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