Charles Johnston - Revenge lyrics

Spirit of evil, with which earth is rife, Revenge, revenge! thee all abjure and blame, Yet when their hour is come invoke thy name; Base men for thee in secret bare the knife; The brave partake the peril and the strife; The weak, the sword more sure of justice claim; The strong, when they have blasted power and fame, Give to their foe in scorn the curse of life, The keenest, bitterest vengeance-- for these all Are only shapes thou takest to goad the mind, Turning the heart's pure generous blood to gall; And thus, revenge, thou stalkst through all the kind Till mighty nations madden at thy call, And earth is waste and seas incarnadined.