Burke kneels in profile to the left, holding up a crucifix and rosary as a defence against the ghosts of Mirabeau (d. 4 Apr. 1791) and Price (d. 19 Apr. 1791), who emerge from clouds on the left, draped in sheets. Each holds out menacingly an open copy of Burke's book: 'Reflections on the French Revolution', and 'Reflections on the French Revolution by E Burke'. Mirabeau says:
<p><br><br>"------Do not repent these crimes,
<br>For they are heavier than all thy woes can stir;
<br>A thousand knees ten thousand years together,
<br>Naked, fasting, upon a barren mountain
<br>And still Winter, would not move the Gods
<br>To look that way thou wert."  
<br><br>Price says:
<br><br>""Neither man nor angel can discern 
<br>Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks 
<br>Invisible, except to God alone, 
<br>By his permissive will, through heav'n and earth; - "
<br>Enjoy your dear wit, and gay rhetoric, 
<br>That have so well been taught her dazling fence,
<br>Thou art not fit to hear thyself convinc'd; Yet should 
<br>I try, the uncontrouled worth of this pure cause would 
<br>Kindle my rapt spirits to such a flame of 
<br>Sacred vehemence, that dumb things would be mov'd 
<br>To sympathize, till all thy magic structures reared 
<br>So high, Were shattered into heaps o'er thy false head."
<br><br>An old woman on the extreme right, holding a chamber-pot under her petticoats, sprinkles Burke's head with the contents, using a bunch of feathers like a holy-water aspergillum. She says, "This Holy Water, my dear master, shall wash you pure from every stain in the world, ay; and in the world to come by my own soul". Burke says: "Thus fortified I don't fear the Devil nor any of his Imps! No, nor the whole Host of Opposition."  17 May 1791
</p>
<br>Hand-coloured etching
<div class="fn value">
<p>Print made by: Frederick George Byron
</p>
<dl><dd>Published by: William Holland</dd></dl></div>
1791<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1791-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0808-6054">https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0808-6054</a>