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Dammed out? It wants but a gap, a canal,-
- like a flood of life would the waters rush
- in through the channel, and fill the desert!
- Soon would the whole of yon red-hot grave
- spread forth, a breezy and rippling sea.
- The oases would rise in the midst, like islands;
- Atlas would tower in green cliffs on the north;
- sailing-ships would, like stray birds on the wing,
- skim to the south, on the caravans' track.
- Life-giving breezes would scatter the choking
- vapours, and dew would distil from the clouds.
- People would build themselves town on town,
- and grass would grow green round the swaying palm-trees.
- The southland, behind the Sahara's wall,
- would make a new seaboard for civilisation.
- Steam would set Timbuctoo's factories spinning;
- Bornu would be colonised apace;
- the naturalist would pass safely through Habes
- in his railway-car to the Upper Nile.
- In the midst of my sea, on a fat oasis,
- I will replant the Norwegian race;
- the Dalesman's blood is next door to royal;
- Arabic crossing will do the rest.
- Skirting a bay, on a shelving strand,
- I'll build the chief city, Peeropolis.
- The world is decrepit! Now comes the turn
- of Gyntiana, my virgin land!
- [Springs up.]
- Had I but capital, soon 'twould be done.-
- A gold key to open the gate of the sea!
- A crusade against Death! The close-fisted old churl
- shall open the sack he lies brooding upon.
- Men rave about freedom in every land;-
- like the ass in the ark, I will send out a cry
- o'
