George Bernard Shaw

“ The Agricultural Hall in Islington crowded with spectators. In the arena a throne with a boxing ring before it. A balcony above on the right, occupied by persons of fashion: among others Lydia and Lord Worthington. Flourish. Enter Lucian and Cetewayo, with Chiefs in attendance. CETEWAYO. Is this the Hall of Husbandmen?
LUCIAN. It is.
CETEWAYO. Are these anæmic dogs the English people ?
LUCIAN. Mislike us not for our complexions,
The pallid liveries of the pall of smoke
Belched by the mighty chimneys of our factories,
And by the million patent kitchen ranges
Of happy English homes. ”

“ And Death and Dread, with their white-livered slaves
Oer-run the earth, and through their chattering teeth
Stammer the words " Survival of the Fittest."
Enough of this: I came not here to talk.
Thou sayst thou hast two white-faced ones who dare
Fight without guns, and spearless, to the death.
Let them be brought.
LUCiAN. They fight not to the death,
But under strictest rules: as, for example,
Half of their persons shall not be attacked;
Nor shall they suffer blows when they fall down. ”

“ Cannot perceive self-evidence, and doubts
That Brave and English mean the self-same thing!
CETEWAYO. Well, well, produce these heroes. I surmise
They will be carried by their nurses, lest
Some barking dog or bumblng bee should scare them. ”