■^^^:^>ak^ 
 
 
 m 
 
 ^'^T^ 
 
 .Jk.11^ 
 
 §".p 
 
 ' 
 
 ia' 
 
 ,, ■■"»*:., 
 
 
 <^-^:flP
 
 i. 
 
 LINCOLN ROOM 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 ^: 
 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 LIBRARY
 
 '>*r. 
 
 i-X 
 
 ft'
 
 ^7 
 
 The Prjisidicide 
 
 'A>**'^*'^j'^*i^^ c/^-*—, ^ }J ■ ^ /i^^ii-c- 
 
 AND 
 
 BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 
 
 BY 
 
 J_^UNBAR HYLTOX. M. D., 
 
 AUTHOR OF "VOICES FROM THE ROCET MOrNTAINS," ETC. 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 H W A PvD CH ALLEN, 
 
 744 BROADWAY. 
 1884.
 
 ISS4- 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The scene of this poem, which is in the form of a Mono- 
 logue, and is supposed to give the thoughts and feehngs of 
 Booth, before, at, and after the murder of the President, is 
 laid in the barn amid.st the swamps of Maryland, to which 
 5 Booth made his escape after the assassination. I have 
 striven to make available for poetical composition the most 
 :.' conspicuous events in the history of the conspiracy, down to 
 ^/) the night when Booth and his associates set out on their er- 
 ^^ rands of murder. Except in a few inconsiderable matters, 
 necessary for the creation of a poem of this length, I have 
 adhered to the same survey of the conspiracy as that taken by 
 the government. My idea of Booth's character is founded on 
 the descriptions given of him, by those who seem to have 
 been best acquainted with him, and who represent him as a 
 man high in his own conceit, proud, rash, boastful and prone 
 to be quarrelsome, with little heed for anything except the 
 gratification of his own whims and desires. 
 The title of this work, "Prsesidicide," is a word of my own 
 i coining, taken from the Latin prassidens, a president, and 
 ^ caedo, to kill, and is not to be found in any dictionary pub- 
 
 --nI 
 
 >o 
 
 — ; 
 
 lished up to this date. 
 Palmyra, New Jersey. 
 
 Vn November, 18G5. (3) 
 
 I 0229 1
 
 THE PK^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Dark, dark the night is closing in, 
 
 Fast falls the pelting rain, 
 And o'er the moors terrific roars 
 
 The driving hurricane. 
 And through the forests bleak and bare, 
 
 The tempests howl and moan, 
 As if the dead of the past were there, 
 
 Burst from earth with yell and groan. 
 A horrid, horrid, ghastly shriek 
 
 Of strange, unearthly tone. 
 Or wild infernal laugh, that thrills 
 
 Through nerve, and vein, and bone. 
 And comes a fierce tumultuous sound, 
 
 As is that mighty roar, 
 When foamy billows boil and bound, 
 
 Upon a hollow shore — ■ 
 But the ocean coast is far aloof, 
 
 A hundred miles or more. 
 Aha! a lightning bolt has thrown, 
 
 Yon oak to earth amain. 
 And like a fallen king it lies, 
 
 Its limbs athwart the plain. 
 Like Titan of primeval growth, 
 
 In battle overthrown — 
 It falls, though storm, and fiery bolt, 
 
 A thousand years had known. 
 Ay, ay, like mortal man himself, 
 
 Slain on the lightning's path 
 Or panym Idol tumbled prone 
 
 Beneath Jehovah's wrath, 
 All with lurid fire girdled, 
 
 And with a crashing sound, 
 In all its giant bulk and length, 
 
 'Tis thrown along the ground. 
 Deep and fast night's mirky mantle, 
 
 With tomb-like darkness falls, 
 While eagle unto eagle screams. 
 
 To vulture vulture calls. 
 The sheep within the far off fold
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Raise oft a mournful cry, 
 And oft I hear the nigtt hawks' scream 
 
 As round and round they fly, 
 Amidst the crashing reeling groves 
 
 I hear the croaking owlj 
 The ravens shriek, and far away 
 
 I hear the watch-dogs howl. 
 Ho! the demons of the tempest 
 
 Now ride abroad sublime — 
 In all their wildest terrors clothed, 
 
 As in some tropic clime. 
 Xow flash the forked lightning bolts, 
 
 And loud the thunders boom, 
 The world a moment's light they give, 
 
 Then tumult and dense gloom. 
 There's a moment's pause, a silence 
 
 Awful, deep and dread, 
 As though the warring elements 
 
 Were now benumbed or dead. 
 They pause like fierce contending hosts 
 
 Upon a bloody heath, 
 When night has hidden shield and helm, 
 
 And spear, and sword, and sheath. 
 And all in moody silence halt 
 
 To catch a moment's breath, 
 Ere the columns close for aye — 
 
 In the awful grasp of death. 
 Now comes a trembling o'er the world, 
 
 As though the teeming earth 
 Were labouring with volcanic throes, 
 
 O'er some stupendous birth ! 
 And lightnings flash and peal, as though 
 
 To rend earth's giant frame. 
 And strove to make the heavens wear 
 
 A zone of gleamy flame. 
 The tempests shriek, the torrents roar 
 
 In headlong fury by, 
 Oh, there is madness on the earth, 
 
 And anger in the sky ! 
 And there is madness in my soul, 
 
 And horror in my mind, 
 Sorrow, Remorse and grim Despair, 
 
 All visit me combined. 
 For gnawing Hunger, Want and Pain, 
 
 Like coiling adders cling 
 Round all my throbbing, vital parts, 
 
 And pierce, and tear, and sting. 
 Despised and lone and trodden down, 
 Dark with the clouds of sin —
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Savage and fierce and low and vile 
 
 Is all the soul within — 
 Nor can it e'er from grief and woe 
 
 A moment's respite win. 
 Ah, yes, I ever more must be 
 
 As at this cursed time — 
 A wreck cast on the shore of woe 
 
 By blasts and waves of crime ! 
 Deep, deep each sound strikes in my soul 
 
 That booms upon my ear, 
 As though this awful night some fiend 
 
 Would dash me down with fear. 
 Was it a spirit of the dead, 
 
 Or but the howling storm 
 That shakes this damp and dismal bield— 
 
 That just now touched my form ? 
 I felt fingers passing through my hair, 
 
 A hand upon my brow, 
 A breath breathe on my burning cheek, — 
 
 Aha, I feel them now ! 
 If you are indeed a spirit 
 
 In form, and face like man — 
 I will defy you to the last, 
 
 So do the worst you can. 
 Come, if you will, and do your worst 
 
 While here I lie alone. 
 While no mortal is nigh to hear 
 
 My sad and frequent groan. 
 Come, fiend or devil, what you are 
 
 Your terrors round me cast ; 
 "Bring all hell's ghastly spectres near, 
 
 And call up all my past. 
 But think not while on earth I stay. 
 
 Though racked with mad despair — 
 You have power to stay my thoughts, 
 
 Or make me quail with fear. 
 
 II. 
 
 Ho ! Ho ! what form was that I saw, 
 
 All clad in robes of white ! 
 That just now crossed this dismal floor — 
 
 When came yon flash of light ? 
 Was it indeed a human form, 
 
 Or spirit of the dead? 
 His stature was tall and stately, 
 
 And wide his shoulders spread, 
 And his eyes they shone like fire. 
 
 Yet noiseless was his tread. 
 But I have seen that form before, 
 
 And that bold open stare. 
 Yea, a hundred times and more —
 
 8 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Just as I saw them there. 
 They're the features and the form 
 
 Of the noblest man on earth, 
 More than Washington and Caesar 
 
 In glory and in worth. 
 As noble and as good a man, 
 
 As free from lust and crime, 
 As ever trod this world of woe 
 Through all the tide of time. 
 A soul that no mean thought can touch 
 
 Through joy, or sorrow dun, 
 More than the lightning's fearful bolt 
 
 Can strike the glowing sun. 
 The man who never shunned a friend, 
 
 Who felt for others wne, 
 And ever ready to forgive 
 His most inveterate foe. 
 Yea, the generous and the kind. 
 
 The bountious and the free, 
 The open heart and hand, in joy, 
 
 Or dark adversity. 
 The man of all mankind — least 
 
 Has ever injured me. 
 His like the land shall see no more, 
 
 He the wisest, noblest, best, 
 Who stood midst the wise men of the land 
 
 King-like, high o'er the rest. 
 He whose constant prayer was peace, 
 
 And for it strove like man — 
 When Treason's hideous trumpet blared, 
 
 And when the war began, 
 He who held to the rebels all 
 
 The olive branch in view. 
 Who only sought to pardon them — 
 
 Not force the vengeance due ; 
 Hail them with open hand and heart, 
 
 With friendship warm and true. 
 Bid war and desolation cease, 
 And yet that man I slew. 
 
 III. 
 
 Ah! had I died long, long ago 
 
 While in my early prime. 
 Ah ! wherefore was I ever born 
 
 To grow so deep in crime ? 
 Why did I ne'er fall in battle 
 
 When rushing with the brave, 
 Or when a ship boy, in the deep 
 
 Ne'er find an early grave ? 
 Why was I ne'er hurl'd off the mast ? 
 
 "For there I loved to go
 
 ") 
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 9 
 
 When thunders bellow'd over head, 
 
 And billows roar'd below, 
 Ay, then I'd sit and sing and laugh 
 
 Till pass'd the storm away, 
 While all the trembling crew below 
 
 Had kneel'd in fear to pray. 
 Oh ! had I lived an humble man 
 
 W^ithin some mountain e:len ; 
 Oh ! had I never roam'd this world 
 
 And mix'd with sinful men 
 I ne'er had done the horrid deed 
 
 That causes all my woe, 
 And makes me an outcast and felon, 
 
 No matter where I go. 
 No matter where on earth I tread ^ 
 
 Men will pursue my path; 
 And though I 'scape all human laws 
 
 I can't God's buining wrath. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Ho ! Ho ! what noise is that without. 
 
 That shakes this dismal bield ? 
 Lo ! 'tis the deepening storm, 's death ! 
 
 How dread that thunder peal'd. 
 Ah would to God ! that yonder clouds, 
 
 That red with lightnings glow, 
 And with their awful thunders seem 
 
 To rock the world below, 
 Would now but bellow nearer mc, 
 
 And burst upon my head, 
 And all thoughts of the past drive out, 
 
 And leave me with the dead. 
 Ah ! might one fell bolt from heaven. 
 
 Come crashing through my frame — 
 Send my spirit whirling aloft 
 
 On wings of dazzling flame. 
 Myself I now would stay with joy, 
 
 And men forever shun; 
 But then an angry God I'd meet, 
 
 With twice iold murder done. 
 Oh ! could I wander forth alone 
 
 To some strange savage land — 
 That ne'er was trod by human foot, 
 
 Or touched by human hand. 
 Yea, thither would I fly with haste, 
 
 Though racked with mad despair, 
 And shun all human kind for aye, 
 
 And all I once held dear, 
 I'd hold my still communion 
 
 Day and night with God alone, 
 And with repentance and with prayer
 
 10 THE PRiESIDICIDE. 
 
 For all my guilt atone. 
 For I had sooner trust for mercy 
 
 From the all righteous God — 
 Than unto the kindest mortal, 
 
 That e'er this world has trod. 
 Nor could I ought of mercy crave 
 
 From any mortal man, 
 For I have warr'd 'gainst human kind 
 
 Since first my life began. 
 Ah yes, against my fellow kind 
 
 My hand has always striven, 
 Till now, when e'er they breathe my name- 
 
 They quake and shudder at the same. 
 As trees by lightning riven. 
 
 Nor shall they e'er take me living 
 To judge me for my crime, 
 
 If but one bare chance be left mc 
 To end my earthly time. 
 
 They ne'er shall try me for the deed 
 By mortal code and rule, 
 
 Man deals towards man by his own laws 
 And acts just like a fool, 
 
 And all are just as vile as I, 
 As much the devil's tool. 
 
 No, fjod alone shall be my judge, 
 When at His throne on high. 
 
 The murder'd and the murderer 
 Shall meet before his eye. 
 
 Ay, there I'll see the man I slew, 
 And once more view his face. 
 
 There hear my awful doom pronounced, 
 Go to my appointed place. 
 
 V. 
 
 Oh God ! 'tis sad to sit and think 
 
 On awful things like these, 
 And know the soul must some day face 
 
 The dread realities. 
 The soul must some day give account 
 
 Of all its deeds on earth. 
 Yea, uncover every secret crime 
 
 And thoughts that gave it birth. 
 Man we may cheat, but never God, 
 
 What He has will'd shall stand 
 Through all eternity, upheld 
 
 By His eternal hand ; 
 And though I 'scape all human laws, 
 
 And prosper here awhile, 
 What mercy can I crave from God, 
 
 Would He pardon one so vile ? 
 Ah, it seems hard the soul should mourn.
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 11 
 
 Through everlasting time — 
 For deeds done in its earthly frame, 
 
 The body's acts of crime. 
 Say, has the immortal spirit — 
 
 That thing, we call man's soul, — 
 O'er deeds and actions of his flesh, 
 
 Such vast divine control ? 
 If so, why do we always sin 
 
 From the hour of birth — 
 'Till we die and the spirit gives 
 
 The body to the earth ? 
 I cannot tell, but this 1 think, 
 
 That if the soul of man — 
 When first unto this world it came, 
 
 And first its course began — 
 Own'd such light and power divine. 
 
 As priests and preachers say, 
 To keep its earthly form from sin, 
 
 And o'er it hold its sway 
 Myself had never sinn'd at all. 
 
 As through this life I trod. 
 And the best of men had held 
 
 A stricter walk with God. 
 I've done no deed in all my life, 
 
 That had a taint of sin — 
 But I felt deep remorse, and hoped 
 
 Forgiveness soon to win. 
 I never doubted from the first, 
 
 There was a God on high, 
 And if I be by him condcmn'd. 
 
 Woe takes me, when I die, 
 Oft I've felt a something in me, , 
 
 It must have been my soul, 
 Or some unseen divine agent 
 
 That o'er me held control. 
 I've felt it from the paths of sin, 
 
 Warn me many a time; 
 But flesh had greater sway, and the 
 
 Devil urged me on to crime. 
 So when I die, my spirit goes, 
 
 My God alone knows where, 
 Ah ! must it mourn for all the sin. 
 
 Its mortal frame did here ? 
 Ah ! must it linger through all time 
 
 In everlasting woe, 
 Though it warr'd with its wayward flesh. 
 
 While here on earth below? 
 Will it not rise on wings of light ? 
 
 Soar back to whence it sprung, 
 To whence began its light and life; 
 
 No more with anguish wrung !
 
 12 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Like tlie distant wandering comet 
 
 When its far course is run, 
 That homewards turns with light and joy 
 
 And mingles with the sun ! 
 Yea, when it leaves its earthly home, 
 
 Rejoicing to be free 
 Aye from sin, is it doom'd alone 
 
 To endless misery ? 
 When it departs and leaves its ciay, 
 
 We mortals see it not, 
 We only know, that life has gone. 
 
 And then proud man is what ? 
 A load of useless clay, that soon 
 
 Grows hurtful to the view — 
 And smell of all his fellow men — 
 
 Ay , all he loved and knew. 
 And soon in earth he's hid from sight, 
 
 Turns to the dust we spurn, 
 For out of dust alone we sprung. 
 
 And to dust we shall return. 
 And this is nature's mandate o'er us, 
 
 That none shall shun below, 
 Man from the dust of earth was form'd— = 
 
 And back to dust shall go. 
 And though we cover o'er our dead 
 
 With massive marble tombs, 
 Heap rock on rock above the grave. 
 
 Till high to heaven it looms. 
 Yet soon the hand of time will wear 
 
 The monument away. 
 E'en as the mountains of the world 
 
 Waste, crumble, and decay. 
 With time each stately monument 
 
 Shall be to ruin hurl'd, 
 The grave wear down and scatter us 
 
 Unto the moving world. 
 The dead we cast into the sea, 
 
 May sink to ocean's floor, 
 But soon the waters carry them 
 
 Unto some distant shore. 
 There to moulder into dust, 
 
 As all frail human things, 
 Be pcatter'd o'er creation wide 
 
 Upon the tempest's wings. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Such is the end of mortals all — 
 
 The coward and the brave; 
 Ay , all alike must sink to dust. 
 
 The peasant, king and slave. 
 It is man's certain destiny.
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 13 
 
 Yet, when we look at him — 
 He seems so like a god in move, 
 
 And thought and form and limb, — 
 It seems sti-ange, one so high and grand 
 
 Above all things on earth, 
 Should carry out the blackest crimes, 
 
 That e'er all hell gave birth. — 
 Look at man, from that mind of his, 
 
 What noble thoughts can shoot. 
 Yet he'll glor}' in deeds, that would 
 
 Disgrace the meanest brute. 
 Look at him, who could think but God 
 
 Made so wonderful a thing; 
 See the muscles, veins, nerves and bones, 
 
 That together move and spring. 
 Most complex, abstruse architecture 
 
 Is this form of man — 
 Of all the things, that God has placed 
 
 On earth's diurnal span. 
 Look at his orb of sight and see 
 
 How wonderful 'tis form'd, 
 How frail the veins by which it with 
 
 Life's crimson tide is warm'd j 
 Its arteries display the skill 
 
 Of Him, who made them so, 
 And bade the crimson floods send forth 
 
 New vigor as they flow. 
 Here, what a world of action moves 
 
 Within so small a span, 
 None, but the everlasting God 
 
 So grand a thing could plan. 
 And well his nervous system shows 
 
 How wonderful he's framed, 
 It through all time, the searching world's 
 
 Astonishment has claimed ; 
 When harm'd it carries swift as light 
 
 The tidings to the brain — 
 From thence, through all his fearful form 
 
 The news is sent amain. 
 As lightning the intelligence 
 
 Is borne to every part, 
 With all the system swift it blends 
 
 And lifts the throbbing heart, 
 That heart whose valves and ventricles 
 
 So small and fragile seem, 
 Through which forever night and day 
 
 Flows life's warm crimson stream. 
 Look at each ganglia and see 
 
 How skilfully and grand — 
 The veins and arteries are placed 
 
 By the Eternal hand
 
 14 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 And look on those frail Lacteals 
 
 That gather in the chyle, 
 From all that passes in their range, 
 
 A strange unseemly pile, 
 Life's nourishment they there distill 
 
 Forever and for aye, 
 Which through glands to the thoracic duct 
 
 Forever wends its way. 
 Help'd by small valves unto a vain 
 Soon sweeps the priceless flood — 
 Which swift within the heart is pour'd 
 
 And forms the living blood. 
 From thence unto the yielding lungs 
 
 The dark red torrent flows. 
 Soon cleansed and fiU'd with oxygen — 
 
 Back to the heart it goes. 
 Then it sweeps through arteries 
 
 Life-sending through his form. 
 Giving vigor to every part — 
 
 Keeping it strong and warm. 
 Through arteries and capillaries 
 
 The heart its torrent sends. 
 Throughout his form, then back through veins 
 
 The living torrent wends. 
 And as the blood is flowing on 
 
 From and backward to the heart — 
 Both life and death are going on. 
 
 At every move and start : 
 For cells forever grow and die 
 As the blood rushes through 
 The arteries and veins, as one dies 
 
 Another forms anew, 
 These, with all atoms of the blood 
 Are downward pour'd amain — 
 To the distant renal-realm 
 
 Through many a winding drain ; 
 And there 'tis purified, the good 
 
 Unto the heart returns, 
 While all the foul unhealthy Dart 
 
 A spacious vault inurns. 
 So through some fair fertile realm 
 
 The waters sweep amain, 
 Forever flowing on and on 
 
 Eternal through each drain 
 Their virtues to the lands they give, 
 
 The forests bloom and grow, 
 Then others come while they rush on 
 To some abyss below. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Hell and devils ! what thoughts are these
 
 THE PRiESIDICIDE. 15 
 
 For one so steep* d in crime ? 
 One who must bear the curse of man 
 
 Until the end of time. 
 Hell and fiends, what strange thoughts to fill 
 
 The mind of one so low, 
 What care I for spirit or for man 
 
 In this my hour of woe ? 
 What care 1 if his arteries, 
 
 Capillaries and veins, 
 Be countless as the panting streams 
 
 Of Basra's spacious plains ? 
 What care I how the crimson tide 
 
 Throughout their winding flows ? 
 Or for its maker's fearful skill 
 
 Each thew and sinew shows? 
 For I have slain the noblest man 
 
 That e'er the sun beam'd on. 
 He, who in worth and honor's path 
 
 A guiding meteor shone. 
 Oh could I bring him back to life ! 
 
 Make him breathe and speak again — 
 I'd die ten thousand deaths and 
 
 Suffer years of woe and pain. 
 Devil, why didst thou urge me on 
 
 To deal the mortal blow? 
 By God and man I now am cursed, 
 
 Thou laughs at all my woe. 
 Could the cry of lamentation 
 
 Arouse him from his sleep. 
 Would it set his pulse abounding 
 
 'Twere mine to wail and weep. 
 Oh ! could 1 see him start to life 
 
 And walk once more on earth, 
 Ay, move as he was ever wont 
 
 In light and joy and mirth. 
 Oh God ! it is an awful thing 
 
 To shed life's sacred stream, 
 To take the life God has given — 
 
 What horror more extreme ? 
 Yet I have done the demon act, 
 
 And did it foul and fell, 
 Done it as reckless and as stern 
 
 As fiercest fiend in hell. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Men say the smallest planets of 
 
 Creation's endless round. 
 Are those that nearest to the sun 
 
 Are ever to be found ; 
 And that through all revolving time 
 
 They cling round him the while,
 
 IG THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Rejoicing in his liglit and warmth 
 
 And glowing in his smile. 
 So it is with little children, 
 
 They nearer are to God, 
 Than those who live to sterner years 
 
 On earth's sepulchral clod. 
 And had I died when but a child, 
 
 A little babe just born, 
 I ne'er had drained sin's bitter cup. 
 
 Nor worn a crown of thorn . 
 I'd known no mental agony. 
 
 Nor felt sin's scourging rod. 
 But as I came I had returned — 
 
 An angel to my God. 
 And those, methiuks, that God doth call 
 
 Unto an early rest, 
 Are those poor children of this world 
 
 That are most truly blest. 
 For some divine all wise design, 
 
 He sends them here below 
 But lets their mission cease on earth 
 
 Ere they have felt its woe. 
 As comets to the sun return, 
 
 So back again to Him 
 Their spirits go, and form His choir 
 
 Of purest Seraphim. 
 Holy, holy, grand, harmonious. 
 
 Blissful, strong, sublime. 
 Around His throne, their songs of praise 
 
 Forever, ever chime. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Blow on ye winds forever blow 
 
 O'er forest, moor and main, 
 Ay, and howl and moan like demons 
 
 In everlasting pain. 
 Oh had I wings to mount the storm ! 
 
 And fly to some far isle. 
 That is unknown to man, unknown 
 
 To sun or morning'ssmile ! 
 There dwell unknown to God and man 
 
 In everlasting gloom ; 
 Unsought, forgot by both, and shun 
 
 The murderer's awful doom ; 
 Oh ! there I'd wander forth alone 
 
 And care not where I go. 
 For the fierce storms that there would moan 
 
 Might sometimes drown my woe. 
 And on that gloomy isle afar 
 
 Where hurleys ever roar — 
 Soon 'midst the storm should lie my form
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 In death to rise no more. 
 
 Without a thought, without a wish, 
 Without the power to sigh, 
 
 ITnburied on those savage moors 
 This perished heart should lie. 
 
 And with my form my soul should waste- 
 Yea perish utterly, 
 
 So that neither God nor man should 
 E'er find a trace of me. 
 
 X. 
 
 Ah ! wherefore should I longer live 
 
 Oppress'd with woe and grief? 
 For no power on earth could give 
 
 My throbbing pains relief. 
 At every weary step I take, 
 
 At every move and turn, 
 My broken limb is racking me, 
 
 My temples throb and burn. 
 Oh God ! I do not fear to die, 
 
 But oh ! it makes me rave. 
 To think T — the once proud and bold — 
 
 Must fill a felon's grave. 
 It chills the blood in every vein 
 
 To think I — once renown'd — 
 Should die a death of infamy, 
 
 While thousands gaze around. 
 Ah yes ! methinks I see it now — 
 
 The gallows dark and high, 
 Me standing 'neath the hideous drop 
 
 A felon doom'd to die. 
 I feel the cord round my neck 
 
 In atonement for my guilt, 
 And hear voices shout, die felon 
 
 For blood that thou has spilt. 
 Ay, myself I now can fancy 
 
 Within their grasp and power, 
 Starved and chain'd and prisoned down, 
 
 Within some dusky tower : 
 And asking God to give me strength 
 
 To burst my galling chain 
 So I might 'gainst the gloomy walls 
 
 Dash out my burning brain. 
 Methinks I hear the laugh and shout — 
 
 And hear the tramp of men. 
 As hangmen come to bring me forth 
 
 Out from the loathsome den. 
 Ha ! they should see no fear in me 
 
 I'd walk with stalwart tread 
 Upon the scaffold, and smiling 
 
 Hold high my manly head.
 
 18 
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 And this all men should say of me 
 When ceased my vital breath, 
 
 "Though dark his soul with sin and crime 
 'Twas face to face with death." 
 
 XI. 
 
 The time that I was born, why did 
 
 Not death that instant come — 
 With his dread all whelming power 
 
 And smite me still and dumb r* 
 Why did the earth not 'neath me rend 
 
 And yawning take me in! 
 Since I was born, alone for woe, 
 
 And heaven I ne'er sh;ill win ? 
 Hark ! did I dream ? or did I hear 
 
 A voice speak to me then ? 
 Just as that crash of thunder peal'd 
 
 Throughout yon startled glen ? 
 Methinks it said thou fool be still. 
 
 Why mutter o'er thy past? 
 Cease madman, cease to howl and rave, 
 
 Thy doom is coming fast. 
 It was no dream, for now I see 
 
 A form distinct and clear, 
 But 'tis only a hell born fiend 
 
 That comes to fright me here. 
 And since it is a fiend that now 
 
 Commands me to be still, 
 I will not cease, and all me thoughts 
 
 Shall wander as they will. 
 I never fear'd a mortal foe. 
 
 So shall not couch to him. 
 Though he should rack me soul and form. 
 
 Or tear me limb by limb. 
 Hence, on your life you mocking fiend 
 
 And jeer no more at me, 
 Hence, fly to your accursed abode. 
 
 Where only devils be. 
 No shadowy fiend from hell like you — 
 
 Hath strength or power to harm 
 A mortal man, not half so much 
 
 As a wasted cripple's arm. 
 No, you are but vague empty air — 
 
 A weak and feeble form, 
 Driven from place to place o'er earth 
 
 By every blast and storm. 
 'Tis on such dreadful times as these 
 
 At midnight's murky hour — 
 The devil sends ye forth from hell; 
 
 Think you I quail and cower 
 Beneath your vile hideous stare ?
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE, 19 
 
 By heaven no, hence, fly, 
 I am mortal man, and all hell 
 
 And devils I defy. 
 Though you drive men onward to sin 
 
 At some unguarded time, 
 You mock them in their hour of woe 
 
 And jeer them for the crime. 
 But you this head and arm I'll lend 
 
 To work your deeds no more. 
 Stop, Ho ! back, devils why in droves 
 
 Do you now round me pour ? 
 Ho ! away, leave me here alone. 
 
 Hark, how they laugh and roar. 
 See how they dance around me now 
 
 And hold up human gore. 
 Oh God ! is it so ? or do I dream ? 
 
 Or am I going wild ? 
 Upright stands my hair and it seems 
 
 I tremble like a child. 
 'Sdeath ! huge icy diops form fast 
 
 Upon my burning brow, 
 A chill runs all my marrow through, 
 
 All hell seems round me now. 
 Is it only imagination 
 
 That limns yon hnrrid things? 
 Are they but visions of the night 
 
 That come on ftincy's wings 
 To outcast sinful men like me ? 
 
 When they are rack'd with woe, 
 Ay, torn in body and in mind. 
 
 While fevers fiercest glow ! 
 It must be that, it must be that, 
 
 At least I'll have it so. 
 And though I hate to view my past 
 
 My thoughts shall wander free, 
 God has given to mortal man 
 
 A power call'd memory — 
 And with her I will fearless back 
 
 And all my life review. 
 Nor care if spectres come around 
 
 How many or how few. 
 Adown the vista of the past — 
 
 One sad lingering look I'll cast — 
 Ere I sink into the grave, 
 
 For sure this night will be the last 
 That I on earth shall rave. 
 
 So blow ye tempests, howl and blow, 
 This night know no control. 
 
 And peal ye awful thunders peal, 
 And boom from pole to pole. 
 
 Be my companions on this night —
 
 20 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 No human wretch is near, 
 
 And while 1 mutter o'er my past 
 Make music to my ear. 
 
 XII. 
 
 I remember, I remember. 
 
 Though it is long ago. 
 And yet it seems but yesterday 
 
 Time comes and passes so, 
 When early on one dewy morn 
 
 With rifle and with hound, 
 To hunt and spend the day in sport — 
 
 Through mountain paths I wound. 
 For still I've ever loved through life 
 
 To hunt o'er fell and moor, 
 To track unto his lair the wolf, 
 
 Or meet the foamy boar. 
 The dangers of the chase I loved 
 
 Far more than aught on earth, 
 It was my nature's drink and food 
 
 Its glory and its mirth. 
 What joy to climb the craggy fells, 
 
 Breathe in the wholesome air, 
 Look around, view those works of God 
 
 So wondrous, grand and fuir. 
 There was the place indeed for man 
 
 To lift his thoughts to God, 
 See the works of the Almighty Hand 
 
 No matter where he trod. 
 And oft upon some lofty fell 
 
 Or in some silent glen, 
 In those days I worshipped God while 
 
 Apart from other men. 
 Yea, like the first of human kind 
 
 Upon the grassy sod, 
 Alone, with meek and humble mind 
 
 I sent my thoughts to God. 
 Perhaps propitious to my prayers 
 
 He ne'er inclined His ear 
 But that I'll in the future know 
 
 When I at His throne appear. 
 I yet have hope of mercy there, 
 
 I'll trust Him for His grace, 
 'Stead of all wrath and gloom, I yet 
 
 May meet His smiling face. 
 For surely He who made this world, 
 
 And those that shine through space- 
 Will pardon a repentant soul 
 
 Not cast it from its race. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Well, it was on that sunny morn
 
 THE PRiESIDICIDE, 
 
 Long, long ago, as through 
 Those well-known winding mountain paths 
 
 My eager footsteps drew. 
 An aged hoary man I met 
 
 Beneath a cypress tree, 
 Care-worn, and sad his features look'd, 
 
 Althouiih he smiled on me. 
 But age had withered not his arm, 
 
 Strong was his aged form, 
 Though many years he show'd he'd braved 
 
 Life's battle, toil and storm. 
 Down o'er his ample swelling breast 
 
 His locks were flowing free, 
 And while I gazed on him I thought 
 
 Of "Old Mortality." 
 Upon his towering, stately head 
 
 Nor hat, nor scarf he wore, 
 And in his hand, all ghastly white 
 
 A human skull he bore. 
 Shortly 1 paused and gazed on him, — 
 
 At length "old man" I said — 
 "Wherefore dost thou sit alone, whither 
 
 Have thy companions fled? 
 Since they've all gone and left thee here. 
 
 Arise and follow me. 
 We'll chase the deer o'er hill and moor. 
 
 And happy we shall be. 
 For I always- loved from a child 
 
 To go with the gray and old. 
 And oft to wend with them I've left 
 
 The sprightly, young and bold. 
 Left them in the hour of mirth 
 
 The song and dance and play, 
 So come old man and let us hunt, 
 
 Together spend the day." 
 The while I spake adown his cheek 
 
 A tear in silence stole, 
 He turn'd his head to hide the drop. 
 
 On earth I saw it roll. 
 Thoush since that hour years have pass'd 
 
 I often think of him. 
 For ne'er before nor since I've seen 
 
 Such giant thews and limb. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 "Alas my son" the old man said, 
 
 "I have no friends on earth, 
 Into the grave all those have gone 
 
 Who shared my bliss and mirth. 
 They've gone and left me here behind 
 
 A weary sad old man. 
 
 21
 
 22 THE PRiESIDICIDE, 
 
 Pm left without a friend or foe 
 
 The last of all my clan, 
 There's not one living in the world 
 
 I knew when life began. 
 Hast thou ne'er noticed one lone leaf 
 
 Clinging to its parent stem ? 
 Swino'ins with the branches to and fro 
 
 When storms are writhing them, 
 Though all the rest are scattered wide 
 
 Across the moor and lea ? 
 Through all winter's storm and shower 
 However rude it be — 
 Still clinging to its parent limb 
 
 That abandoned leaf we see ; 
 And that lone leaf where ever seen 
 
 An emblem stands of me ; 
 'Tissad indeed to see all die 
 
 Thoulovest, fondest best, 
 To see them drop off one by one 
 
 To everlasting rest. 
 And leave thee here, Tithonus-like, 
 
 Upon life's rugged road, 
 Tottering to a long made grave 
 
 And eager for that abode. 
 Longing and glad to follow them 
 
 And cast life's weary load. 
 Orpheus like I roam alone. 
 
 Oft bitter tears will flow, 
 And there's not one in all the world 
 
 To ask my cause of woe. 
 See'st thou this frail and hollow skull, 
 
 That looks so white and beautiful ? 
 And yet so calm and cold ? 
 
 Oh I it is dearer far to me 
 Than all earth's shining gold. 
 
 Once in this hollow cavern dwelt 
 A grand immortal soul, 
 
 That shall in glory live and glow 
 "When earth is but a scroll. 
 
 Whose each inipassion'd thought and wish 
 Had honor for its goal. 
 
 A soul full of poetic fire — 
 And energy divine, 
 
 And of bright fancy and romance 
 A rich, exhaustless mine. 
 
 And here was fair charity 
 And pure religion's shrine. 
 
 These are the lips whose melody 
 Is with me, round me yet, 
 
 These are the lips whose sunny smile 
 My heart shall ne'er forget.
 
 THE PR^ESIDICIDE. 23 
 
 These are the lips whose kindest breath 
 Was always breathed for me, 
 
 As hand in hand we journeyed on 
 Adown life's whirling sea. 
 
 These are the lips whose voice was beard 
 Like thunder o'er the world, 
 
 When freedom raised a cry of pain ; 
 His hand her flag unfurl'd — 
 
 And stemm'd the tyrants of the earth ; 
 Before his gory path 
 
 They trembling flew, as sparrows fly 
 The eagle's strength and wrath. 
 
 Nor ever yet in peace or shine 
 Or rolling battle tide — 
 
 Alone he stood, this stalwart form 
 Was ever at his side. 
 
 For we were brothers, and together 
 Into this world we came, 
 
 And both alike together grew 
 In spirit and in frame. 
 
 When years flew on, and time forced down 
 His body to the tomb, 
 
 He seem'd all like a giant still 
 In mind and strength and bloom. 
 
 When time and storm had wash'd away 
 The marble and the stones — 
 
 And all the mould that wrapt his clay, 
 I took his whiten'd bones 
 
 From out their lonely resting place, 
 And placed them in an urn ; 
 
 And while I roam upon the world 
 To earth they ne'er return. 
 
 And they shall go o'er earth with me 
 Be loved and honor'd still. 
 
 For while I have them in my arms 
 He seems those arms to fill. 
 
 Child, melancholy looks thy brow, 
 Does care thy spirit haunt? 
 
 Does human sorrow blight and woe 
 Strive thy young soul to daunt ? 
 
 Has fortune gone and round thee cast 
 The murky fold of want ? 
 
 If so, grieve not, let not vain care 
 Youth's noble spirit tame. 
 
 Mourn not thy fate, 'tis mortal's lot, 
 And mine has been the same. 
 
 My child did ever woman's charms 
 Thy youthful soul beguile ? 
 
 Say, did she ever conquer thee 
 With all her sex's wile ? 
 
 Didst thou e'er feel o'er come and lost
 
 24 
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Beneath her subtle smile ? 
 
 And did she make thee think her heart 
 Was wholely thine the .while ? 
 
 Didst love the very air she breathed 
 And ground on which she trod ? 
 
 Yea, didst thou 1 ve and worshin her 
 As thou shouldst only God ? 
 
 When she had won thy trusting heart 
 Did she ungrateful prove ? 
 
 And cast thee cruelly aside 
 With blighted hope and love ? 
 
 Ay, leave thee for another's love 
 Not half so warm as thine ? 
 
 After lifting all thy hopes so high — 
 Leave thee alone to pine? 
 
 If that's been thy lot, grieve thou not, 
 Thy fate resembles mine. 
 
 Cast her forever from thy thoughts, 
 Why shouldst thou mourn for her '/ 
 
 Turn to her, who will leave thee not, — 
 Be thou Wisdom's worshipper. 
 
 She, Goddess with the eye of light, 
 More bright than sun or star, 
 
 And brow serener than the moon 
 Throned in heaven afar. 
 
 And more grand and fair than summer 
 With all its sweetest smiles. 
 
 When with heavenly charms it bursts 
 O'er Oriental isles. 
 
 Fairer than richest summer morns 
 Draped in all their light and bloom, 
 
 Where shines that brow are light and bliss- 
 Where it is not, all is gloom. 
 
 Her face is fairer than Aurora 
 Issuing from her caves, 
 
 And her form is fairer than Venus 
 Emerging from the waves ; 
 
 Fairer than the bow of heaven 
 When storms are darkling round. 
 
 Radiant as the priceless gem 
 'Midst Ganges'waters found. 
 
 With halo of eternal flame — 
 Fill'd with light and purity — 
 
 She shines upon her blazing throne 
 With her sister Memory. 
 
 Her words are sweeter than the streams 
 That flow fr im heaven's springs. 
 
 Purer than the golden drops of dew 
 That fall from seraph's wings — 
 
 When on radiant sabbath morns 
 Around the throne on high—
 
 THE PR^SIDIClf)E. - 25 
 
 Their plumage quivers with delight 
 Before God's piercing eye. 
 
 Her words are everlasting gems 
 That glorify man's soul, 
 
 They're as the diamond grains of sand 
 That from God's chariot roll. 
 
 They are a fount of excellence 
 For ever flowing on, 
 
 Crowning hoary heads with lustre, 
 Making grand each one. 
 
 They win the youth who seeks for them 
 Bright glory and renown, 
 
 And place upon his youthful brows 
 Their everlasting crown. 
 
 They're afount of holy essence, 
 True source of joy and health. 
 
 The rampart of man's sturdy strength, 
 His glory and his wealth. 
 
 They're sparks of eternity, flashing 
 From the windows of the skies, 
 
 Full of sanctity as the fumes 
 That from hallow'd incense rise. 
 
 Yea, breaths of immortality 
 Crowning, blessing man's lips, 
 
 And giving them a majesty 
 Death, woe, nor time eclipse. 
 
 They're chains of living gems, which 
 Truth and Memory hold, 
 
 Bright as the rays 'neath seraph's wings 
 'Midst heaven's suns unroll'd. 
 
 More precious are her words than all 
 The rubies of the worla, 
 
 Than all the sparkling gems that down 
 By Goual's floods are hurl'd. 
 
 More worth than all the opals that 
 In Ophir's mountains glow, 
 
 More worth than all the shining pearls 
 That all the seas can show. 
 
 Strive thou for her, both day and night, 
 And do no other seek, 
 
 She will give lustre to thine eye, 
 And health unto thy cheek. 
 
 Strength she will give unto thy form. 
 And nerve and brace thine arm, 
 
 When thou 'rt tossed 'midst passion's storm. 
 She'll keep thee from all harm. 
 
 XV. 
 
 ''Go walk with god-like Plato through 
 
 Fair Acedemus' grove ; 
 "With Aristotle, with Xenophon,
 
 26 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 And •with Seneca rove. 
 Go thou and sit with Socrates 
 
 Within his prison cell, 
 And hear the wisest of mankind 
 
 His truths eternal, tell. 
 Ay, talk with Athens' noblest son, 
 
 And tread the path he trod, 
 Who lived in form and soul a man 
 
 The image of his God. 
 And on the page of Cicero 
 
 Both truth and wisdom learn. 
 And Homer read until thy soul 
 
 With martial deeds shall burn. 
 Go, walk through every path of life 
 
 The same as Shakespeare trod, 
 And with eternal Milton soar 
 
 Unto the throne of God. 
 Study the lives of men like these ; 
 
 The mighty works they wrought, 
 Learn and study them day and night, 
 
 Drink in each noble thought — 
 Until thy very inmost soul 
 
 With equal ones is fraught. 
 For they have been, and still shall be 
 
 The glory of all time, 
 Be honor' d and revered for aye 
 
 In every age and clime. 
 Their frame shall blaze as noon-day suns 
 
 In everlasting prime, 
 Like hoary Alps they'll ever stand 
 
 Firm, solemn and sublime 
 Around no bleeding captive slaves 
 
 The clanking chains they bind, 
 But everlasting links they tie 
 
 Around the human mind. 
 They raise the dark and grovelling soul 
 
 To grand and n ble things, 
 Waft it to virtue's realm, refined 
 
 As though on angel's wings. 
 Learn, and be no whiten'd sepulchre 
 
 All rottenness within. 
 Lest God should cast thy soul away 
 
 For infamy and sin 
 Shun Atheist, Idolater, 
 
 And only worship God, 
 Fear only Him, and humble bow 
 
 Beneath His chastening rod. 
 Know he who follows God's commands. 
 
 To Him his spirit weds, 
 Is loved and honor'd through all time, 
 
 And wisdom's pathway treads.
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 27 
 
 And he who is a foe to God 
 
 Is to the world a ban, 
 He ne'er can act a manly part, 
 
 Or be true friend to man. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 'Tis strange indeed such thoughts as these 
 
 Should come to haunt me now. 
 Should fill the mind of one who did 
 
 The darkest deed I trow — 
 That ever yet was plann'd or done 
 
 By any mortal man, 
 Since Sol his beams o'er darkness roll'd 
 
 And earth and sea began. 
 Yes, I who like a coward crept — 
 
 A coward vile and mean — 
 Behind an unarm'd, fenceless man 
 
 Unheard, unknown, unseen — 
 And slew him there, oh murder foul ! 
 
 The fellest, basest kind, 
 Dark as if I'd slain a cripple 
 
 Who was deaf, dumb, and blind. 
 Oh cruel and hard hearted beast ! 
 
 dark in mind and soul! 
 There is no fiercer fiend than I 
 
 Within all hell's control. 
 O memory ! oh memory ! 
 
 Why this dabbling with the past ? 
 Oh God ! my brain goes spinning round 
 
 As a windmill in the blast. 
 Oh lost ! forever lost to all 
 
 T once held fond and dear. 
 There's not a friend 'mongst all I had 
 
 Now dares to venture near. 
 Friend did I say ? not one have I, 
 
 Not e'en the vile and low — 
 Who help'd me plan and scheme the way 
 
 To deal the mortal blow — 
 That slew the noblest in the land, 
 
 And turn'd its joy to woe. 
 Ay, they would fly and shun me — 
 
 No matter where I go. 
 For there's an instinct felons have 
 
 However steep'd in crime — 
 Though they together murder plan 
 
 And fix the awful time, 
 Yet he whose heart is bard enough — 
 
 And he whose nerve is strong — 
 And takes on him the hellish task — 
 
 The deed of blood and wrong — 
 Though they applaud him long and loud-—
 
 28 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 And hail him dauntless man — 
 And swear a bolder never faced 
 
 The horrid'battle van, 
 Yet when the hellish deed is done. — 
 
 When he has shed the gore — 
 That instinct makes them fly from him, 
 
 And shun him ever more. 
 With horror they recoil from him, 
 
 And tremble at his name, 
 As men start from the anaconda's 
 
 Jaws of fiery flame, 
 And none need e'er be fools so blind 
 
 To trust the faith of men — 
 Who are so foul to murder plan, 
 
 No matter where or when. 
 No quaking moss is less secure, 
 
 More treacherous, untrue, 
 No huntsman more fell danger runs, 
 
 Who treads the ice 'neath thawing suns, 
 And unawares goes through. 
 
 No matter what their rank or power — 
 How high they stand at that dread hour — 
 
 Or what their wealth or fame, 
 When once the hellish deed is done 
 
 They'll take no share of blame. 
 Like shadows will they glide away, 
 
 Nor lend a helping hand 
 To free him from the law, alone 
 
 He must for all the crime atone, 
 And all the charge must stand. 
 
 And if by chance the law should find 
 The others in the plot — 
 
 They'll all combine and falsely swear, 
 Seem to prove innocence so clear — 
 
 They mostly sufi"er not. 
 On he who dared to strike the blow 
 
 At their appointed time, 
 They throw the blame and brand of all, 
 
 He bears the heinous crime. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 I'd sooner trust the leaky bark 
 
 To bear me safe to land — 
 At midnight on tbe ocean dark — 
 
 When storms are blowing loud and stark. 
 Waves sweep towards rocky strand. 
 
 Ay, sooner trust the tossing seas 
 In a wreck 'midst the fellest breeze, 
 
 That ever yet did pour, 
 Than trust to any men like these, 
 
 No matter how they swore
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 29 
 
 To guard and sliield me from all harm — 
 
 When perils round me rolTd ; 
 Them my arm or ear I'd lend no more 
 
 For all earth's shining gold. 
 They leave their champion and tool 
 
 To suffer mourn and rue, 
 And keep, and reap all benefits — 
 
 If any shall accrue. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 I've heard strange tales in early years — 
 
 But never held them true, 
 Aye, thought them idle foolish talk 
 
 Amongst some aged few, 
 'Bout spirits — who in forms of men 
 
 Wander through this earth — 
 Who often come to visit men 
 
 In times of joy and mirth; 
 And talk with them as man with man 
 
 And seem as man to them, 
 Who strive to warn them 'gainst the paths 
 
 The godly should contemn, 
 Ay, warn them in a quiet way 
 
 Against the paths of sin, 
 And bid them strive above all things 
 
 The love of God to win. 
 And now methinks that strange old man 
 
 I met beneath the tree, 
 Was of that mysterious kind 
 
 So strange he looked on me. 
 I thought not then, but have so since 
 
 He was no mortal man, 
 For none but him I've ever seen 
 
 Since first my life began — 
 Who looked so noble and so grand, 
 
 So lofty abd serene. 
 So king-like above all other men 
 
 In action and in mien. 
 And all the while he spake his eyes 
 
 Were resting full on me, 
 Blue as the azure skies were they 
 
 And full of brilliancy. 
 Plainly as on that sunny morn 
 
 Methinks I see him now, 
 As thus he spake to me, his hand 
 
 Upon the skulPs smooth brow. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 "Thou heir of immortality, 
 
 And to a home in heaven, 
 Why wouldst thou waste in sloth and ease, 
 
 Perchance in foul debaucheries —
 
 30 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Powers thy God has given ! 
 
 Or loan'd to thee His child on earth ! 
 "Wherefore waste thy precious time 
 
 In folly's bower I for folly 
 Ever leadeth unto crime. 
 
 Does thy spirit soar no higher 
 Than grovelling joys of earth? 
 
 Pleasures that waste and die away 
 The moment of their birth ! 
 
 And are not worth a thought from man — 
 Weak, sinful though he be, 
 
 Child, young and foolish as thou art — 
 I've better thoughts of thee. 
 
 Be not like him of old who hid 
 His talent in the earthy 
 
 Improve those, God has given thee, 
 And give to others birth. 
 
 XX. 
 
 "Thou heir of immortality, 
 
 And of a blissful world. 
 From whence all death and woe are far 
 
 Away forever hurl'd. 
 Where saints and seraphs soar through light 
 
 On dazzling wing unfurl'd, 
 Where ever round the throne of God 
 
 In sunny glory rolls — 
 A ceaseless, countless, sainted throng 
 
 Of everlasting souls, 
 Can man with all his boasted might 
 
 One grain of matter make? 
 Can he enlarge the earth one grain ? 
 
 Or its foundations shake ? 
 The leaf that trembles on the tree — 
 
 And laughs unto the storm — 
 Could all the energies of man 
 
 A leaflet like it form ? 
 These bones I hold that once were in 
 
 A mighty human arm — 
 That snapped the tyrant's chain as heroes 
 
 Burst a wizard's charm, 
 Are as far beyond the power 
 
 Of man to make or form, 
 As for him to lift the huge round world 
 
 Or stop the roaring storm — 
 The earth, the leaf, the bones, the storm, 
 
 The grass upon the sod, 
 Are all the grand high handy work 
 
 Of the eternal God 
 Who time created, say can man 
 
 Take from the rolling year — 
 Or add to it a moment's time ?
 
 THE PR^SIDICLDE. 31 
 
 Or Stop ite swift career ? 
 And yet how many lives of men 
 
 In idleness and sloth — 
 Forever waste and glide away ; 
 
 I would indeed be loath 
 To waste an hour here, I know 
 
 It is an awful crime — 
 That God will sorely punish those 
 
 Who waste their earthly time. 
 So be thou up and doing, thy brain 
 
 As well as body feed, 
 Earth is full of things for man to learn, 
 
 And those who run may read. 
 Yea, earth is full of marvels strange, 
 
 Grand study for all men, 
 Those who strive to fathom them, God 
 
 Will shape them to their ken. 
 Lo I shells are vast on ocean's coast ; 
 
 And every shape and hue, 
 Some round, some long, some large, some small, 
 
 Some purple, red and blue. 
 Yet 'mongst them all but one was found, 
 
 Yea. only one possessed 
 The pearl that swelled the merchant's store. 
 
 And glows on beauty's breast. 
 Treasures are many in the earth, 
 
 But not in every soil. 
 To seek for gold in every mould 
 
 Would be a fruitless toil. 
 Energy, courage, self-control, 
 
 True godliness of mind and soul, 
 Must be by him possessed — 
 
 Who would from wisdom's mine bring forth 
 One gem of such a priceless worth 
 
 That it shall aye be blessed. 
 By trials and delays his soul 
 
 Mujst ne'er be downward borne, 
 The gourd that in a night appeared 
 
 Lay dead on earth at morn. 
 Yon mountain oak whose sturdy strength 
 
 A thousand tempests proved, 
 Nor yet the livid lightning's bolt 
 
 Ncr avalanche hath moved. 
 That stands like some bold sentinel 
 
 To guard its native clime, 
 And heeds no change as years sweep down 
 
 The avenue of time, 
 Around it on its parent soil 
 
 Ere it attained its prime 
 Ten thousand thousand poisons grew, 
 
 Crowned with blossoms of every hue,
 
 THE PRyESIDICIDE. 
 
 And rotted down like crime. 
 XXI. 
 
 "I told thee that matter could not 
 
 Be made by mortal man, 
 To make one grain of it was far 
 
 Beyond his wisdom's span. 
 And now I say, that man cannot 
 
 Destroy one atom here, 
 Let him pluck yon leaf from its stem. 
 
 And it to atoms tear. 
 Mash, pound it up, then pass it through 
 
 The furnace and the blast, 
 Roll, mash the cinders in a bowl. 
 
 And in the acids cast. 
 Let it pass through fiery blast 
 
 And mash it as he will, 
 Though he may change it to the eye 
 
 It is but matter still. 
 And there's no atom on the world 
 
 However frail and sear — 
 That man can utterly destroy — 
 
 The ruins still appear. 
 Nor can he banish them from earth, 
 
 As easy 'twere for him — 
 To drag a comet from the sky, 
 
 Or its pure brightness dim. 
 Hark ! didst thou hear that cannon roar ? 
 
 Its sound rung in my ear 
 A moment's space, and now 'tis gone. 
 
 Though it I no more hear, 
 The sound is not destroyed on earth, 
 
 As sound'tisonward hurl'd, 
 And 'twill ring till the end of time, 
 
 And vibrate o'er the world. 
 The souad of my voice, or the wave 
 
 That bursts upon the shore — 
 May die to us, but do not die, 
 
 'Tis sound forever more. 
 The smallest thing that crawls on earth 
 
 Displays the fearful skill — 
 Of Him who made and fashion'd it 
 
 To please His holy will. 
 So how dare mortal man stand forth 
 
 In eye of earth and sky, 
 And say there is no God, hark ! hark ! 
 
 From mountains vast and high, 
 From leaf, and tree and storm, and sea 
 
 From sun, and starry skies, 
 A strong all pervading voice is heard — 
 
 Like burst of hoarded thunders is each word-
 
 THE PR.ESIDICIDE. 33 
 
 * 
 
 And tells him, that he lies. 
 
 Through all creation's endless round 
 The might of God is shown, 
 
 He made, and nought can be destroy'd 
 But save by Him alone. 
 
 And e'en this world on which we move 
 That looks so grand and vast, 
 
 That is a rooky ci'ust around 
 Ilusi-e seas of fire cast. 
 
 For men say, if forty miles we go — 
 Down through the crust we pass, 
 
 And there find all the world within 
 A moHen seethii)g mass. 
 
 The volcanos that to heaven 
 Their flames and ashes throw, 
 
 Are but the lofty chimneys of 
 Those burning wastes below. 
 
 Through them the roaring lava flies 
 In columns tall and fleet, 
 
 \Vhen the world within becomes surcharged 
 With matter and with heat. 
 
 And if God but free'd the atmosphere 
 That doth surround this globe 
 
 For five and forty miles in width, 
 (A pure blight azure robe) 
 
 Of all elements save oxygen, 
 No nitrogen leave there — 
 
 Huge earth would flash to flame and in 
 A moment disappear. 
 
 Yea, Uaze and unto nothing go, 
 Be utterly destroy'd, 
 
 Withf ut one mere slight atom left 
 Within the boundless void. 
 
 Such is the might of Him to whom 
 Nature wafts a ceaseless hymn. 
 
 He all created with a breath, 
 And all nature bows to Him. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 ''Inhabitant of earth, go learn 
 
 Thy gracious maker's ways. 
 Go, look upon His mighty works 
 
 With wonder and with praise. 
 Go at midnight's solemn hour, 
 
 And gaze on heaven's face. 
 And look upon the countless stars 
 
 That glitter through all space 
 Each a world larger far than this 
 
 And fill'd with living souls. 
 Ever teeming with light and life 
 
 As on through space it rolls.
 
 34 THE FR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Long through the flight of ages past 
 
 Men deem'd those brilliant spheres — 
 But torches lit along the sky, 
 
 To cheer this ■world of theirs. 
 Only little petty candles 
 
 It pleased the gods to light, 
 So fair this world might seem to man 
 
 Through the hours of night. 
 But science has reveal'd to him 
 
 What Xenophanes taught — 
 Was but man's pride and ignorance, 
 
 Without one truthful thought. 
 And now he knows each is a world 
 
 Far larger than his own, 
 And far more bright and glorious 
 
 Than mortal yet hath known. 
 And this low world on which he moves. 
 
 And loves with all his heart, 
 Is a scarcely visible speck 
 
 On creation's mighty chart. 
 Science shall yet unfold to him 
 
 Truths mighty and sublime. 
 Truths that shall never fade away 
 
 From ofi" the sands of time. 
 All experience is an arch 
 
 Through which gleams that untrod land, 
 Whose marge forever fades, and fades — 
 
 Thouirh we climb to knowledge grand. 
 Man's mind to egotism tends 
 
 All through dark ignorance, 
 ^nd the less and less he knows 
 
 Greater is his arrogance. 
 He thinks he has unravel'd all 
 
 Mysteries of the world, 
 Yet by science each day he sees 
 
 New truths from darkness hurl'd. 
 And all the truths he knows as yet 
 
 However great they be, 
 Are but small drops of water from 
 
 A rich exhaustless sea. 
 He knows not yet with all the light 
 
 That science has reveal'd — 
 Half the healing virtues that are in 
 
 The grasses of the field. 
 Nor half the glorious virtues 
 
 The trees and flowers yield. 
 Chemistry shall extract from them 
 
 Balms for all earthly pain, 
 For every fell dis'^ase that racks 
 
 And goads the human strain : 
 'Tis through long patience and through toil
 
 THE PR.'ESIDICIDE. 35 
 
 Man will this knowledge gain, 
 Wlio fathoms hidden truths must work 
 
 With willing heart and brain. 
 Yon field that waves with golden corn 
 
 Was once a waste of oaks, 
 And were a gloomy jungle still 
 
 But for the axe-man's strokes. 
 Those in this world's dark battle field, 
 
 And bivouac of life, 
 Would not be like dumb beasts toled forth, 
 
 But heroes in the strife^ — 
 Must be ever up and doing — 
 
 With hearts for any fate, 
 "For ever moving on and on, 
 
 Nor ever pause nor wait 
 As slothful grovelling spirits do 
 
 For hint, and sign, and nod, 
 But aye hark unto the voice 
 
 Of an onward, urging God. 
 Those who start for human glory. 
 
 For honor and renown, 
 Must aye make, not wait for chances. 
 
 Nor quake at fortune's frown 
 And aye keep foremost in their soul 
 
 This truth, no cross, no crown. 
 They must snatch from Victory's hand 
 
 The laurels when she's slow, 
 Or hesitating where and when 
 
 Those laurels to bestow. 
 If a knot be tied so hard, they can't 
 
 Unravel or undo — 
 Like Alexander of old time 
 
 They'll cut the knot in two. 
 Like the mettled hounds of Actjen 
 
 They must pursue the game — 
 Not only where are beaten paths — 
 
 But through thorns, and flood, and flame. 
 Some there are whose powers of mind 
 
 And energies of soul — 
 Alone through vast difiiculties 
 
 Develop and unroll. 
 The gold of their character is mixed 
 
 'Midst quartz and granite vast, — 
 Such an incorrigible growth — 
 
 Which to release requires both 
 The hammer and the blast. 
 
 Like that small oceanic marvel 
 Whose phosphorescent glow — 
 
 Is only seen and cast at dark 
 Upon the floods below — 
 
 When they are lashed and driven by
 
 36 THE PRiESIDICIDE. 
 
 The fury of the storm ; 
 
 Ay, when the blast and hurricane 
 Their tranquil state deform. 
 
 Oft men have after knowledge sought 
 "While paths of woe they trod, 
 
 While penury and want hung o'er them 
 Like Timour's scourging rod. 
 
 But who forsook her wholesome laws 
 When smiling Fortune came, 
 
 Sunk on a level with the brutes 
 'Midst mirth, and folly's train. 
 
 Like ships that safely ride the waves 
 Through all the tempests shock, 
 
 That loose their helms when seas are calm 
 And split upon a rock. 
 
 Had Lais lured Xenocrates 
 To her voluptuous bed — 
 
 He'd been baser than Demosthenes 
 When he Choeroner fled. 
 
 "But Chalcedon's old sage stood charms 
 Of woman and of gold — 
 
 As firmly as the rock the waves 
 That round it roar'd and roll'd. 
 
 He stood sublime in retitude 
 What e'er his trials were, 
 
 To guide mankind on virtue's path 
 Was all his thought and care. 
 
 Be thou like him, where'er thou roamst, 
 Where'er thy feeling flow — 
 
 Be man and brother to the end — 
 Compassionate the low. 
 
 What mercies God has shown to thee 
 Do thou to others show, 
 
 Hide follies of thy fellow men 
 And pity all their woe. 
 
 And envy no man's earthly weal, 
 For it no hate bestow, 
 
 But let thy heart with love and zeal 
 For other's welfare glow. 
 
 Be brave as was Bellerophon 
 When 'midst fell dangers tried^ 
 Bravely perils meet like him 
 Though they hem thee far and wide, 
 
 But be not haughty, proud, like him. 
 Lest God hurl e own thy pride. 
 
 XXIIL 
 
 "Behold, the sun is sinking fast 
 Behind yon mountain grand, 
 
 But he is only leaving us 
 To light some other land.
 
 THE PRiESIDICID'E. 37 
 
 And I too now must leave thee here 
 
 For weary thou must be, 
 Since I have keep thee here so long 
 
 To listen unto me. 
 But where I go thou canst not know 
 
 Perchance thou dost not care, 
 Perchance thou thinks, thou ne'er hast spent 
 
 A day like this so drear. 
 Unless thy mind is dull and slow 
 
 As Arar's sluggish stream, 
 Thou yet may'st live to see the time 
 
 Thou wouldst my voice esteem. 
 Farewell, we two shall meet no more 
 
 Beneath yon rolling sun, 
 No more on this earth our paths 
 
 Shall e'er together run. 
 But when alone thou art, away 
 
 From mirth and folly's smile — 
 Then give a thought to this old man 
 
 Who would thy soul beguile 
 From sin to virtue's hallow'd bower, 
 
 Think of me a little while ! 
 Farewell, I will not keep thee more, — 
 
 Though I could tell thee things — 
 That would set all thy soul aglow 
 
 With grand imaginings, 
 But though we meet no more on earth, 
 
 Perchance in some bright sphere — 
 Wc journeying may meet again. 
 
 Afar from earthly care. 
 Then we'll look down on earth our 
 
 Mortal burial ground. 
 And smile at all the woes that did 
 
 Once our life surround. 
 For there's a cherished ancient creed 
 
 That in some solemn clime — 
 Away from sin, and death, and woe, 
 
 And from the grasp of time, 
 Soul and body shall unite again 
 
 In everlasting prime. 
 And we'll meet and know each other 
 
 Within that realm sublime. 
 And 1 trust when I'm call'd away 
 
 Unto that hallow'd shore — 
 Again to view those loved ones smiles 
 
 I see on earth no more. 
 And there forever with them dwell 
 
 Free from all taint of woe, 
 Fill'd with eternal spotless love 
 
 Nigh ready to o'erflow. 
 And hard methinks would be man's fate
 
 38 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Unless he finds it so, 
 And as the alchemists of yore 
 
 Unto the flames consigned — 
 The heterogeneous ore 
 
 To make the gold refined, 
 So with sorrow, toil and triuls 
 
 While in this world of sin, 
 God purifies man's soul of dross 
 
 So it his smile may win. 
 And what's a few short days of grief 
 
 Here in this world below ? 
 Compared to everlasting bliss 
 
 All mortals yet shall know. 
 They're not worth a thought and man's a fool 
 
 To growl and grumble so, 
 His heart to God so good and kind 
 
 Should ever thankful glow. 
 High on some glowing sphere we'll sit 
 
 And hear the solemn shock, 
 Loud as the hoarded thunder peals 
 
 That burst o'er Sinai's rock — 
 When God in awful greatness came — 
 
 And with such glory shone — 
 That not a mortal eye could look 
 
 That blazing mount upon ; 
 And see this world to atoms torn — 
 
 And roU'd in floods of fire, 
 And 'midst the crashing elements 
 
 Here the Almighty's ire. 
 See it in His eternal hand 
 
 While fire roars and glows — 
 Crush'd as a little grain of sand, 
 
 And hear its dying throes. 
 While all the startled worlds on high 
 
 Shall trembling look below. 
 Shouting hosannas unto God — 
 
 To whom all praise must flow. 
 Oh ! what a storm of prayer and praise 
 
 Shall be that day begun, 
 And never cease, but ever flow 
 
 To the Eternal One. 
 From all the myriad, myriad worlds 
 
 That live in boundless space. 
 And all the white wing'd sainted souls 
 
 Of every clime and race. 
 Keep thine eye on yon setting sun. 
 
 Move not thy gaze fnnu him, 
 Until he sinks behind the hills, 
 
 Though he make thy vision dim — 
 His rays are nothing to the blaze 
 
 Thine eye shall yet behold —
 
 THE PRiESIDICIDE. 39 
 
 When heaven's eternal splendors 
 Shall be afore thee roli'd" 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 I look'd 'till 'neath the hills the sun 
 
 In all his glory went, 
 And far along the startled sky 
 
 His glowing lustres sent. 
 Seldom I've seen so sweet an eve, 
 
 Balmy winds were piping shrill, 
 And rapidly the waters ran 
 
 Down the gorges of the hill. 
 Everything was bright and fair 
 
 And glowing to the eye, 
 All nature was baskins; there 
 
 Beneath the sunset dye. 
 But little time had I to gaze 
 
 Upon the scene around, 
 Or mark the bright effulgent blaze 
 
 With which the sky was crown'd. 
 For suddenly a flood of song 
 
 Came bursting on mine ears, 
 Sweet, and soft, and grand as music 
 
 From the eternal spheres. 
 Far away in a vale below 
 
 The music seem'd to be, 
 "Let's go, let's go," I said "and that 
 
 Enchanting singer see." 
 But no word in answer came, 
 
 Nor word, nor sound, nor tone, 
 Around in haste I turn'd and look'd 
 
 And found I was alone. 
 That mysterious man had gone 
 
 Whither, and when, I knew notj 
 Unheard, unseen he'd moved away 
 
 As a phantom from the spot. 
 Well I remember how my brain reel'd 
 
 When I found it so, 
 It seem'd the blood within my veins 
 
 That moment ceased to flow. 
 Up and down every winding gorge 
 
 My eager eyes I bent, 
 Viewed all the landscape o'er and o'er 
 
 In fear and wonderment. 
 Not one trace of him I saw, 
 
 Then did fear my soul appall, 
 For evenings mirky mantle 
 
 O'er the hills began to fall. 
 Down, down the craggy fells I rush'd. 
 
 Paused not for flood or linn, 
 Panting, throbbing with mortal fear
 
 40 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 I strove tLe vale to win — 
 "Whence came those melting tones of song, 
 
 The sweetest ever yet 
 Where heard since earth and sea began, 
 
 Or Light and Darkness met. 
 
 XXY. 
 
 I reach'd the vale and then I saw 
 
 A maiden heavenly fair, 
 Dark were her eyes and sheen as stars, 
 
 And dtrk her flowing hair. 
 Ne'er before so grand a being 
 
 Upon this world has trod, 
 Oh ! glorious and bright was she 
 
 As spirit fresh from God. 
 Her brow was fair as ocean's foam 
 
 When heaving in its pride, 
 Her cheeks were as the northern snows 
 
 When with a sunset dyed. 
 Adown her heaving breast of snow 
 
 Her raven tresses stream'd. 
 And 'tween her rosy lips her teeth 
 
 As purest ivory gleam'd. 
 Her step was soft and easy 
 
 As the murmur of a song, 
 Light as Flora's when she moves 
 
 Her choicest flowers among. 
 But how could mortal words essay 
 
 One half her charms to paint, 
 She queen o'er all in loveliness, 
 
 In purity a saint. 
 She pure and bright as any yet 
 
 Who breathed a prayer to God, 
 Sweet, kind and generous as e'er 
 
 This world of woe have trod. 
 Gentle, candid and serene was she — 
 
 And knew no craft nor guile, 
 A maiden with a seraph's heart, 
 
 And with an angel's smile. 
 Oh I years had flown on lightning wings 
 
 Since last I dared to speak — 
 Or breathe one word to her, although 
 
 She was as angel meek. 
 For I thought of her as of a star — 
 
 (So glowing bright she shone) 
 That mortal kind might ne'er approach, 
 
 But sometimes gaze upon. 
 I never dream'd that I might dare 
 
 To worship at her shrine. 
 So years had roll'd away since last 
 Her hand was clasped in mine.
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 41 
 
 I thought to let oblivion roll 
 
 Its shades eternal o'er my soul, 
 Not with her image shine. 
 
 But 'gainst her image fair my mind 
 Its doors would never close. 
 
 And love the while lay sleeping there 
 Like lightning in repose 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 She sang in sweet though mournful rhymes, 
 
 Many sad tales of ancient times, 
 Of love, and war, and woe, 
 
 She sang of Agaudecca's fall — 
 That sunbeam of fierce Starno's hall 
 
 Whom Fingal worship'd so ; 
 That for her briglit transcendent charms — 
 
 He'd singly braved the world in arms, 
 And died or won her smile ; 
 
 Ay, braved for her the battle front, 
 And like a rock had stood its brunt 
 
 On stormy flood or isle. 
 Sang how Leander perils braved 
 
 'Midst waters wild and grim. 
 And how the lovely Hero mourn'd, 
 
 And wept and died for him. 
 This is the love for me she cried 
 
 Pure and for aye sincere, 
 That knows no change what'er betide, 
 
 All free from guile and fear. 
 That death norany mortal foe 
 
 Can sully or divide; 
 That flows as doth the torrent flow 
 
 Adown the mountain's side — 
 Defying hottest suns that glow. 
 
 And scorching, sultry winds that blow. 
 By them unchanged undried ; 
 
 And when closed o'er with ice and snow 
 It rushes onward deep below — 
 
 And cuts its channel wide. 
 Love, constant as the polar beam 
 
 Ever shining on serene — 
 With one undying fadeless gleam, 
 
 And like the glory rays that stream 
 From Sol, aye warm and sheen, 
 
 Though clouds awhile obscure their light — 
 From our dim, weak mortal sight — 
 
 Behind the mirky screen 
 They glow with everlasting glare. 
 
 Pure, endless and suhlime, 
 And feel no death or change what'er 
 
 Through all the lapse of time.
 
 42 THZ PR.E5IDICir>E. 
 
 xxrn. 
 
 So o'er lier laxp that maiden sang 
 
 XTntil the moon's broad beam 
 Aroi=e, and all effiaJgent shone 
 
 On bin, and marshy and stream ; 
 Ob I boieath that eabn alver light 
 
 Thrice lorefy did she seem. 
 And briobter than the brightest star ' 
 
 Her large dark eres did gleam — 
 Fall of hearenfy light and love. 
 
 And o'er her snow trbite brow 
 There pa^'d a smile so sweet and eafan 
 
 M^hinks I see it now — 
 All kolj li^t and pnritj — 
 
 Embl^n of the soul within. 
 Free as the purest saint on nigh 
 
 Fran taint of woe and an. 
 She seon'd like one of those bright Nymphs 
 
 That in the dajs of old 
 Were seen bj bolt and £ury spring. 
 
 Or (m the moonligfat wold ; 
 Thoogb ne'er was Nymph or Naiad one half 
 
 So Ufretj to behold. 
 
 XXVILL. 
 
 Thou Cureat maid I tbiB b^on — 
 
 That jet mine eye hath seen^ 
 Of all thou art the brightest one 
 
 That e'er across mj path hath nm, 
 Thoa glowed like the noonday snn 
 
 AH peerless and serene. 
 There's more of beaofy and of grace 
 
 Aboot thy lorely form and &ee. 
 Than erown'd the first of wmnan's race, 
 
 She, who in Eden felL 
 If theegreat ADa onee eoold place 
 
 Amongst his dark eyed Boiui race 
 Thou wool^t their charms excel ! 
 
 Art thoa indeed a mortal maid ? 
 Or some bris^ spirit sent 
 
 From hearen, to this world below ? 
 For oae short season lent 
 
 To ns poor weary mortals here. — 
 To show what charms are blent 
 
 Within that g^wing world on high 
 Wiiere dwells no discontent ? 
 
 Thus I, she started up and tnm'd. 
 Surprised to find me there. 
 
 Her eyes with anger fiash'd aod burn'd 
 Withoot one agn of fear.
 
 .MC^ 
 
 vt V- 
 
 
 5 K'GVsw irkc- '^•e 
 
 XXX. 
 
 a: 
 
 A- 
 
 TOO 
 
 7 *J^ 
 
 St
 
 •i4 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 And harmless as tlie gentlest dove 
 
 That erst dwelt ia Eden's bowers. 
 And I bead the kuee before thee 
 
 With heart as faithful true and fond. 
 As ever roam'd o'er land or sea, 
 
 Or bound in Hymea's holy bonJ. 
 Oh ! my dear and gentle maiden 
 
 Could I find words so thou might see — 
 How my heart and soul are laden 
 
 With pure undying love for thee — 
 Thy smile would ever glow for him, 
 
 Who humbly bows before thee here, 
 Thou wouldst face perils dark and grim 
 
 To share his earthly bliss or care. 
 And in my soul that love I'll keep, 
 
 And though I die 'twill burn on still, 
 Strong as the winds of heaven sweep 
 
 O'er ocean, forest, moor, and hill. 
 And each glowing smile thou hast shed 
 
 My memory shall ne'er forget, 
 But dwell in it when ocean's bed 
 
 No longer with its floods is wet. 
 Start not — I'd harm no hair of thy head. 
 
 Nor do a thing to make thee fret, 
 We've met before, but years have sped 
 
 On lishtnino; wintrs since last we met, 
 If thou'lt recall a time, long since fled, 
 
 Me perchance, thou mayst remember yet. 
 But oh dear maid! one thing I seek, 
 
 'Twill bind and soothe life's shattered cords, 
 Pardon me, if too plain I speak 
 
 Nor be thou angry with my words. 
 Thou look'st so gentle good and kind 
 
 I'll breathe out all my soul to thee. 
 And what I seek, here let me find 
 
 In her, to whom I bend the knee. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 "I seek a fair and gentle form, 
 
 A heart from strife and discord free, 
 A spirit loving true and warm 
 
 To journey on through life with me, 
 I seek a kind and constant friend 
 
 Who Death alone from me can tear. 
 Who in afiiiction's hour will lend 
 
 A helping hand to soothe my care. 
 I seek a friend whose gentle voice 
 
 Can cheer me through life's vale of tears, 
 By whfse side I ever can rrjoice 
 
 Through youth and through all my old years. 
 T seek a friend within whose eye
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 An ever equal love I'll see, 
 Who can all earthly care defy 
 
 And ever joyous lean on me. 
 I seek a pure and saintly guide 
 
 To lead me to that bless'd shore — 
 Where doubt nor death, nor woes abide, 
 
 And spirits meet to part no more. 
 And thou sweetest, loveliest soul 
 
 That ever look'd through human eyes, 
 Assume o'er me thy mild control, 
 
 For thee my inmost being sighs. 
 Ah, be thou my soothing angel ! 
 
 Forever by my side through life, 
 I'll shield thee from all sorrows fell 
 
 As we journey through this world of strife. 
 Let's hand in hand together go, 
 
 And be each other's comforter — 
 Down life's dark vale of care and woe, 
 
 Yea, be each others worshipper." 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Silent and still was she I trow, 
 
 And gazed on earth the while, 
 But oft upon her snowy brow 
 
 I mark'd a passing smile. 
 Then rising upward like a queen 
 
 From off a stately throne. 
 Glowing with majesty serene 
 
 As earth before had never seen 
 And never but that time hath beei 
 
 Save in heaven alone ; 
 All like an angel in her mein 
 
 (The grandest ever known) 
 Towards me awhile she deign'd to lea^ 
 
 RaisiLg her hand as though to screen 
 Those eyes so wondrous dark and sheen, — 
 
 And with unfaltering tone — 
 Stepping backward on the green, 
 
 She said "Thou man begone. 
 Begone, haste fly thee hence from me, 
 
 No more thy nonsense tell^ 
 Thou art some madman just set free — 
 
 Or broke from prison cell." 
 Then swift and graceful as a fawn — 
 
 Scared by the shadows of the dawn. 
 Or of the close of day — 
 
 That suddenly 'lojg its path are drawn, 
 So down the sweet flowery lawn 
 
 She 'gan to wend her way. 
 
 45
 
 46 THE PRJESIDICIDE. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 Had some angelic spirit come 
 
 To this vain world below, 
 And borne me up on wiDas of light 
 
 From all my care and woe ; 
 And placed me on some guudy throne 
 
 Where I could look around — 
 As king of ocean, earth and man, 
 
 Where I could hear the sound — 
 By night and day of ceaseless song — 
 
 Pour'd forth from many a voice. 
 And told me that they sang my praise, 
 
 And bade me long rejoice. 
 Told me that I was high above 
 
 All death and woe and sin, 
 That I had won each peerless wish 
 
 The soul e'er sought to win ; 
 That mine was the priceless dower 
 
 Of rest and hope within. 
 And when my soul was wrapped in bliss, 
 
 And extacy divine, 
 While joy tingling ran through every 
 
 Nerve, pulse, and vein of mine, 
 He had said thou fool, and hurl'd me 
 
 To the abyss below, 
 And left me with a smile of scorn 
 
 In agony and woe, 
 I had not felt more deeply grieved 
 
 Than when I saw her go ! 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 "Stay, stay, all hastily I cried — 
 
 Alone thou shalt not go. 
 With thee sweet maid I'll wend, let 
 
 Cause me weal or fellest woe. 
 Grasping her snowy hand in mine 
 
 I gazed into her eyes. 
 That glow'd with grand astonishment, 
 
 With terror and surprise. 
 Away with all this fear I said, 
 
 No harm can thee befall, 
 As safely here thou 'bidest with me 
 
 As in some guarded hall. 
 Maiden hast thou forgotten him, 
 
 Who on one stormy day 
 Drag'd thee from yon roaring stream, when 
 
 Thou in it helpless lay ? 
 Say rememberest thou not him 
 
 Who rescued thee from death? 
 Who saved thee from yon flood when thou 
 
 Wert almost void of breath ? 
 And bore thee in his trembling arms
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 47 
 
 Unto thy hoary sire ? 
 And watch'd o'er thee until he saw 
 
 All signs of death retire. 
 And he who rushed to save thee then 
 
 From yonder roaring linn, 
 Would any danger brave with joy 
 
 So he thy smile might win. 
 Nor think thee, he who saved thee once 
 
 Would dream to harm thee now, 
 So let all fear be gone, let joy 
 
 Again light up thy brow. 
 And pause one moment more sweet maid, 
 
 But do not tremble so, 
 I wish to prove that I am he 
 
 Then thou art free to go. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 "It was beneath yon stately oak 
 
 That waves its branches there, 
 That overlooks yon torrent strong, 
 
 Yon waters deep and clear, 
 I sat that day, waiting my hounds 
 
 To start some fawn or deer ; 
 1 heard a splashing in the stream, 
 
 And shriek of wild despair ; 
 And turning round my gaze, I saw 
 
 Upon tbat torrent strong — 
 A frail slender bark by the tide 
 
 Borne rapidly along. 
 And in it sat a female child 
 
 Divinely bright and fair, 
 Who strove against that torrent fierce 
 
 Her little bark to steer. 
 I watch'd her till the torrent bore 
 
 Her towards yon waterfall, 
 I saw her bark then driven o'er, 
 
 That bark so frail and small ; 
 And saw the waters round it roar 
 
 In surges white and tall, 
 Made fierce with rains that then did pour, 
 
 And by the autumn squall. 
 And, struggling through the froth and feam 
 
 I saw the maid again, 
 I heard one wild piteous scream 
 
 That thrill'd my soul with pain. 
 All pass'd before me like a dream 
 
 That flashes through the brain ; 
 I plung'd me in the roaring stream 
 
 And swam to her amain. 
 One arm around her form I cast, 
 
 And with the other strove
 
 4§ THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 To bear her from those surges vast, — 
 
 That down like demons drove, 
 Foaming beneath the furious blast 
 
 D.rowning swift that little dove. 
 Oh God ! it seem'd all hope was past 
 
 Methousht I saw her breathe lier last, 
 When towards yon shallow cove — 
 
 One long desperate stroke I made 
 With all that energy — 
 
 Fell Terror brings the wretch to aid — 
 And some how sets him free — 
 
 Though dangers be around him laid 
 In maddening agony. 
 
 Then grasp'd the branches of a tree 
 That did o'er the flood incline, 
 
 Soon hope revived and bounded free. 
 Through all this frame of mine. 
 
 For soon upon the solid ground 
 I laid her helpless form, 
 
 Shield'd her from that blast profound, 
 From all that rain and storm. 
 
 Until I felt her pulse rebound, 
 And felt her heart grow warm. 
 
 No more dear maid I need to tell, 
 The rest thou may'st remember well ; 
 
 From death I saved those charms, 
 And then bore thee adown yon dell 
 
 Unto thy sire's arms. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 ''But since that half forgotten time. 
 
 That day of joy and tears, 
 And this eve so lovely and sublime 
 
 There's a broad span of years. 
 And many changes too have flown 
 
 O'er earth's diurnal span, 
 Thou hast a lovely maiden grown, 
 
 And I a bearded man. 
 Never from that hour till this 
 
 Has thou e'er gazed on me, 
 But it has been my secret bliss 
 
 To sometimes gaze on thee. 
 And all unseen, unknown by thee 
 
 I've watch'd thee blooming here, 
 Watch'd thee fond and tenderly, 
 
 But never ventured near. 
 Watch'd thee as some fair stately tree 
 
 Within some glowing; scene. 
 Aye crown'd with fountains fresh and free, 
 
 And with eternal green. 
 And like that tree I've seen thee grow
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 49 
 
 To loveliness sublime, 
 And long I've watch'd thee bloom and glow 
 
 In fair and glorious prime. 
 But still I've kept aloof from thee, 
 
 And view'd thee from af ir. 
 With all that homage pure and true 
 
 The Indian pays the star, 
 Watch'd thee foudly as Elisha view'd 
 
 Elijah's burning car. 
 I deem'd thee best of human kind, 
 
 And such I know thou art, 
 Yea. thou art far above them all 
 
 As sun and earth apart. 
 As the flower that blooms beside 
 
 The crater's burning lips, 
 And beautifies the gloomy waste 
 
 That down in darkness dips, 
 So on this world thou seemst to me, 
 
 Nor shall time one charm eclipse. 
 So be not angry with me love 
 
 When unto thee I say, 
 I loved thee so I could no more 
 
 From thy sweet presence stay. 
 Thy delicious, dream-like harmonies 
 
 Enticed me here this eve, 
 And ere we part one pitying smile 
 
 Let me from thee receive," 
 
 XXXYII. 
 
 The while I spake her lovely eyes 
 
 Were beaming full on me. 
 Oft they flash'd with queenly pride. 
 
 Then shone mild and tenderly. 
 And when I ceased, with low sweet voice 
 
 She said — "Art thou indeed 
 That little boy who rescued me, 
 
 When like a helpless reed — 
 I was dash'd along in yonder stream 
 
 With all its fearful speed ? 
 Who dangers braved for me and saved 
 
 Me in that time of need ? 
 I've wonder'd what became of him, 
 
 And where on earth he trod. 
 Oft for his welfare have I pray'd 
 
 When prayers I breathed to God. 
 But I have always pictured him 
 
 As at that time he seem'd, 
 A beardless, heroic, stalwart boy, 
 
 Whose eye with courage beam'd. 
 Scarce can I recognize in thee 
 
 That boy of by gone days,
 
 50 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Save in the easy dauntless air 
 
 Thou seemst to have always. 
 Since thou art he, who rescued me 
 
 From drowning when a child, 
 Who peril'd thy own life for me 
 , 'Midst waters dark and wild, 
 To thee my heart shall always glow 
 
 With thanks and gratitude. 
 And do whatever time may show 
 
 For all thy weal and good. 
 And when thou roam est near this spot 
 
 I will of thee request — 
 That thou wilt call at yonder cot, 
 
 Thou'lt be a welcomed guest. 
 But time speeds on, the night grows late, 
 
 And I must move from here, 
 At morn come thou to yonder cot 
 
 Thou'll find my sire there." 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 She said and towards her vine-clad cot 
 
 With stately step she trod, 
 I mark'd her as she moved along 
 
 O'er the flower and clod. 
 No step so light and true as hers 
 
 Has press'd earth's glowing sod. 
 Since all the races of mankind 
 
 Sprung from the hand of God. 
 I mark'd her in her doorway stand 
 
 All like a vision bright, 
 But ere she closed the door she smiled. 
 
 And waved her hand good night, 
 Grood night, sweet angel of my heart, 
 
 I answer'd with a sigh, 
 May God to watch and guard o'er thee 
 
 Be ever hovering nigh. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 Ah ! why does that sweet gentle maid 
 
 Whose bright transcendent smile — 
 Glow'd pure and holy as a saint's 
 
 All free from every wile — 
 Haunt me in this hour of woe ? 
 
 Of torture and of pain ? 
 Ah ! why comes she to this sad mind 
 
 With all her smiles again ? 
 Ah ! why does one so pure and grand 
 
 Haunt my memory still ? 
 Why do her gentle words and looks 
 
 Now this vile bosom fill ? 
 She comes because while gazing down 
 
 The corridor of time, 
 From boyhood's wild and tender years
 
 T.PE PR^SIDICIDE. 51 
 
 To manhood's sterner prime^ 
 She's the sole one I've met that seemed 
 
 A being all sublime. 
 She's the loveliest Oasis 
 
 That memory can find — 
 While travelling o'er that arid waste 
 
 Of years I've left behind. 
 She's ever shrined amongst my thoughts 
 
 Like some bright star of eve n, 
 "Which sheds its hallowing light across 
 
 The azure vault of heaven. 
 And aye before my spirit's gaze — 
 
 Amidst the realm of dreams — 
 Like moonlight glittering on the sea, 
 
 lier 'witching beauty gleams. 
 Methinks I can recall her now 
 
 As in those days gone by, 
 Recall each word she spake to me, 
 
 Yea, every sweet reply. 
 Methinks I hear her speaking now 
 
 With voice so sweet and low, 
 As erst she spake, and thrills of joy 
 
 Would through my being go. 
 I see her at her cottage door. 
 
 Or roaming o'er her lawn, 
 Graceful, queenly in all her ways, 
 
 And timid as the fawn. 
 But she is dead, not only her — 
 
 But every one who e'er — 
 Has seemed to love and cherish me. 
 
 What e'er my follies were 
 Yea, all those who e'er deigned to look 
 
 With kindness and with love — 
 On all those vast defects and faults 
 That through my nature rove. 
 
 XL. 
 
 Ah, my God ! I remember well 
 
 That dark and stormy night, 
 When from this world of grief and woe 
 
 Her spirit took its flight. 
 'Twas at midnight's solemn hour 
 
 A stormy night like this — 
 Her spirit soar'd on wings of light 
 
 And reach'd the realm of bliss. 
 And left me here on earth alone 
 
 To ever mourn her loss : — 
 Left me a shatter'd helm less wreck 
 
 With waves and winds to toss. 
 Had God but left her here with me 
 
 For one short span of years. 
 She would have made me such a man
 
 52 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 
 
 As seldom here appears, 
 For none have ever lived on earth 
 
 Who o'er my mind and soul, 
 Could like her such influence gain, 
 
 Such thorough, vast control. 
 Iler gentle voice had guided me 
 
 Upon the road to heaven, 
 And for all woe, her sunny smile 
 
 A healing balm had given. 
 She might have led me if she chose 
 
 In bonds that would appall — 
 And gall all other men, and I 
 
 Would ne'er have felt her thrall, — 
 I worshipp'd and I loved her so ; 
 
 But 'twas not thus to be, 
 Away Grod took her ere the time, 
 
 Yea, call'd her far from me. 
 
 XLI. 
 
 Away, away ye gloomy thoughts. 
 
 Bring back that happy day, 
 When her and I stood gazing: on 
 The mountain torrent's spray. 
 Ilfcr hand all snowy white and small 
 
 Was gently clasped in mine, 
 And oft I saw her starry eyes 
 Stol'n-wise upon me shine. 
 I never thought that mortal maid 
 
 Could thrill my being so — 
 With worship, love, and awe, as then 
 
 I felt within me glow. 
 Before her on the grassy sod 
 
 I a pleading captive kneel'd. 
 And pour'd out all my soul to her, 
 
 Yea, all my love reveal'd. 
 Come, be my soul's far dearest part, 
 
 The angel of my life, 
 And soothe one weary aching heart 
 
 Amidst this world of strife. 
 Oh, come, and journey by my side 
 
 As down life's vale I go ; 
 Oh, be my partner, friend and guide, 
 
 And charmer of all woe ! 
 For as the loving mother yearns 
 
 Towards her only child, 
 So aye, to thee my spirit turns 
 
 With passion almost wild. 
 I'll shield thee from all storm and care 
 
 And gladden all thy days, 
 And thou shalt be my guiding star 
 Through all life's chcker'd ways. 
 Ah, maiden, say ! oh, let me know !
 
 THE PRiESIDTCIDE. 53 
 
 Nor keep me here so long 
 In doubt and agony, thou knowest 
 
 My love is deep and strong. 
 I know, nought but love and pity 
 
 Can touch a soul like thine, 
 More than the lightning's fearful flame 
 
 Could strike the stars divine. 
 I know thou art all good and kind 
 
 As angels o'er distress. 
 And thou wilt say one little word 
 
 That all my life will bless ; 
 I ask thee if thou wilt be mine. 
 
 And, ah ! now answer Yes ! 
 
 XLII. 
 
 Glorious day, 0, happy day ! 
 
 All grand and bright in every way ; 
 The sweetest ever known 
 
 Through all the mortal span of years 
 That o'er my head have flown. 
 
 Sorrow and grim Despair were gone, 
 All but bliss and joy were fled ; 
 
 Hope warm'd and fill'd my heart, Gladness 
 Flapped its wings above my head. 
 
 ?he turn'd her eyes on me, beaming 
 With love, that knows no shame, 
 
 Through all my inmost being shot 
 Their pure and holy flame. 
 
 But all the while my heart hung poised 
 'Twixt joy and agony, 
 
 Till with a voice all low and sweet 
 She smiling spake to me. 
 
 XLiri. 
 
 "Had I e'er sought a friend to love, 
 
 To honor and esteem. 
 Above the rest of human kind. 
 
 Aye, love with all my soul and mind. 
 And second but to Him alone 
 
 Who sits on heaven's topmost throne, 
 Do not a moment dream — 
 
 But I had chosen that bold youth 
 Who on that stormy day — 
 
 Freely peril'd his own life for me 
 Amidst the torrent's spray. 
 
 Nor could I e'er do aught to thee 
 To cause thy soul distress. 
 
 And I will share thy earthly lot 
 If 'twill crown thy happiness. 
 
 Aye hand in hand whate'er betide 
 Through life with thee I'll go, 
 
 To bless and comfort thee and share
 
 54 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Thy peril, pain or woe." 
 XLTV. 
 
 There's a time of such joy and bliss 
 
 Unto all mortals given — 
 They feel as they were lifted up 
 
 Unto the light of heaven. 
 A time of joy and extacy, 
 
 Of light and bliss divine, 
 That thrills all the inmost being 
 
 With rapture pure and fine. 
 As floods of holy light it comes 
 
 And passes o'er the soul, 
 While it lives and glows years on years 
 
 Away as moments roll; 
 And all have felt that thrill of bliss 
 
 That ever lived on earth, 
 Though as lightning in a dark abyss 
 
 It perished at its birth. 
 And left that heart in gloom profound, 
 
 Scarr'd with many a bleeding wound, 
 And drearer than before, 
 
 Yea, left it so that gladness ne'er 
 Within that blighted heart, and sear, 
 
 Should bloom or blossom more. 
 Here left it all Tithonus-like 
 
 To ever mourn and pine, 
 And live on in remembrance of 
 
 That flash of bliss divine. 
 And none e'er felt that thrill of joy 
 
 'Neath yon o'er-arching sky. 
 None ever trod this world of woe — 
 
 Nor yet were born to die — 
 Felt it their inmost being thrill 
 
 More keen and strong than I. 
 Had all the diamonds of the world, 
 
 And all its mines of gold 
 And all the pearls on ocean's bed, 
 
 And wealth of worlds untold. 
 Been sought and gather'd in a pile — 
 
 And laid before my feet. 
 Not a moment I'd exchanized lliem for 
 
 Those feelings bright and sweet — 
 I inward felt while there i knelt 
 
 Upon the grassy sod — 
 Ee'ore that bright heavenly maid, 
 
 That lovely work of God. 
 And heard her with voice so soft and mild 
 
 Smiling answer yes, — 
 Say she would aye be mine through life 
 
 To comfort and to bless.
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Then all seem'cl bri2;ht and heavenly 
 Away all but gladness pass'd, 
 
 I was whelm'd with floods of extacy — 
 As the waters cover o'er the sea, 
 
 But ah, doom'd short to last! 
 
 XLV. 
 
 Oh, God ! must I again recall 
 
 That njournful scene to view ? 
 Must that last dark trying hour 
 
 Now visit me anew ? 
 Must I aoain feel all that woe 
 
 That then I felt and knew ? 
 Such grief as yet by mortal kind 
 
 Was only known to few. 
 Or if felt by many, few survived 
 
 To tell what woe and pain — 
 The human heart can bear and feel 
 Ere it is rent in twain. 
 Yet all such grief was felt by me 
 
 The night her spirit flew — 
 To everlasting joy and bliss, 
 
 And far from me withdrew. 
 
 XLVI. 
 
 'Twas night, dark night like this, 
 
 The rain as now did pour, 
 And from their mountain heights I heard 
 
 The swollen torrents roar. 
 And through the window panes I saw 
 
 Terrific lightnings glow, 
 And booming over head I heard 
 
 The thunders come and go. > 
 
 T stood that night beside her bed — 
 
 With anguish riven soul, 
 Oh, all her friends were weeping round 
 
 In utter pain and dole. 
 Death's ghastly hue was on her brow, 
 
 I felt her pulse, God, I feel it now! 
 It all too plainly show'd, 
 
 That she was sinking, dying fast, 
 That every hope was gone and past 
 
 Of her recovery, so vast, 
 So keen her fever glowed. 
 
 As o'er that much loved dying one 
 My eager eyes I kept — 
 
 Dark sorrow gather'd round my soul 
 And as a child I wept. 
 
 I wept, I wept, I who can boast 
 A heart to terror steel'd, 
 
 A heart as stern as ever went 
 
 ^5
 
 5C THE PR ESIDICIDE. 
 
 To any battle field. 
 
 Ah, yes ! above that much loved one 
 My bitter tears did flow, 
 
 I felt that sorrow dark and wild — 
 That unutterable woe, 
 
 That always leaves the spirit cast 
 In agony and gloom, 
 
 And though it lives for ages here 
 It ne'er again can bloom. 
 
 Ah, my God 1 ghastly grew her face, 
 Her eyes around did 8wim, 
 
 Delirious with the fever's pain 
 She writhed in every limb. 
 
 But soon her agony was o'er, 
 No more we felt her breath, 
 
 And with a sweet and placid smile 
 She lay in silent death. 
 
 XLVII. 
 
 Had an earthquake shook the ground, 
 
 And stirr'd it to its depths profound. 
 And bade its awful death knell sound ; 
 
 Had all the world in one dread blast 
 Before me to destruction past, 
 
 And all the fires of hell and woe 
 Burst forth and round me 'gan to flow 
 
 With all their scorching maddening glow, 
 I had not felt more deeply riven 
 
 ]tVith anguish fell and keen — 
 Than when the shades of deaths were driven 
 
 Around, and closed the scene. 
 All griefs and sorrows of the soul 
 
 Swell'd up in me beyond control, 
 I strove but could not speak. ^ 
 
 In silent consternation drown'd, 
 And lethargy of woe profound, 
 
 All mournfully we gazed around, 
 While tears ran down each cheek. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 
 There lay in ghastly silent death 
 
 The fairest maid that time 
 Through all his flight has seen, cut down 
 
 In grand and glowing prime. 
 Like some fair flower that has grown 
 
 To loveliness sublime — 
 That falls beneath the reaper's scythe, 
 
 Or winter's blast and rime. 
 Yea, she who was my promised bride, 
 
 And would have been mine soon, 
 Who would have cheer'd me as the sun 
 
 Illumes the world at noon ;
 
 THE PR^WIDICIDE. 57 
 
 Who would have ever been to me 
 
 God noblest, kindest boon. 
 As the Pharos on the mountain's side 
 
 That lends its kindly ray — 
 The storm beat mariner to guide 
 
 At night upon his way, 
 So he may safely steer his craft 
 
 By wh'rlpools fierce and dark. 
 And awful rocks that round him frown. 
 
 Though storms are howling stark, 
 So she adown the stream of time 
 
 Had safely guided me, 
 Kept me from all those treacherous rocks 
 
 That lie amidst life's sea. 
 
 XLTX. 
 
 Blow on ye tempests ever blow, 
 
 Ay, howl on fierce as now — 
 O'er all the startled sea and land 
 
 And cool my burning brow. 
 For my blood like liquid fire 
 
 Is sweeping through my form. 
 Grief and remorse tear through my soul 
 
 Like a relentless storm. 
 Each pain of body and of mind. 
 
 All woe and agony — 
 E'er felt or known by human kind 
 
 Now racks and tortures me. 
 For dark sin and critic, here on earth 
 
 My God has cast me low, 
 Oppress'd with grief, oppress'd with all 
 
 Unutterable woe ; 
 I'm as some goaded beast of old 
 
 Kept in a cage for show, 
 So that the gaping crowds may see 
 
 How fierce his rage would glow. 
 Oh, my God ! I cannot bear this pain 
 
 That darts through form and limb and brain, 
 Have mercy, mercy now, 
 
 Oh, take away yon spectre grim ! 
 And ease, oh ease my broken limb ! 
 
 And cool my burning brow ! 
 And oh ! have mercy on my soul 
 
 When summon'd to Thy throne 
 Let this unutterable woe 
 
 For all my guilt atone. 
 If I'm to find no mercy there 
 
 For deeds done in this world, 
 Then may my spirit ever be 
 
 To dark oblivion hurl'd. 
 But not cast 'midst fiery flames.
 
 •58 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 And everlasting pain, 
 But aye in some lone quiet spot 
 
 From Thy dread sight remain. 
 And when that awful day arrives 
 
 That all the seas and earth — 
 Shall render up their dead, and man 
 
 Receive another birth. 
 When that last trumpet blast shall sound 
 
 Through every sea and clime — 
 In notes far louder than the hoard'd 
 
 Thunders of all time^ 
 "When all the floods and lands shall quail 
 
 Beneath those peals sublime. 
 And render up their dead to life 
 
 And everlasting prime, 
 Ay, when all the countless millions 
 
 That on this earth have trod, 
 Shall burst from death and move before 
 
 Thy judg jnent throne. Oh, God ! 
 To render up account to Thee 
 
 For all their deeds on earth, 
 Who knows each secret, hidden crime. 
 
 And thought, that gave it birth, 
 Ah, may this cruel guilty wretch 
 
 Remain unsummon'd there! 
 Be hid forever from Thy sight, 
 
 Nor meet Thy angry stare ! 
 Or if I must be summon'd there 
 
 Amongst that countless train — 
 And see the one I loved on earth — 
 
 With all my soul again, 
 Let her not know I'm dyed so dark 
 
 With foul dishonor's stain. 
 
 L. 
 
 Methinks I can recall the scene 
 
 That melancholy day. 
 When from her cot the funeral train 
 
 Amidst the mist and autumn raiu, 
 Stretch'd out in long array 
 
 Far down the narrow vale we wound 
 With solemn step and slow, 
 
 'Till we reached the burial ground, 
 VVhere mortals all must go. 
 
 But oh ! no words can e'er portray 
 The horror and the gloom — 
 
 I felt while she was lower'd down 
 Into her narrow room. 
 
 For I had ne'er one mome:it's thought 
 As by her side I trnd — 
 
 That God had destined her to lie
 
 THE PRjESIDICIDE. 
 
 59 
 
 Benecath the silent sod. 
 
 Though she was mortal like us all, 
 I could not deem her so, 
 
 Although I saw her still in death, 
 And cold and white as snow. 
 
 I never thought her starry eyes 
 Would ever cease to beam. 
 
 That they on me would ever cease 
 With looks of love to gleam. 
 
 I never thought her sunny smile 
 On me should cease to pour, 
 
 That Death would seal her lips and I 
 Would hear her voice no more. 
 
 If of Death I thought, I ne'er dreamt 
 He'd visit her so soon 
 
 That her morning sun which rose so fair 
 Would go down ere noon. 
 
 Nor has her image left my breast 
 One moment of my life, 
 
 Though I have mix'd 'midst scenes of mirth 
 Where every joy was rife 
 
 'i hat earth could boast, though I may've seem'd 
 To every mortal there 
 
 To 've shared the mirth with equal zest, 
 And seem'd all void of care — 
 
 Yet grief lay heavy at my heart. 
 Sorrow wrung my breast, — 
 
 With all her darkest saddest thoughts 
 And phantoms of unrest. 
 
 LL 
 
 Men say the body of the sun 
 
 Is hollow, hard, and cold and dun, 
 A planet of stupendous size 
 
 But cheerless and all grim. 
 And that light is but a floating 
 
 Fluid veiling circling him. 
 So oft alas the heart of man 
 
 Is like it drear and dim, 
 Despite the full electric light — 
 
 And bliss untouched by sin — 
 Or woe or want, it lives and breathes 
 
 And hides forever in. 
 
 LII. 
 
 Is it a dream ? or do I hear 
 
 A murmur faint and low ? 
 Sadly it comes unto my ear. 
 
 As though a spirit now were near 
 Lamenting o'er my woe. 
 
 Thou ever dear and mourn'd for maid
 
 GO THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Who slumbers in the tomb, 
 
 'Tis thy sweet spirit sighing near 
 O'er all my woe and gloom. 
 
 Oft methink as through life I've trod, 
 Since thou wert laid beneath the sod 
 
 Aye, hid from human sight — 
 I've heard thy spirit sighing low — 
 
 Just as I've turn'd from weal to woe, 
 Felt it strive to keep me right. 
 
 And if 'tis thee, oh come ! oh come ! 
 And this lost spirit save ; 
 
 And lead my aching body forth 
 Unto its yawning grave 
 
 For thee, my bosom yet inurns 
 As fondly as of yore, 
 
 For thee my soul and being burns 
 With love unknown before ; 
 
 For thee each thought and feeling yearns 
 That warms my bosom's core, 
 
 No matter where my footstep turns 
 I love thee more and more. 
 
 So come to me, in pity come, 
 And if thou hast the power — 
 
 Then take my spirit forth with thee, 
 Nor leave it here to cower 
 
 Beneath unutterable woe, 
 For it has suifer'd long, 
 
 Borne every agony from woe's 
 Deep cutting, burning thong. 
 
 And plead thou for me in heaven 
 Before the throne of Light, 
 
 Pray my crimes be all forgiven, 
 And keep my spirit right. 
 
 If any love thou hast for me 
 Like that thou once didst show, 
 
 I know thou yet will pity me, 
 And mourn o'er all my woe. 
 
 Through thy love and that alone 
 I fondly hope to win — 
 
 Forgiveness for my deeds on earth, 
 For all my crime and sin. 
 
 For thou will kneel before thy God, 
 And plead forever there 
 
 To Him for me, yes aye to II im 
 Thou'lt waft thy fervent prayer. 
 
 And other white wing'd saints thou'lt win 
 To plead to Him with thee^ 
 
 Till He shall set my weary soul 
 From sin and sorrow free, 
 
 Plead till I with thee in heaven 
 Shall boundless rapture see.
 
 THE PH^SrpiCIDE. Bi, 
 
 LTII. 
 
 Ah, my God ! what a strange wild train 
 Of thoughts are sweeping through my brain,' 
 
 As hot blasts that o'er the desert urge — 
 Seeming to howl the funeral dirge 
 
 Of some lost caravan — 
 That ne'er from sand billows shall emerge ; 
 
 So they through my soul and being surge, 
 And mind and body warp and scourge 
 
 "With all the force they can, 
 And drive me to the utmost verge 
 
 Fell Grief could ever span. 
 Ay, each thought of fell woe, and gloom 
 
 Goes tearing through my brain — 
 As the fiery, red Simoom 
 
 That sweeps the desert plain, 
 Destroying all that dares to bloom, 
 
 Or wave in gladness there, 
 Keeping all drearer than the tomb 
 
 Wrapped in horror and despair, 
 
 LIV. 
 
 Ah ! will my spirit ne'er emerge 
 
 From out this trance of woe ? 
 Will rapture never more within 
 
 This throbbing bosom glow ? 
 Must I feel all this agony 
 
 Until my dying hour ? 
 Or will it then burn on as now 
 
 And keep me 'neath its power ? 
 Oh ! had I but the wine cup now 
 
 To drink my care away. 
 Then would I drain the burning bowl 
 
 'Till on the earth I lay — 
 'Neath its deadening power o'erwhelm'd. 
 
 Ay, thoroughly o'ercome. 
 Yea I'd drink 'till it should every 
 
 Thought, nerve, and pain benumb, 
 'Till like a clod on earth I lay — 
 
 As senseless and as dumb, 
 Senseless as the carrion o'er which 
 
 The flies in summer hum. 
 Then would I count me bless'd indeed. 
 
 And banish from my breast — 
 All these damn'd, dire thoughts and pains, 
 
 And phantoms of unrest. 
 
 LV, 
 
 Ah ! had I never left those hills 
 
 But lived beside her tomb, 
 Watch'd the early flowers of spring 
 
 Above it bud and bloom,
 
 ^2 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 And water'd them with secret tears 
 
 Till all devouring time — 
 Had bow'd me down, and ta'en my soul 
 
 To that eternal clime — 
 Where now she dwells in light serene 
 
 And everlasting prime, 
 Ever rejoicing with her God, 
 
 A spirit all sublime, 
 T had not lay upon this lair, 
 
 And mourn'd o'er deeds of crime. 
 Ah, no ! I had not been as now 
 
 The abject low and vile. 
 Without a thought, without a hope, 
 
 My sorrow to beguile. 
 Nor hail'd with terror and with dread 
 
 The coming morning's smile. 
 I had been no murderer low, 
 
 No felon dark and mean, 
 No traitor of the basest kind 
 
 That yet the earth has seen. 
 
 LVI. 
 
 How gladly would I wander o'er 
 
 Some strange and savage land once more, 
 Such as those hills in youth I trod. 
 
 Ere yet aflSiction's scourgins rod, 
 And sin and sorrow's blighting frown 
 
 Had cast me soul and body down. 
 Could I live o'er my life again 
 
 There, there I'd ever more remain, 
 All free from woe, and want, and pain. 
 
 With joy I'd view those works of God, 
 And they should aye by me be trod. 
 
 For what joy 'mongst those wastes to dwell, 
 And gaze at night upon each fell. 
 
 As lost in air its brow it rears, 
 As though it propped the starry spheres. 
 
 When dewy morning lights the world, 
 How sweetly round those peaks are curl'd 
 
 The golden clouds, how sweet to view 
 When Sol bursts forth with glowing hue — 
 
 Their silent flight through realm of blue. 
 How sweet to view the sun streak'd snow 
 
 In avalanches downward go. 
 How sweet to hear the torrents roar, 
 
 And see them down the mountains pour. 
 How sweet to see the countless trees 
 
 Tossing their branches to the breeze. 
 All things around, above, below. 
 
 Seem to say, God has made us so. 
 From hill to hill, all wild and grand;
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 03 
 
 I'd roam my rifle in my hand ; 
 And list with joy unto the howl 
 
 Of wolves, as o'er those wastes they prowl. 
 Without a wish, or grief or pain, 
 
 A hunter I would still remain. 
 Ever strong, sanguine, fresh, and free, 
 
 No thought or care should trouble me. 
 With spirit, joyous, calm, and mild, 
 
 I'd hunt the terrors of the wild. 
 Each morn and eve the hills around — 
 
 With yells of my fierce dogs should sound ; 
 With them I'd search each mountain fen. 
 
 And rout the panther from his den. 
 With them I'd stop the grizzly bear, 
 
 And drop the wolf beside his lair. 
 I'd start the beaver in the brake. 
 
 My gun should sound, his hide I'd take. 
 The robe of many a bufi'alo 
 
 Should shield me from the winds and snow. 
 My gun should stop the antelope, 
 
 Upon the mountain's rocky slope ; 
 My hounds and I within my biel 
 
 On him should make a wholesome meal ; 
 And they should guard me through the night. 
 
 While I lay down to slumbers light. 
 Ah, yes ! without a want or pain, 
 
 Would lever there remain ; 
 Roam like the Indian who treads 
 
 The desert with a smile, 
 And makes the scenes that nature spreads 
 
 Around, though it be gloom she sheds, 
 His solitude beguile. 
 
 Face every danger of the wold — 
 At day, or midnight drear, 
 
 The angry monster fierce and bold. 
 The tempest dreadful to behold. 
 
 The torrent fell, and winter cold, 
 Without a pang or fear. 
 
 Like him with spirit buoyant, mild, 
 I'd live the hermet of the wild, 
 
 Far from the busy world's dull chime, 
 And die at God's appointed time. 
 
 LVII. 
 
 My thoughts were never such as these, 
 
 When free from woe and agonies, 
 From hunger and despair, 
 
 1 rose on many a happy night. 
 To charm and glad the soul and sight, 
 
 Of all the young and fair — 
 Who flock'd unto the theatre.
 
 64 
 
 To see se oa z'-i r.i^e. 
 If any nmr wit r ^ ' - -f^'d 
 
 I eooki their ^ :e. 
 
 For I isdeed eoa!d ^ -.- : r:. 
 
 ^: -'! eithfT ? : .^ — 
 
 At. — 1 ^ r to see me plsj, 
 
 y : _ - V : " - : _t pan 
 r :: 1 : i . : _ . i " : f . if scrroT lar 
 
 Asa- 
 
 M sxToIL, 
 
 _^'i 7t: -_ r i«r^j I'd roll 
 LYITL 
 
 
 Ere~-"- ii-vi - : .i vt.- __Li.. 
 
 Ti : : . :: — :_: - . .:id. 
 A:: i ^ -.Taia dixt aaerr - _ _ 1 
 
 i and love. 
 T-i^: 5e states a«: It -..;.; 
 
 S~:i It t: ^'-:: to totc- 
 
 ]RodaiiB, 
 
 Ere ~: . 1 - ^ r i seorduBg f 
 
 P::.: -.1.;- -^ -11. 
 
 Ere :;.T :.. T ^-, - .. ; ^ :~ trrd 
 
 : land 
 >ell. 
 
 :m'd to lore a:i 
 TTthaadbe- 
 
 7 :- ;-^,^t!&in H mi^
 
 TSaS. PSJESBKEDK 69' 
 
 I was 1^ 
 I li- 
 
 
 ne or 
 
 
 '- - - : 
 
 \ - 
 
 - _ 
 
 
 ' ~ ~ 
 
 rF< 
 
 
 LeKio 
 
 — - - - 
 
 A^ 
 
 - 
 
 T€9k *-- 
 
 - - — __. 
 
 And : - 
 
 
 T»s^ - 
 
 — 
 
 TbesL 
 
 " — - - 
 
 Tfc: 
 
 - ' ' 
 
 I w^ 
 
 
 To- 
 
 r 
 
 - . . 
 
 -i i. 
 
 1 - ; - - - 
 
 ■ -r^'> SI - - "7^ 
 
 
 - -v. 
 
 la^ 
 
 .;^- ■ 
 
 Amiif 
 
 . : -"- - "^f-r 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 Tksre vas 
 
 _" 1 
 
 TMkk 
 
 
 IspMdei 
 
 . - 
 
 TMwr 
 
 ' 
 
 lillcMk' 
 
 ■ _ 
 
 TWa^ 
 
 
 A^jctt: 
 
 
 R^ 
 
 - i- — 
 
 ^•iwigfct J 
 

 
 66 THE PR-ESIDICIDE, 
 
 And that everlasting glory 
 
 On tigli "woald be his meed. 
 He thousht it was no shame at all, 
 
 Xor any act of crime. — 
 But a meritorious deed — 
 
 All roble and sublime, 
 To wake up strife and murder fell, 
 
 And breed up discord so. 
 To teach the negro how to strike 
 
 The foul assassin s blow. 
 At night to urge him on to make 
 
 The fires of ruin glow, 
 And lay his master's stately home 
 
 In dust and ashes low. 
 He thought it just that aU the whites 
 
 Within the South should die. 
 So that the nesro might arise 
 
 From bonds of slayery. 
 For this, ay solely for that cause 
 
 He murder's flag unfurld. 
 And swore that he was working good 
 
 To God and all the world. 
 And so it is with all like him, 
 
 They always seem to feel, 
 Xo matter what black crime they do, 
 
 It is an act of weal. 
 They show no sign of grief or dule. 
 
 For any deed of theirs. 
 No matter how gross, dark and foul, 
 
 It to the world appears. 
 And although human law and rule 
 
 Should their fierce heat for carnage cool, 
 And force them to account, 
 
 Doom them to suffer and to die 
 A death of shame and infamy — 
 
 Upon the gallows dark and high, 
 Yet with unninchini; nerve and eye — 
 
 They will the scaffold mount. 
 Feign exuberance of extacy, 
 
 Swear 'till their latest breath — 
 That mankind carry them to die 
 
 A noble martyr's death. 
 
 LIX. 
 
 Away with thoughts like these, I'll back 
 
 To that infernal time 
 When I sat with murderers fell 
 
 And plann'd the cursed crime. 
 That cruel blow that turnd to woe, 
 
 And darkness dread and strange, 
 The loyal and the leal throughout
 
 THE PRiSIDICIDE. 67 
 
 Broad Columbia's range. 
 That made her trembling start, as thougli 
 
 Ai} earthquake shook the world, 
 And her high pinnacle of joj 
 
 To woe and s^Drrow hurl'd. 
 At. all were happy in the laad 
 
 Ere that fatal buUet sped, 
 Ere I the treacherous and vile 
 
 Laid noble Lincoln dead. 
 For every day throughout the land 
 
 The joyous tidin.'s peal'd — 
 That same vast army of the foe 
 
 Upon a bloodlesc field 
 Had surrendered to the North, and more 
 
 Without a blow, or drop of gore 
 Were just about to yield, 
 
 That soon no trait .r in the land 
 The bloody sword 8h<^.uld wield. 
 
 All look'd for speedy peace supreme, 
 And rapture unconfined, 
 
 All hoped that peace right soon again 
 Would o'er the land assume her reign. 
 
 That the erring states with us amain 
 In loving sisterhood would bind ; 
 
 And nowhere in the land was seen 
 A dark and sorrow stricken mind. 
 
 When I the blasting Oyclone rose, 
 Wither d their blooming mirth. 
 
 Spread gloom like shadow of eclipse 
 That darkens half the earth. 
 
 As a fire of blight and woe 
 By drivinsr tempests fann'd, 
 
 The fell tremendous tidings swept 
 Throughout the startled land. 
 
 And all the nation mourns for him, 
 All mirth has ceased to glow. 
 
 And from the stately mansions, banes 
 The drapery of wee. 
 
 Ah ! many a head is bow'd with grief 
 And many an eye is dim. 
 
 As in the churches o'er the land 
 They sing the funeral hymn. 
 
 For me each face within the land 
 Is pale with rage and hate, 
 , And if they bad me in their hands 
 I'd meet a ghastly fate. 
 
 A- ' ' ' r :a this world shall e'er 
 Their .:.....„j; :;;ry tame. 
 
 They curse me for the deed, and wish 
 Me in hell's hissing flame. 
 
 Each in his mind prepares some death.
 
 68 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 And swears that I stall feel 
 
 A death of pain unknown before, 
 E'en on the torturing wheel. 
 
 LX. 
 
 Ah ! wherefore lie I on this lair 
 
 And recall such deeds of wronc; ? 
 Why let them round my achinp; brain 
 
 Like burning Furies throng? 
 "Why let them throb within the brain, 
 
 Till like a writhing storm 
 Of liquid fi e — the heated blood 
 
 Goes rushing through my form ! 
 And ghastly phantoms seem to rise 
 
 And scecr and scoff in glee, 
 And full before my glaring eyes 
 
 Limn all my infamy. 
 But I must back, and bravely back 
 
 To that infernal time, 
 When back from Canada T came 
 
 Big with thoughts of blood and crime. 
 Came as some mirky cloud that looms 
 
 At noonday on the hill, 
 Surcharged with lightnings dread and fierce, 
 
 And thunders fell, doom'dsoon to pierce. 
 And boom through half the universe. 
 
 And spread o'er it a blight and curse, 
 When all is bright and still. 
 
 Ay, destined for an end far worse, 
 To waste, to slay and blast, 
 
 The happy nation to submerse 
 In Sorrow's ocean vast. 
 
 To send o'er it a sable hearse. 
 And agonizing thrill, 
 
 Just as Victory grand and terse, 
 Brought Rapture, as a healing nurse 
 
 Each aching breast to fill. 
 
 'O 
 
 LXI. 
 
 Methinks I can recall the day 
 
 I left the merry shore 
 Of Canada, where heartily 
 
 I wish myself once more, 
 But where alas I ne'er again 
 
 Blay ever hope to tour. 
 Around me on that sunny day 
 
 Throng'd the plotters of the crime, 
 Ay, they who plann'd and plotted it 
 
 And fix'd the awful time. 
 Men whose fell spirits only thought 
 
 Of deeds, of sin and harm,
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 69 
 
 Deeds that might strike the fiends of hell 
 
 With terror and alarm, 
 Ay, make them tremble fear and cower, 
 
 And yet who possess'd the power 
 To draw, and lure, and charm — 
 
 Some fool like me within their plot 
 Make him their tool and arm. 
 
 Yea, they were heads of hellish schemes, 
 Fell as those of which a demon dreams, 
 
 But never once the men — 
 To lift a bold and sturdy hand — 
 
 To deal a blow in plots they plann'd ; 
 Or face the danger when 
 
 The spark that into flames they fann'd 
 Swept o'er forest, moor and f-^n. 
 
 Making Desolation o'er the land 
 Her blasting sable wings expand. 
 
 They were always missing then 
 Soon as they dropped the burning brand — 
 
 They forced some tool of theirs 
 When he the brunt of all should stand, 
 
 Ilim drove in traps and snares, 
 While they far ofi" a sneaking scann'd 
 
 His tortures and his throes; 
 Nor came with spirit bold and grand 
 
 To share his griefs and woes. 
 Came not to share with him the crime, 
 
 Nor help him scape the rack, 
 But aid to damn him through all time — 
 
 In every age in every clime, 
 And loose hounds upon his track. 
 
 They think if they should mournful seem 
 Or aught of friendship show, 
 
 For him who carried out their scheme 
 Of murder vile and low, 
 
 That every one they met would deem 
 They had a hand in it, 
 
 And if him they strove to screen 
 From law and justice, suspicion keen 
 
 Would soon upon them sit, 
 So 'twould be folly most extreme, 
 
 Foolish as a maniac's dream, 
 All void of sense and wit. 
 
 So they leave him to his fate 
 Whatever it may be, 
 
 Ay, to the people's wrath and hate, 
 As they 've abondon'd me. 
 
 But I remember how they swore 
 To give me help and aid. 
 
 When ever dangers fell and sore 
 Should be around me laid.
 
 70 THE PRiESIDICIDK. 
 
 They swore by the eternal God 
 That through all future time — 
 
 No matter where on earth I trod, 
 Wh:itever deck or clime, 
 
 That I should feel no scourging rod, 
 Nor mourn the deed of crime. 
 
 And wealth they swore that I should have, 
 Yea, such vast piles of gold — 
 
 That Croesus' ample coifers 
 The half could never hold, 
 
 That soon as I the deed should brave. 
 It should to me be told. 
 
 And where is it ? and where are they 
 Upon this woeful nighf. ? 
 
 Far away from me, and perhaps 
 Now laughing at my plight, 
 
 'J hey would not give now so much 
 As e'en the widow's mite ; 
 
 Nor will they lift a hand to save 
 Me from the gallows and the grave. 
 
 LXII. 
 
 Ah, ray God I what a fool was I 
 
 To herd with men so vile, 
 And swallow down each crafty lie 
 
 They breathed to me the while. 
 Men black with foul dishonor's dye, 
 
 And stecp'd in craft and guile ; 
 And yet I loved thrse devils sly. 
 
 And doted on their smile. 
 I deem'd their hearts were warm and true. 
 
 And that they meant to bear mo through ; 
 They clasped me by the hand — 
 
 And told me of the plot, and drew 
 Me in the scheme they plann'd. 
 
 "Now list to us" they thus began, 
 "We know you bold and brave. 
 
 That ne'er a more courageous man 
 Has ever faced the battle's van, 
 
 On land or ocean's wave. 
 We know your heart is true as steel. 
 
 Would ne'er in scenes of danger reel, 
 But be firm as adamant. 
 
 That you are stalwart brave and leal, 
 And after fame doth pant, 
 
 And would sooner die than e'er reveal ; 
 What so e'er you swear to conceal ; 
 
 Though it caused you more of woe than weal — 
 O'er it you would not rant, 
 
 But onward press with daring zeal, 
 E'en when all other hearts would feel
 
 THE PRiESIDICIDE. 71 
 
 That hope was not extant. 
 And so we give to you the task 
 
 To risk the daring deed, 
 To work the plot, and all we ask — 
 
 That you o'er it will keep a mask, 
 If it should not succeed, 
 
 Ne'er use so free the burning bowl 
 That it may e'er mislead 
 
 Your daring reckless tongue and soul, 
 So others may the plot unroll. 
 
 And bring us into harm ; 
 Do you but act discreet and wise, 
 
 And we'll take the nation by surprise, 
 And shake it with alarm. 
 
 Yea, by one bold vigorous blow 
 We will the Northern states o'erthrow, 
 
 Upset their law and rule, 
 Spread anarchy, and ruin wide, 
 
 And humble all their strength and pride 
 To weakness, woe and dule ! 
 
 Now list to what we've schemed and plann'd. 
 The foremost of the Federal land 
 
 We must assassinate. 
 Lincoln, Johnson, Seward, and all 
 
 The Cabinet both great and small, 
 Alike must share that fate. 
 
 The task is easy unto one 
 As bold and brave as you, 
 
 One who was never known to shun 
 A daring deed, nor fear nor run 
 
 AVhen dangers round him grew 
 Ay, with some dozen men like you 
 
 Whose souls in danger's hour are true, 
 Whose nerves are sure and strong. 
 
 Upon some dark and stormy night 
 You might put all their souls to flight. 
 
 Send them to endless gloom or light. 
 Then arise in power and might. 
 
 Be themes for tale and song. 
 Such dread confusion and misrule 
 
 Mix'd with dark horror and with dule. 
 Such strife and anarchy, 
 
 Such overthrow of all the laws 
 Will then ensue, that none will pause 
 
 To seek the monsters who did cause 
 The woe and agony. 
 
 Ay, all so terrible and dread 
 And fell will be the times — 
 
 That none will ever dare to seek 
 The authors of the crimes. 
 
 For each will be afraid to trust
 
 72 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 His neighbor at his side, 
 
 Lest he an archfiend traitor be, 
 And murder, rapine, robbery. 
 
 Will thunder far and wide. 
 And then if 3-ou'll be bold and brave, 
 
 And each one of your fierce conclave 
 Would to yourselves be true — 
 
 You'll fear no fools who dare to rave, 
 And throw the crime on you, 
 
 And if you find so bold a fool — 
 Soon have him close confined. 
 
 Him treat to gallows or the knife. 
 And force in every mind — 
 
 He was an author of the crime. 
 And that you only strive 
 
 To gUiira and shield your native clime, 
 And keep its laws alive. 
 
 Soon ynu will scatter in dismay 
 Each secret waspish hive 
 
 Of men, who aught against you say, 
 Or plots 'gahist you contrive. 
 
 Do you right fearless seize the helm. 
 And all the reins that guide the realm, 
 
 Alike of church and ptafe, 
 Nor fear that aught shall you o'crwhelm, 
 
 Be bold and firm as fate. 
 And soon unto your aid will come 
 
 The armies of the South, 
 All will be law within the land 
 
 That issu es from your mouth, 
 Those who hate you will be afraid 
 
 'Gainst you to Hit a hand. 
 They will be instantly dismay'd, 
 
 Soon as they see your friends array'd. 
 And round you take their stand. 
 
 Thousands will flock unto your aid 
 And keep you in command. 
 
 All the South will on you confer 
 A blessing through all time, 
 
 And hail you its deliverer 
 From the sironjr Northern clime. 
 
 Though the task be easy, it is true 
 Fell dangers hover round, 
 
 One miss step in it may make us rue 
 And bring us to the ground. 
 
 Let prudence, caution, selfcontrol, 
 Be aye at your command, 
 
 See each be a true and trusty soul 
 Who in it takes a hand. 
 
 Thus kingdoms have been won by men 
 Who had the soul and nerve
 
 THE PB^SIDICIDJC 73 
 
 To strike for them, ay, men wliom nouglit 
 From high intents could swerve. 
 
 Men who shall never be forgot, 
 Their aims, nor deeds, nor names, 
 
 But still across the world shall stream 
 Bright as the Northern flames. 
 
 Be alike the terror and the dread, 
 And joy of human kind, 
 
 Their names aye make the tyrant quake, 
 And cheer the martyr's mind. 
 
 So say you'll undertake the deed 
 And win a deathless name, 
 
 Win wealthy honor, rank, and power, 
 And everlasting fame." 
 
 LXIII. 
 
 I've heard that serpents have the power 
 
 To draw, and charm, and lure, 
 The lion in their hideous coil 
 
 And hold him there secure. 
 And that the huntsman far away 
 
 Though strong, and brave, and bold, 
 They draw beneath their magic spell 
 
 Within their awful fold. 
 I've heard the Ignis Fatuus 
 
 Oft dclu'les and misleads men, 
 From off their fair and open path 
 
 Into some loathsome fen. 
 And that still on they follow it 
 
 As bound by charm or spell. 
 Until the moss beneath them breaks, 
 
 And they tread the frightful well. 
 I've heard Caprea's fatal Sirens 
 
 Far sweeter songs could sing, 
 Than those with which the muses made 
 
 The courts of heaven ring. 
 And that the seaman far away 
 
 Who chanced to hear their strain 
 Would needs approach their fatal shore, 
 
 And die a death of pain. 
 I've heard that poison'd deadly fruit 
 
 Is sweeter to the taste, 
 And far more pleasing to the eye, 
 
 Than that which of the fatal dye 
 Is pure, and clean and chaste. 
 
 I've heard there are men who a charm 
 And spell and power possess, 
 
 A mysterious influence. 
 Which they throw o'er men, and ever hence 
 
 Can hold them in duress. 
 And then by look, or nod, or sign,
 
 74 . 'm^ PKiESlDICIDE. 
 
 With all power and ease — 
 Can make them do and act for them. 
 
 Ay, lead them where they please. 
 And I believe those treacherous men 
 
 Who urged me on to crime, 
 Who plann'd the murder dark and foul, 
 
 And fix'd it S awful time — 
 Possess'd infernal charms and spells — 
 
 Not own'd by all mankind, 
 Not e'en by all who ever are 
 
 To deeds of hell inclined. 
 Not e'en by all of those the good 
 
 And virtuous condemn. 
 For ever since that fatal day 
 
 That first I met with them — 
 And leagued in their dark schemes of crime, 
 
 Of horror and of wrath, 
 No power had I to check my course, 
 
 Or ever shun their path, 
 I \a.y beneath their will and rule 
 
 As 'neath a serpent's charm, 
 I could not see they urged me on 
 
 To future woe and harm. 
 They knew I'd ever court the path 
 
 W here dangers fell were found, 
 Nor e'er one moment pause to see 
 
 How vast they hover'd round. 
 They knew that I was easy led 
 
 By artful men like them, 
 So me they profFer'd boundless wealth, 
 
 A throne and diades]. 
 To prompt me on to dare their schemes 
 
 Deeds which they fear'd to do, 
 For which they knew full well that I 
 
 Would ever mourn and rue. 
 But wherefore shnuld they care for that 
 
 Just so they gain'd their aims, 
 They knew the crime would rest on me 
 
 And ne'er would taint their names. 
 They knew I was a thoughtless man, 
 
 A daring wayward fool, 
 The man for them to choose and make 
 
 Their champion and their tool. 
 
 LXIV. 
 
 Men say the age of this round world 
 
 Is but six thousand years. 
 But through Geology I swear 
 
 It older far appears. 
 For rocks around this world abound 
 
 In every sea and clime,
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 75 
 
 That would have ta'en to form their growth 
 
 Two million years of time. 
 And if it is two million years 
 
 Since earth its course began, 
 Since fresh from God's own hand it sprung 
 
 All molded to His plan — 
 Oh ! what countless, countless millions 
 
 Of us frail human kind, 
 Must then have lived and died on earth 
 
 And been to dust consigned. 
 They 've been countless as the grains of sand 
 
 That lie on ocean's shore, 
 And those that lie in dusert wastes 
 
 O'er which the Simooms roar, 
 More countless than the drops of rain 
 
 That now from heaven fall. 
 Numberless as the yearly leaves 
 
 That crown the forests tall. 
 They've been so vast there's no blade of grass 
 
 That waves unto the storm, 
 But springs from atoms that erst made up 
 
 A living human form, 
 And yet I verily believe 
 
 'Mongst all those millions vast 
 That through this trying world of woe 
 
 From life to death have past — 
 There never breathed a blinder fool 
 
 Than me in every way, 
 Nor men more steep'd iu craft and guile 
 
 And treacherous than they. 
 
 LXY. 
 
 By Heaven, I exclaimed ! I swear 
 
 To do the thing proposed, • 
 
 If I fail mav these eyes of mine 
 
 Ri^ht swift in death be closed. 
 Ay, let me die, torn in a cloud 
 
 By angry ghosts of men. 
 So that I never pine or die 
 
 Within a dungeon den. 
 But if I fail 'twill be because 
 
 The hand of God was near. 
 Opposed the deed, and smote me down 
 
 With palsy and with fear. 
 A fitter champion than I 
 
 Ye never could have found. 
 Had ye travel'd o'er all the world, 
 
 And search'd it round and round. 
 I swear that back I'll never come 
 
 Till I have braved the deed, 
 And me,ye ne'er again shall see
 
 ("6 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 If I sTiould not succeed. 
 Yea. never more in Montreal 
 
 My foot shall tread, my shadow fall, 
 My voice again be heard. 
 
 And cursed be he within the plot, 
 Yes whether it succeed or not, 
 
 Who is so void of soul and wit 
 As to betray one leaguea in it. 
 
 By hint, or deed, or word. 
 Arid if it ever be my fate 
 
 To meet him once again, 
 Right face to face ia tavern hall, 
 
 In street or open plain. 
 His life shall answer for the deed. 
 
 And none will ever know — 
 I gave the s^^rvile pratinc; wretch 
 
 The swift and fatal blow. 
 If I succeed in this emprise, 
 
 For by my soul I will, 
 Yea truly as the sua now sinks 
 
 Uehind yon sombre hill. 
 To every one who gives me aid 
 
 And shields me from the crime, 
 And will uphold what'er I do 
 
 At any place or tim<^, 
 I will reward his services, 
 
 And all his toils repay — 
 With posts of honor, wealth, and power, 
 
 Give him abroad and ample dower. 
 Dominion and wide sway. 
 
 I will forget no friend nor foe 
 Who breathes this vital air. 
 
 So let all a fair warning take 
 • And of their deeds beware. 
 
 And now I g) to deal the blow, 
 Empire is mine aim, 
 
 And ere a year goes round, wide o'er 
 The world shall stream my name. 
 
 Soon as we spring t^ rank and power. 
 And fix ourselves secure. 
 
 When we our might establish 
 So it shall aye endure — 
 
 High times we'll have for sport and mirth, 
 Aud pleasures that allure. 
 
 And charm the soul of mortal man. 
 And if we chance to find 
 
 The people do not like our rule 
 And 'gainst us set their mind, 
 
 Then instantly we will d dare 
 War 'gainst some foreign land. 
 
 And send ofi" our coemics
 
 T*^ 
 
 THE PRiESIDICIDE. 77 
 
 To fight upon that strand. 
 
 England is aye ready for war, 
 'Gainst her the strife we'll wage, 
 
 By doing it we will avert 
 The rabble's hate and rage 
 
 A war with her would last so long 
 'Twould give us ample time — 
 
 To fix our selves secure, 
 And free ourselves of crime. 
 
 No matter how the war might end 
 One thing is true and plain, 
 
 Hy it we'll thin out those who hate 
 The way we rule and reign. 
 
 And then meanwhile we'll rise so high 
 In wealth, and rank, and power, 
 
 That all our foes beneath our frown 
 Will tremble quail and cower. 
 
 And then not one within the land 
 Would venture or would dare — 
 
 Ay, think so little of his neck 
 As throw at us a sneer. 
 
 Or whisper we were guilty of 
 The crime in any way, 
 
 Or even hint we had no right 
 The realm to rule and sway. 
 
 And in the eyes of all the wqrld 
 I'll stand so grand and high, 
 
 That no foreigi power will blend 
 My name with infamy. 
 
 But yield to me the homage due 
 My rank and power will claim, 
 
 They'll seek niy love, and shun my rage, 
 And glory in my name. 
 
 For those whuse souls Ambition stirs 
 To posts of hitih renown, 
 
 If Fortune standcth by their side, 
 Success their aims should crown, 
 
 No matter by what cuds they're gain'd — 
 Though it be deadly sin, 
 
 They're counted hemes by the world 
 Soon as their points they win. 
 
 But he who Fortune casts aside, 
 Nor aids to gain his aims, 
 
 Thouiih keenest honor guides him on 
 And all his soul inflames, 
 
 lie wins the curses of the world, 
 Its hatred and its fruwn, 
 
 Yea, all his fellowmcn combine 
 To crush and hurl him down. 
 
 Thief, villain, traitor, wretch and fool, 
 These are the mildest names —
 
 78 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 For those whom Fortune favors not, 
 Though high and grand their aims. 
 
 And now I'll strike with all my might 
 For rank, and wealth, and fame, 
 
 I'll win or die in the attempt 
 An everlasting name. 
 
 So farewell, and once more farewell, 
 Let's feel each grasp again, 
 
 Haste, be quick and swift as lightning, 
 For yonder comes the Train. 
 
 There, there, 'tis done, — and now I go, 
 E'en though I wend in vain 
 
 E'en though it brings me less of weal, 
 Than woe and ghastly pain. 
 
 LXVI. 
 
 I leap'd upon the Railway Train^ 
 
 And as it steamM away 
 I cast one anxious look behind. 
 
 And took my last survey — 
 Of those fell villains who combined 
 
 As with one heart and with one mind — 
 To make me their victim and their tool, 
 
 Because I was a reckless fool. 
 As wayward and as bold a man — 
 
 As e'er midst scenes of horror r:in 
 Since earth and sea tbeir course began. 
 
 And they sly and sharp as any c'ique — 
 That ever aim'd themselves to pique 
 
 As masters of all guile ; 
 Yea as ever sought to stand unique 
 
 In art of subtlest wile ! 
 Whilst gazing on that cunning league 
 
 Of exiled traitors there. 
 Those basest villains of intrigue 
 
 That ever trod this sphere ; 
 I saw upon their features play 
 
 A bright and lively smile, 
 And I was such a thoughtless fool 
 
 To fancy all the while — 
 They smiled in admiration of 
 
 My courage prompt and true, 
 That in their souls they reverenced me, 
 
 With all the homage due — 
 To some bold warrior of old time, 
 
 Who with sword, shield, and helm, 
 Singly fought the Paynim hosts 
 
 And did their hordes o'erwhelm. 
 But now I know full well it must 
 
 Have been a smile of scorn. 
 Of hate, derision and contempt
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 That did their brows adorn. 
 It was that cunning subtle smile 
 
 That almost looks sublime. 
 Known to none but mortals of their style, 
 
 Men who are steeped in craft and guile, 
 Yea, who are alchemists in wile, 
 
 And every heinous crime, 
 Men sprung from hell's own teeming school 
 
 Of sin and infamy, 
 Men who can look all mild and cool 
 
 Whilst plotting felony. 
 And quickly coax some brainless fool 
 
 To be their champion and their tool, 
 When'er they wish a priceless pool 
 
 Of blood and carnage spilt, 
 Charm them by some power or spell, 
 
 To dark malicious deeds of hell. 
 Deeds foul and horrible and fell. 
 
 And throw a charm o'er guilt. 
 Hell how they must have laugh'd and chuckled 
 
 In full contempt at me. 
 And ridiculed the brainless wretch 
 
 Who had not eyes to see — ■ 
 How he was guU'd and humbugged on 
 
 To be their butt and tool. 
 Great God ! they must have look'd on me 
 
 As the most rash brain'd fool. 
 The most egregious senseless knave 
 
 That ever trod on earth, 
 Or fill'd a lone unhonor'd grave 
 
 Since this wide world had birth. 
 Now part of the foul plot is done, 
 
 And that part done by me, 
 They must curse me for its failure 
 
 And sneer in raillery. 
 If there's one galling thing on earth 
 
 Beyond all other dule, — 
 'Tis to become the sport and mirth, 
 
 The jest and ridicule, 
 The serf, the servant, and the slave. 
 
 The victim and the tool, 
 The butt, the scullion, and the knave, 
 
 The dupe, and ass, and fool 
 Of surreptitious fiends like these. 
 
 Men school'd in every crime. 
 That yet the devil tnught to man 
 
 Through all revolving time. 
 Oh, cursed be all their days on earth ! 
 
 Ay, every liour they live, 
 May they ne'er feel one ray of mirth, 
 
 Nor hope one solace give. 
 
 79
 
 80 THE PRiESIDICIDE. 
 
 Cursed be the very air they breathe 
 
 Through life, aud when they die 
 May flames of woe around them wreathe 
 
 With tenfold agony. 
 'Twas they who phuin'd and schemed the way 
 
 To shed the priceless blood, 
 Take the life of the noblest man 
 
 That ever since the world began 
 Has gazed on land or flood. 
 
 Yea, they devised the felon plot, 
 The dark malicious crime, 
 
 By God and man they shall be cursed 
 Through all revolving time, 
 
 Ilark ! hark ! a voice rings in my ear, 
 I hear it whisper loud and clear, 
 
 "Fell devil hold thy curse, 
 Wretch, traitor, villain, murderer, 
 
 Thy curses to thyself transfer, 
 For Felon thou art worse — 
 
 Than all that base malicious throng- 
 That plann'd the deed of sin and wrong, 
 
 Of horror and of gloom. 
 That sent the valiant and the strong 
 
 Unto the silent tomb, 
 Thine was the arm that dealt the blow. 
 
 Thine was the hand that laid him low. 
 All cowardly and fell, 
 
 More cowardly in every wise 
 Than any demon could devise. 
 
 That ever roam'd through hell. 
 For it thou shall be damn'd and cursed 
 
 Through all the flight of time, 
 Be deem'd the fiercest fiend and worst, 
 
 That e'er through hell's barriers burst, 
 And came to practice crime 
 
 Amongst the suns of men, yes thou 
 With willing heart and smiling brow, 
 
 Aim'd the fatal bullet at his head, 
 And laid our best and noblest dead, 
 
 X'ause he strove to keep the nation free 
 Of dark misrule and anarchy, 
 
 And laid rebellion low ; 
 Because he never injured thee. 
 
 Nor caused thee aught of woe ! 
 The noble land that gave thee birth, 
 
 Which above all things on earth — 
 Thou shouldst have loved with heart and soul, 
 
 Let nought on earth that love control. 
 Thou strovest to crush and overthrow, 
 
 To ruin and despoil. 
 To hurl in anarchy and woe.
 
 THE PRiESIDICIDE. 81 
 
 And bloody fierce turmoil. 
 In Danger's deepest^ darkest gurpe, 
 
 And sea, thou wouldst engulf her, 
 Make Tumult o'er her howl and surge 
 
 With storms of flame and sulphur. 
 For it by her thou shalt be cursed 
 
 While her existence runs, 
 Be deem'd the basest and the worst 
 
 Of all her erring sons. 
 So groan amidst the midnight gloom 
 
 With anguish fell and vast, 
 Rave, howl above thy empty tomb 
 
 Unto the roaring blast, 
 For thou shalt meet thy awful doom 
 
 That is approaching fast." 
 
 LXVII. 
 
 ! that this bitter agony 
 
 Of body and of mind — 
 Would snap in twain the cord of life 
 
 That binds them in this world of strife, 
 And let them seek and find 
 
 That rest and respite in the grave, 
 Which death alone can bring, 
 
 For I would fain believe that creed, 
 That wild imagining, 
 
 That when the humao body dies. 
 Its immortal soul remains 
 
 Forever where the carcass lies, 
 Free alike of joys and pains. 
 
 Without a thrill of joy or weal. 
 Or pang of grim despair, 
 
 Without a thought of heavenly bliss, 
 Or earthly woe or care, 
 
 It sits forever gazing on 
 Its carcass 'neath the sod, 
 
 Or 'neath the wave, unseen of all 
 Except the eye of God. 
 
 And when liis awful trumpet sounds 
 Through seas and earth's remotest bounds, 
 
 Calls the dead to life again 
 Yea, all who molder on the world, 
 
 All who from place to place are hurl'd 
 Within the howling main. 
 
 Their souls and forms again unite. 
 In serene and endless prime, 
 
 Then soar to rapture and delight. 
 Freed of all their earthly crime. 
 
 Forgiven all their deeds on earth, 
 And every thought that gave them birth, 
 
 Through the eternal love of Him
 
 82 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Who died on Calvery^ 
 
 Who sits between the Cherubim, 
 And ever there shall be — 
 
 To plead for guilty man, and all 
 The children of this world, 
 
 So that their spirits may not be 
 To utter darkness hurl'd. 
 
 LXVIII. 
 
 Oh ! that I'd been born a Hindoo chief, 
 
 Reard 'mongst the Imaus fells, 
 Where the rapid Indus plunges, 
 
 Bellows throush the flinty dells. 
 And where the blasts and hurricanes 
 
 In endless fury blow — 
 O'er the terrific avalanche, 
 
 And everlasting snow. 
 Yea, where those enormous masses 
 
 To heaven their foreheads throw, 
 And vast eternal shadows fling 
 
 Across the vales below. 
 Above whose grand stupendous peaks 
 
 And adamantine walls — 
 Aye eagle unto eagle screams. 
 
 To vulture vulture calls. 
 Where o'er the torrent broad and deep, 
 
 And grim, unfathomed gulf, 
 The panther and the tiger leap. 
 
 And ever howling wulf. 
 I'd wander'd where Jamootri stands 
 
 Wrapt in his icy shrouds, 
 And where tall Dhaiboon frowns 
 
 Amidst a night of clouds. 
 Where Kunchinginga's brows are 
 
 Heights on heights stupendous hurl'd. 
 Where Braiaa sits with wrathful eye 
 
 And views the erring world. 
 With meteor standard there he sits 
 
 Wide waves his flowing robe. 
 And never moves his eager eye 
 
 From off the rolling globe. 
 Like the Hindoo I had gnzod with awe 
 
 On the cloudcapped height, thought I saw 
 His sublime and awful form 
 
 And fancied that I he:nd his voice 
 'Midst torrent and the flood rejoice, 
 
 The lightning and the storm. 
 Fancied no matter what I did 
 
 Let it been good or ill — 
 That it was l>rama urged me on 
 
 And that I worked his will.
 
 THE PRiESTDICIDE. 83 
 
 Oh ! had I been born a Hindoo, 
 
 And cradled in their creed, 
 Rocked in superstition's bower, 
 
 Then I'd been bless'd in deed 
 My mind like theirs would have been train'd 
 
 To fancy, think and feel, 
 All those I loathed within this world 
 
 Should perish by my steel. 
 Taught to think every one I loathed 
 
 Was Brama's mortal foe, 
 And that for Brama's sake and mine 
 
 I should aye strike him low. 
 That if I chanced to let him live 
 
 And prosper in this world, 
 If in a dark untimely grave 
 
 He ne'er by me was hurl'd, 
 That Brama's burning wrath and hate 
 
 Would ever glow for me^ 
 His eternal bowers of bliss 
 
 Mine eye should never see. 
 Had I been tutored in that creed, 
 
 I had not felt as no.w, 
 Dark sorrow had not torn my soul, 
 
 Nor anguish gloom'd my brow. 
 Instead of seeming base and foul 
 
 To make a good man bleed — 
 It would have then appear'd to me 
 
 A just and riijhteous deed. 
 And I had gloried in the act 
 
 At every move and turn. 
 For it my breast had ever been 
 
 Bright joy and rapture's urn. 
 And 1 had callous grown to crime 
 
 As the flinty rocks that sleep — 
 'Neath everlasting snow upon 
 
 Himalaya's frozen steep. 
 Oh ! I had never felt remorse 
 
 For any deed of crime. 
 Conscience would ne'er have smitten me 
 
 As at this awful time. 
 Curse on these thoughts, I know not why 
 
 They cleave around me so, 
 I strive to drive them from my mind, 
 
 But still they come and go. 
 As blasts that o'er the desert waste 
 
 Are sweeping to and fro. 
 
 LXIX. 
 
 When T arrived in Washington 
 
 Gayly I spent my time, 
 For 'twas an easy task to find.
 
 84 THE PRiESiniCIDK. 
 
 Men who immediately combined 
 With me to work the crime. 
 
 The very hour I arrived 
 "Within the fatal town 
 
 Though it was night, and wild with storms, 
 And rain was pouring down, 
 
 Right straight to Dame Surratt's I went 
 And told her of the scheme. 
 
 And how I sought to make the realm 
 With gore and carnage stream. 
 
 Madame, I said, if I could find 
 Some bold and venturous men, 
 
 To aid me in the plot, the whole 
 Were sure to prosper then. 
 
 Nothing would then be left undone 
 In any shape or way, 
 
 If they were only prompt and true, 
 And did what e'er they swore to do, 
 
 And would my words obey. 
 For I would fix the time for them 
 
 To move and strike with me, 
 I to each one will give his ta&k 
 
 No matter what it be. 
 And we all at the self same time 
 
 Upon some mirky ni<zht. 
 When no one dreams of ha'-m or crime 
 
 Will put their souls to flight. 
 The plot is far too large for me 
 
 To work out right alone, 
 But if thou'll help me gain some help 
 
 I soon will mount a throne. 
 And then- thy fortune will be made 
 
 As sure as we are here, 
 Thy services be well repaid 
 
 As ever mortal's were. 
 "By heaven" she exclaim'd "I swear 
 
 Thy plot 's a noble thing, 
 And all the aid that thou shalt need 
 
 Unto thy side I'll bring. 
 I'll work for thee in storm and shine 
 
 Let weal or woe betide, 
 Thy glorious goal I'll aid. thee win 
 
 Or perish by thy side. 
 Ah, Booth ! oft in thine infancy, 
 
 I have rejoiced the while 
 I've held and rocked thee on my knee, 
 
 And watch'd thy infant smile. 
 I've often said the day would come 
 
 If to the age of man — 
 It should please the Almighty's will 
 
 Thy days on earth should span,
 
 THE TR^SIDICIDE. 85 
 
 Thou wouldst rise and tower above 
 
 The common herd of men ; 
 I see thoi^e words are coming true 
 
 I chanced to utter then. 
 And so let good or ill betide 
 
 Thy fortune's mine my boy, 
 All I can do or say for thee 
 
 I will with utmost joy, 
 And all the arts and wiles I own 
 
 I will for thee employ. 
 And know, long as I live thou art 
 
 Welcome to my abode ; 
 But thou has journey'd far and long 
 
 A rough and weary road. 
 And tired, and cold, and hungry, 
 
 I know thou now must be, 
 So pause 'till I bring food and wine 
 
 To warm and comfort thee." 
 
 LXX. 
 
 She heap'd the board with food and wine, 
 
 Yea, of the choicest kind. 
 And soon I felt refresh'd and cheer'd 
 
 In body and in mind 
 Aha ! were such a feast as that 
 
 But spread before me now, 
 I would forget my broken limb, 
 
 Nor heed my burning brow. 
 Right long we sat beside the board. 
 
 And long we talk'd of things, 
 That would have scared the fiend away 
 
 On more than lightning wings 
 In thought a hundred times and more 
 
 We did assassianate — 
 All those the cruel plot had doom'd 
 
 To an untimely fate, 
 And we gloried in the deed 
 
 As the devil and his mate — 
 Might with vast rapture glow o'er scenes 
 
 Of horror and of hate. 
 In thought dominion far and near, 
 
 And wealth were all my own. 
 In thought I wore a kingly crown, 
 
 And sat upon a throne, 
 With trusty nobles at my side, 
 
 And armies at my hand. 
 And I was owned by all the world 
 
 As monarch of the land. 
 Ah ! thus we talked and thus we thought 
 
 And down the wine we pour'd, 
 Till I from toil and drunkenness
 
 86 THE PRiESIDICIDE. 
 
 Roird down beneath the board. 
 These were the last sounds of that night 
 
 That in mije ear did rins:, 
 "Good nisht thou brave and sturdy chief 
 
 Columbia's future king." 
 
 LXXI. 
 
 'Tis strange what awful visions crawl 
 
 Across the minds of men — 
 When sleep has wrapped the senses all 
 
 In her dark mysterious pall, 
 And how they haunt them then. 
 
 How those visions seem to torture them, 
 Round them cast a fiery hem, 
 
 And awful gulfs of woe, 
 O'er which it seems they needs must pass. 
 
 And face the scorching glow. 
 Keenly we feel the pangs of pain 
 
 Through all our being go, 
 It seems to pass before the mind 
 
 As though 'twere really so. 
 That night as o'erpnwered with wine 
 
 I slept upon the floor, 
 Fell tremendous scenes of horror 
 
 Pass'd all my mind before. 
 Which chill'd the blood within my veins 
 
 And rack'd my spirit sore. 
 Methought I sat upon a hill — 
 
 The day was bright and cold, 
 Far away in a gulf below 
 Potomac's waters roll'd, 
 Lost in thought I gazed on the spray 
 
 'Twas glorious to behold, 
 For 'neatii the glowing beams of day 
 
 It almost looked like gold. 
 When lo ! I heard a distant sound 
 
 As horse hoofs on the frozen ground, 
 And instantly I turn'd around, 
 Saw a horseman coming on, 
 As up the rocky hill he wound 
 
 Like gold his armor shone. 
 For sheathed was he from head to heel 
 
 In glorious panoply of steel, 
 Hijih upon his glittering helm 
 
 He wore a snow white plume. 
 His steed was swift as sands that drift 
 
 Before the red Simoom, 
 And huge and strong in form and limb, 
 
 And whiter than the foam 
 That clothes the Caribbean seas 
 When forth the tempests roam.
 
 THE PRtESIDICIDE. 87 
 
 While I gazed upon that rider 
 
 I shook with deadly awe, 
 Although such men in ancient days 
 
 With joy the people saw. 
 I thought of Bayard of old time, 
 
 Of godlike Charlemagne, 
 And of mighty Ooeur de Lion 
 
 Whose armor shone like flame. 
 1 thought of valiant Ivanhoe 
 
 Whose helmet gleam' d afar — 
 'Midst the wreck and whirl of battle 
 
 Like some transcendent star. 
 And he who won famed Ivy's field 
 
 Bold Henry of Navarre. 
 And thought of Alfred afore whose wrath 
 
 The Dane as chaff were hurl'd. 
 When at Eddinirton their magic flac: 
 
 Was to the winds unfurl'd. 
 "Arise and come with me" he said 
 
 With voice as thunder loud, 
 "Arise and mount and ride with me 
 
 On whirlwind and on cloud. 
 We'll ride o'er earthquake, war and storm 
 
 Through fire, light and gloom, 
 And o'er the bellowing oceans. 
 
 All wrapped in clouds of spume." 
 
 LXXIL 
 
 Trembling I rose at his command. 
 
 And vaulted on his steed, 
 Then up through the liquid ether 
 
 We roJe with lightning speed. 
 At every stride his courser took 
 
 It seem'd a thousand miles. 
 We rode o'er kingdoms and dominions, 
 
 O'er continents and isles. 
 "See yonder" said the deep toned voice, 
 
 "Now with a single glance — 
 Thou canst espy fair Italy, 
 
 And fields of sunny France. 
 And yonder o'er yon little mere 
 
 Stands proud Brittania's clime, 
 Where I was born, cradled, and rear'd 
 
 To manhood's glowing prime. 
 And for whose glory and renown 
 
 I warr'd in ancient lime. 
 Come ope thine eyes and gaze around 
 
 And look upon the world, 
 Beheld, hosv Etna's snio!;c and flame 
 
 In waving peaks arc curl'd, 
 And how Vesuvius' flames
 
 8S THE PRiESIDICIDK. 
 
 Unto the skies areliurl'd. 
 Lo ! thou canst view all Europe's range, 
 
 And that vast flood that lies — 
 Between it and those hil s that stand 
 
 'Neath Asia's sunny skies. 
 There are the Himalaya fells 
 
 Heights on heights stupendous hurl'd, 
 Like the pillows of the heavens 
 
 Like the bulwarks of the world. 
 Those enormous heights through earthquakes 
 
 And volcanoes had their birth, 
 They are but vast upheavals from 
 
 The bowels of the earth. 
 Lo ! thf re are Arabia's wilds, 
 
 The land of Ishmael's race, 
 The land of bold and hardy chiefs 
 
 In battle or in chase, 
 And yonder is wide Africa 
 
 Where roaring Niger runs, 
 Behold her waste and fertile plains, 
 
 And see her sable sons." 
 
 LXXIII. 
 
 He ceased and o'er the spacious world 
 
 A sudden storm arose, 
 The waves of ocean lashed the skies, 
 
 Earth groan'd with awful throes. 
 Jhe sun was hid within the sky, 
 
 And darkness fell around — 
 Darkness far drearer than the tomb, 
 
 And horror most profound 
 By earthquakes far within the sea 
 
 Ponderous rocks were hurl'd, 
 And with tumultuous thunders crashed 
 
 The mountains of the worla. 
 I lay within that warrior's arms . 
 
 As lifeless as a stone, 
 For fell tremendous horror thrilld 
 
 Through nerve, and vein, and bone, 
 A death like palsy seized my frame, 
 
 I strove to cry, no murmur came, 
 All power of voice was gnne. 
 
 Proudly midst blast and hurricane 
 He reared his steel clad form. 
 
 His charger neigh'd, and paw'd the clouds, 
 And galloped on the storm. 
 
 "Mortal, the strong voice said," fear nought; 
 No harm shall you befall. — 
 
 As Safe upon this charger's form 
 You ride with me o'er blast and storm, 
 
 O'er oceans fierce, volcanoes warm.
 
 THE PRiESIDICIDR. 
 
 And o'er the earthquake's brawl, 
 As when you sit in sloth and ease 
 
 Surrounded with earth's luxuries, 
 
 And fann'd by summer's balmy breeze, 
 
 Within some peaceful hall." 
 
 LXXIV. 
 
 Then from the crashing elements 
 
 Around, above, below, 
 I heard a song of prayer and praise 
 
 To the Almighty flow. 
 Strong, exultant, grand, harmonious, 
 
 And blissful pure sublime, 
 It rose, and swell'd, and roar'd, and roll'd, 
 
 From every sea and clime. 
 Glory to God Almighty ! 
 
 They sang with one accord, 
 Who form'd, and made and fashion'd U8 
 
 And shall be aye adored. 
 Father Almighty! we are Thine — 
 
 By Thy will we live and move, 
 And all our glory is — Thy 
 
 Wondrous power to prove. 
 Pity, and mercy have on us 
 
 When comes Thy day of wrath, 
 Forever guide and keep us on 
 
 Thy bless'd and righteous path. 
 Oh, may we ne'er too deeply feel 
 
 Thy anger and Thy rod, 
 For we're but as a grain of sand 
 
 Within Thy strong eternal hand 
 Thou just and holy God ! 
 
 Oh, Thou who form'd the earth and seaa, 
 And all the stars and heaven. 
 
 Let not the meanest thing Thou'st form'd 
 To utter night be driven, 
 
 Let mercy unto it be shown, 
 And Thy kind succor given." 
 
 LXXV. 
 
 While thus they sang o'er land and flood 
 
 With lightning speed we past. 
 Our charger pawed the swarthy cloud, 
 
 And snuff"'d the storm and blast. 
 We pass'd o'er nations wrapped in bloom, 
 
 And winter's snowy robe. 
 We rode o'er every land and. flood 
 
 Upon the spMcious globe. 
 We rode o'er nations rent with war, 
 
 And heard their battles roar, 
 We saw their armies meet in strife, 
 
 8^
 
 90 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 We saw the awful waste of life 
 
 The fields piled high with carnage rife, 
 
 And drenched with reeking gore. 
 Saw standards reeling to and fro, 
 
 Heard trumpets blare and bugles blow, 
 Heard the drums beating foe on foe, 
 
 Heard the victor's shouts, and groans of woe 
 Of those poor wretches trampled low 
 
 By chargers in the moor. 
 These sounds and sights I saw and heard 
 
 And terror thrill d my frame, 
 I could not stir, I could not speak, 
 
 Though tears ran down my pallid cheek ; 
 Soon burst a flash of flame — 
 
 So sudden and so swift 'twas sent 
 Across the cloudy firmament, 
 
 And all its robe of darkness rent, 
 That o'er my vision came — 
 
 A deep impenetrable night, 
 All was blank vacancy, 
 
 I heard no sound, I saw no sight, 
 I could not hear nor see. 
 
 A sickness crept upon my heart, • 
 And dizzy swam my brain, 
 
 I felt an icy chillness sweep 
 Through nerve, and pulse, and vein ; 
 
 Methough those terrors vast and fell 
 Soon froze my senses o'er. 
 
 And wrapt my mind in death-like sleep, 
 And that I thought no more. 
 
 LXXVI. 
 
 How long in that deep trance I lay — 
 
 That swoon so strange and fell, 
 Or where that horseman carried me 
 
 No clue have I to tell. 
 At length the gradual light of life 
 
 Came dawning o'er my soul. 
 Huge, cold, death-like drops of sweat I felt 
 
 Adown my forehead roll. 
 On — on — still on — I plainly felt 
 
 That horseman held his course — 
 With more than lightning speed and more 
 
 Than mountain torrent's force. 
 Plainly one moment o'er oceans vast 
 
 Although I could not see, he past 
 Full well I felt and knew. 
 
 The next o'er burning drifting sands 
 Where Simooms roar'd, or forest lands, 
 
 Or dizzy heichts we flew. 
 "Mortal awake'' the deep voice spake,
 
 THE PKiESIDIGIDK. 91 
 
 And sliook my rigid form, 
 Then blood went bounding through my veins 
 
 And soon my heart grew warm. 
 "Now Mortal (ipe thine eyes and look 
 
 Around with joy and mirth, 
 Fear not for thou art back again 
 
 Upon thy mother earth, 
 Yea, and on the glorious realm 
 
 That deigned to give thee birth. 
 Since thou hast pass'd o'er every land 
 
 O'er which proud Phoebus smiles, 
 See, if there's a fairer one than this 
 
 'Mongst continents and isles." 
 
 LXXVII. 
 
 'Twas on a flowery mountain 
 
 That almost touch'd the skies, 
 Where then I founu myself, when I 
 
 Ope'd my wandering eyes. 
 Heights upon heights stupendous piled, 
 
 Masses on masses hurl'd 
 That mountain rose, with verdure smiled 
 
 Like some bright fairy world. 
 The day was beautiful and bi ight, 
 
 The breeze was blowing free, 
 O'er forest, ocean, fell, and moor, 
 
 Right plain mine eye could see. 
 Thou2h never yet save in a dream 
 
 Could eye of mortal man — 
 See o'er one ten thousandeth part 
 
 Of that bright shining span — 
 That lay between that mountain's brow 
 
 Where we then stood upon — 
 And those vast fertile plains below — 
 
 That in the distance shone. 
 But some power unseen, unknown 
 
 Did so my sight enhance — 
 I gazed as o'er a mirror small 
 
 Across that vast expanse. 
 While t gazed, then sounded in mine ear, 
 
 "Mortal thou canst now behold, 
 The fairest, mightiest realm o'er which 
 
 The beams of Sol have roll'd. 
 This is the hmd that shall be loved, 
 
 And sought from age to age — 
 By every race, and creed, and hue, 
 
 By scholar, bard, and sage. 
 This is the land, whose blooming charms 
 
 All hearts of men shall win, 
 This is the land of moor and fell, 
 
 Of roaring flood and linn.
 
 93 THE PRTESIDICIDE. 
 
 Of waving forests, fertile fields 
 
 Of hill-sides crown'd with vines, 
 The land of corn, and wine, and fruit. 
 
 Of rich and boundless mines. 
 The land where nature ever laugh s 
 
 ]n happy ecstasy, 
 And what's more prc-cious far thau all — 
 
 The land of Liberty. 
 And where soe'er thy lot be cast, 
 
 What ever be thy fate, — 
 Ne'er do a deed, that shall her fame 
 
 Sully or denigrate, 
 But be like me, by day or night 
 
 I ana through woe or weal — 
 Columbia's guardian knight, 
 
 For her 1 draw the steel, 
 For her alone I war and fight, 
 
 Against the world I hold her right, 
 And will uphold her power and might 
 
 Till time shall cease her onward flight — 
 With fearless heart and leal." 
 
 LXXVIIT. 
 
 He ceased then gently laid me down 
 
 Upon the mountain's flowery crown. 
 Then came a tawny cloud 
 
 That circled all the hill, flashing 
 With lightnings grand and brijihl, crashing 
 
 With thunders long and loud. 
 On which his mighty charger sprung, 
 
 And bore his giant form 
 Far, far away beyond my siaht 
 
 Swift as the mountain storm. 
 As he flew his shining armor 
 
 Cast a glorious glow 
 Bright as that of India's sun 
 
 Upon the world below. 
 
 LXXIX. 
 
 With a chill'd and aching form, 
 
 And forehead cold and wet — 
 I started from that frightful dream, 
 
 it was not morning yet. 
 Not long I ponder'd oer that dream, 
 
 Nor let it trouble me, 
 For soon again I fill d my soul 
 
 With rapture at)d with jjlce, 
 For mighty draughts of blood red wine 
 
 I pour d down fast and free. 
 They drove all gloomy thoughts away, 
 
 All dull monotony.
 
 THE PRiESIDICIDE. 93 
 
 They cheer'd my body through and through, 
 
 Warm'd iiiarrow, pulse an I vein, 
 Soon my cold and chilly body felt 
 
 Refreshed and strong again. 
 
 LXXX. 
 
 There came a knocking at my door, 
 
 And Dame Surratt walk'd in — 
 All blooming like a morning rose 
 
 That in some well water'd garden blows, 
 And every eye might win. 
 
 She was a hearty buxom dame 
 As ever trod on earth, 
 
 As full of spirit, wit and p-ame — 
 As any yet who smiling came 
 
 From scenes of sport and mirth. 
 She was that stamp of woman kind 
 
 That seldom in this latd we find, 
 Who wear their youthful bloom , 
 
 E'en when they prow old in years, 
 And are not crown"d with hoary hairs 
 
 When verging on the tomb. 
 The very stamp for which old men 
 
 Grow young, and warm, and frisk agen, 
 And burn with gui'ty love. 
 
 Fired with passions wild and keen — 
 Like those old twain who once were seen 
 
 Emerging from the prove. 
 Lusting for fair Susannah's charms ; 
 
 Burning to cln.«p hov in their arms 
 Though weak with age they strove, 
 
 LXXXL 
 
 "Ho ! John Booth ! pood morning sir, I heard 
 
 You up an hour ago, 
 But thought I'd not rise until I saw 
 
 The beams of mo ning plw ! 
 But have risen for M'ithout you 
 
 Time slides too dull and slow." 
 "Welcome madam, I never saw 
 
 You look so well before, 
 I was just thinking to uiyself 
 
 That you were worth a score 
 Of pale faced d.unscis of these times- 
 Such as we see and meet, 
 No matter where we chance to go, 
 
 In bower, hall or street. 
 Madam since I awoke I've drank 
 
 A dozen times and more, 
 But come I'll drain a health to you 
 
 For I have ne'er before —
 
 94 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Tasted such fine delicious wine 
 
 It warms my very core. 
 So here's to your hale rosy cheeks, 
 
 And to your sunny eyes, 
 And may your body ne'er grow less 
 
 But still increase in size, 
 And may Dame Fortune favor you 
 
 For ever more likewise. 
 May joy and bliss your soul attend, 
 
 Ay, every kind of mirth. 
 No matter where your footsteps tend 
 
 Upon this spacious earth. 
 And may you never need a friend, 
 
 Nor ever find a foe, 
 To you may all with homage bexid, 
 
 1'he high, the proud, the low." 
 ''John Booth, now pause, I know not wby 
 
 But o'er my soul I feel — 
 Most wild and strange foreshadowings 
 
 Of future sorrow steal. 
 There's something in my breast that bids 
 
 Me take no hand at all — 
 In the foul murder of these men, 
 
 Or it will work my fall 
 Thrice have I luH'd myself to sleep, 
 
 And thrice have woke again. 
 With the same mysterious dream 
 
 Fix'd fast within my brain. 
 Thrice have I fancied that I dwelt 
 
 Within a house of gold, 
 With all things round me far and near 
 
 Most gladsome to behold. 
 I thought that boundless wealth was mine 
 
 My cup crown'd full of joy, 
 And that in doing deeds of good 
 
 I did my life employ. 
 I dream'd, that I relieved the woes 
 
 Of lame, and dumb and blind, 
 And all the hungry came to me, 
 
 They knew that I was kind. 
 And that I gave them focd and drink 
 
 With open heart and hand, 
 That I ne'er drove them from my door, 
 
 Nor spurn'd them from my land. 
 All this I dream'd, then suddenly 
 
 Methought that I became 
 All poor, and de.^titute, and lone, 
 
 Without a friend, without a home, 
 With tortured mind ard frame 
 
 Methoupht mine was a horrid fate. 
 And that the people's wrath and hate
 
 THE PRjESIDICIDE. S-*) 
 
 Upon uie fell like flame, 
 And I was left all desolate 
 
 Whelm'd o'er with scorn and shame. 
 Now Booth thrice have I dreamt this dream, 
 
 And frankly will I say 
 I think it is a warning sent 
 
 Just in a quiet way — 
 To keep me from the awful sin, 
 
 And endless infamy — 
 To which that plot would lead, if I, 
 
 In it an actor be. 
 So I'll withdraw my name from it, 
 
 And now I firmly think 
 If you are bless'd with common wit 
 
 You too from it will shrink, 
 And not like some rash huntsman sit 
 
 Near the slippery brink 
 Of a deep and awful chasm, 
 
 Who suddenly doth go 
 And feel his last dying spasm 
 
 Within the gulf below." 
 
 LXXXII. 
 
 The while she spake around the room 
 
 With trembling step I trod, 
 And can it be I thought the while 
 
 That dreams descend from God — 
 As warnings unto mortal men 
 
 Of coming woe and harm, 
 So they may prepare to shun it, 
 
 And 'gainst the devil arm. 
 It seems ours have really come 
 
 To warn us in full time, 
 Bid us keep from the awful brink 
 
 And precipice of crime. 
 For it seems strange, yea, strange indeed 
 
 1 hat while this night we slept. 
 Such wild visions in forms of dreams 
 
 Should o'er our minds have crept, 
 And rack'd and tortured mind and form 
 
 As though we were awake. 
 And like Cranmer bound and chain'd unto 
 
 The red hot burning stake. 
 What of that? though they be warnings 
 
 As plain as ever were. 
 They shall not claim a thought from me, 
 
 For them I will not care. 
 Nor dream nor omen of any kind 
 
 Shall turn niy heart and hand 
 At all from the tremendous deed 
 
 That I have schemed and plann'd.
 
 9G THE PR^TiSIDICIDE. 
 
 E'en if bright angels came to earth 
 
 And took me by the arm, 
 And told me that the deed would bring 
 
 Eternal woe and harm, 
 On all my kin and friends and me 
 
 In every shape and way, 
 And we for it should ever mourn 
 
 I would not pause nor stay, 
 But work with all my strength and zeal 
 
 As though they cheer'd nic on, 
 And smiling Fortune favor'd me, 
 
 And right before me shune. 
 
 LXXXIII. 
 
 Madam, I laughing thus be^an, 
 
 Although T know my check 
 Must have look'd all pale and wan, 
 
 Fcr feebly did I speak ; 
 But I thought by fiigning a laugh 
 
 My feelings Id disguise, 
 And make e'en her fuiget her fears, 
 
 And all such thonghts dcspis',\ 
 Madam, cast all such thoujlits aside, 
 
 Let nauirht your spirit Iright, 
 For you with mo shall safely ride 
 
 To wealth and glory's height. 
 Let no vague dreanis alarm your soul 
 
 Nor visions of the night. 
 From your mind make such darkness roll — 
 
 And keep it warm and bright} 
 For ever since the world began 
 
 Dreams have disturbed tie sleep of man, 
 And there's no being on the earth 
 
 That cares one little straw 
 For all their scenes of boundless mirth. 
 
 Of sorrow or of awe. 
 So 3Iadam come and brace your nerves 
 
 With this cool glass of wine. 
 Nor let me think your spirit swerves 
 
 From that bold plot of mine. 
 Naught but success can it betide, 
 
 That certain, sure, ai;d clear. 
 So Madam do not fret nor chide, 
 
 Nor doubts against it rear. 
 From you I would no dangers hide 
 
 If any did appear, 
 I hold you a fiiend that's proved and tried. 
 
 Whose fortune's mine I sw ar 
 Your task shall be ao easy one, 
 
 For it will only be — 
 To give to each of us a home,
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 97 
 
 Till we shall all agree 
 What each one is to do, and when 
 
 The deed is to be done, 
 'Tis all you need to do, and then 
 
 Your fortune you have won. 
 You may aid lue now and then 'tis true 
 
 Just by putting in a word or two 
 In favour of my schemes 
 
 When ever here I chance to bring 
 One who'll his life and fortune fling 
 
 With mine, in this tremendous thing, 
 Who well my plot esteems. 
 
 This you need only do you know 
 "When ever you may see 
 
 Occasion a fair chance doth show — 
 For you to sanction me. 
 
 You know this tongue and brain of mine 
 Hight often when I drink — 
 
 Gets so o'ercome and dull with wine 
 I cannot speak nor think. 
 
 Then will be your chance if all are not 
 Dead drunk upon the floor, 
 
 For you that instant in their ears 
 Some cunning speech to pour, 
 
 That'll nerve and cheer them on, and make 
 Them pant for gold and gore. 
 
 Business may often call me forth, 
 For I have much to do, 
 
 But when I'm east, or west or north, 
 I will rely on you 
 
 To keep them all in time and tune, 
 And eager for the plot 
 
 To get in action sure and soon, 
 Without a bulk nor blot. 
 
 Do 3^ou but strive and make each one 
 With what I say agree, 
 
 And mind, when e'er you talk with them 
 Your speech be bold and free. 
 
 Madam you're worth a dozen men 
 To me in this emprise, 
 
 And you I know will aid me through, 
 I see it in your eyes 
 
 Come do not let me beg and sue. 
 Nor gaze at me so still. 
 
 But with a firm and willing mind 
 Now answer that you will. 
 
 For it shall bring you weal not as, 
 You fancy — woe and ill. 
 
 "John Booth give me your hand, I swear 
 By all that we hold fond and dear, 
 
 And by yon holy cross
 
 98 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 That hangs and glitters on the wall, 
 
 That whether good or ill befall, 
 Let it be gain or loss. 
 
 That I will back and aid you through, 
 Help you to strike and dare and do 
 
 With willing hand and heart — 
 In every shape and way I can 
 
 Till death shall bid us part, 
 I know not why, but I am fain 
 
 To follow you, let woe and pain 
 In the end, alone for us remain. 
 
 There — let me feel that grasp again ; 
 It's stalwart, frank, and warm, 
 
 With it, and your sweet voice I'd face 
 Scenes of fell horror, and disgrace, 
 
 Flood or fiery storm." 
 
 LXXXIV. 
 So she spake and then we parted, 
 
 Warm and gay and gladsome hearted, 
 No two lovers bound in Hymen's bond 
 
 Have e'er parted more warm and fond. 
 Though we'd no thought nor wish beyond 
 
 Those that the plot would soon reveal — 
 The slaughter of those men, 
 
 And the eternal woe or weal 
 That would betide us then 
 
 LXXXV. 
 
 That very hour we parted 
 
 Off to Baltimore I started. 
 Full of wine and blithesome hearted, 
 
 Soon along its streets I pass'd 
 Upon the Railway Train, 
 
 Cold blew the winds, clouds the sky o'er cast, 
 The tree tops reePd before the blast — 
 
 And bow'd like fiends in pain. 
 From the roofs unto the streets below 
 
 Beat down the drifting sleet at^d snow, 
 Wrapping all things the eye might meet 
 
 In a cold and icy winding sheet; 
 Making it slippery for the feet. 
 
 And painful for the tread, — 
 Paths through the d lifted piles to beat — 
 
 That all around were spread. 
 As on that day so bleak and cold 
 
 Along the snowy wynds I stroll'd, 
 I met a well known face, 
 
 But pale and wan he look'd the while, 
 He strode towards me, a feeble smile 
 
 I on his brow could trace. 
 Strong was his build, his bearing bold, 
 
 Though scarcely twenty years had roll'd
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Their summers hot and winters cold — 
 
 O'er ocean, forest, fell and wold — 
 Since he his course on earth began, 
 
 And yet a braver, sterner man 
 Upon this earth's diurnal span 
 
 Amidst the battle's horrid van 
 Had seldom trod I ween. 
 
 And though his cheeks were pale and wau 
 His eyes were sharp and sbeen ; 
 
 And full on mine he made them gleam 
 While thus he spake to me, 
 
 "Bootli my hunger is so extreme 
 I am in agony/' 
 
 'Payne I'm about to do a thing 
 That will make all the nations ring 
 
 With the echo of my name. 
 And I will give you drink and food, 
 
 Yea, freely ease your hungry mood, 
 And warmly clothe your frame, 
 
 I'll give you wealth and all things fine. 
 And crown your life with fame. 
 
 If you will stand by me and mine 
 Through horror or through shame. 
 
 Here is a bible, swear you will 
 Aye follow me through good or ill — 
 
 With faithful heart and soul, 
 I will all gnawing hunger still, 
 
 You shall no more feel cold and chill, 
 Be rack'd with want and dole.'' 
 
 He swore, he took that fatal oath 
 Which bound his soul to me 
 
 In doing it, he'd shown more sloth, 
 Yea, I know well he had been loth 
 
 Had he known the infamy 
 Which there and then he swore to do. 
 
 Yea, that fell heinous crime 
 Had I but mention'd it to him, 
 
 Though he was savage, firm, and grim, 
 Strong as a lion in each limb, 
 
 It would have made his senses swim 
 And shook him for a time 
 
 With I'eeling less of joy than fear, 
 I did not feign to tell him there 
 
 The least thing what my projects were, 
 It had not answer'd then ; 
 
 I watch 'd him with a devirs stare, 
 And spirit not of men, 
 
 And thus I trapped him in the snare 
 One night in Surratt's den. 
 
 99
 
 XOO THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 LXXXVI. 
 
 First a home I pictured unto him 
 
 Of boundless wealth and ease, 
 A palace in a shady grove 
 
 Beside the sounding seas, 
 With every thing both far and near 
 
 The soul to charm and please, 
 And how by the slaufrhter of one man 
 
 He might attain all these ; 
 To which he snt all still and mute, 
 
 But when I 'gan to speak 
 Of Southern woes, and Southern wrongs, 
 
 I saw a crimson streak 
 Of rising hate and aneer flash 
 
 Along his manly cheek, 
 Bright as Sol's last ray cast upon 
 
 A mountain's tawny peak. 
 As billows swelling in a cave 
 
 From whence they soon will burst, 
 As some bright sparks that into flames 
 
 Are being fiinn'd and nursed, 
 I marked his rising hate and rage 
 
 Heave high his manly breast. 
 While I talked of foul wrongs the North 
 
 Upon the South had press'd, 
 I got him so that in his chair 
 
 He could no longer rest. 
 Up he sprung, in a storm of words 
 
 Straight forth his anger burst. 
 And long the North for what she'd done 
 
 With clenched hand and teeth he cursed, 
 And swore, that till his dying day 
 
 'Gainst her he'd do his worst. 
 I marked with eagle gaze how keen 
 
 His mighty anger got 
 Against the North, and for the Souths 
 
 Unhappy mournful lot, 
 Now is my time to strike methought, 
 
 The steel seems fusing hot, 
 While he is full of rage and wine 
 
 I'll tell him of the plot. 
 For now I well can judge if he 
 
 Will fancy it or no, 
 If I can't coax him in ray schemes 
 
 I'll braia him with a blow, 
 He can be a trusty friend, 
 
 Likewise a dangerous foe, 
 If he refuse, it is not safe 
 
 For me to let him go! 
 Then I bared all the plot to him, 
 
 Uncover'd aU the crime. 
 And strove to make him fancy it
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 101 
 
 Would aid the Southern clime 
 And that it was the grandest scheme 
 
 That ever yet was plann'd — 
 To aid the Southern cause, in this 
 
 Or any other land. 
 
 LXXXVII. 
 
 Silent and still he sat as though 
 
 My voice he had not heard, 
 As though Le had not even deigned 
 
 To listen to a word. 
 And then he whistled for a while, 
 
 Then humm'd some listless rhyme — 
 About those who murder'd Caesar 
 
 So foul in ancient time, 
 And the retribution that fell 
 
 Upon them for the crime. 
 Then sang of those who slew the king 
 
 Of fair MycenaDs' land, 
 And how they died in agony 
 
 Beneath Oresties' band. 
 "If thou canst bring a thousand men 
 
 As partners in thy plot — 
 Men who are stalwart, brave and bold, 
 
 Who quail and tremble not — 
 When Ruin stares them in the face 
 
 With all the horrors she can trace ; 
 Nor care one little jot 
 
 If they should end their earthly race 
 With deaths of horror and disgra'^e, 
 
 So their ends and aims are got. 
 Then I'd not hesitate at all 
 
 To link my fate with thine 
 In this emprise, let ruin frown 
 
 On us, or fortuje shine. 
 Have we grown less inured to war ? 
 
 And less to terror steel'd ? 
 Than when we drove the Northern hosts 
 
 From red Manassas' field ! 
 Have we forgot the art of war 
 
 Since Sumpter's cannon peal'd ? 
 And those proud old battlements • 
 
 Beneath our thunders reel'd ? 
 That we to such foul plots as these 
 
 For stern revenge should yield? 
 By heaven no ; 1 tfiW thee Booth 
 Thou'd best be wise in time^ 
 And cast forever from thy mind 
 
 All thoughts of this dark crime. 
 Though every man of them should die 
 
 The plot has doom'd to death,
 
 1C2 XH]^ m^SIDICIDE. 
 
 And it should ne'er be known at all 
 
 How ceased their mortal breath, 
 It would not do thee aught of good, 
 
 Nor help the i^outhern cause, 
 Most likely it would ruin both, 
 
 So thou had better pause. 
 All those thou hast in league with thee 
 
 Their numbers are so few — 
 Thehalf of it they could not do 
 
 Though they were prompt and true. 
 The Southern States have gone to wreck 
 
 They never can be free, 
 Nor ever crush the Northern power, 
 
 In that we all agree. 
 Not but what we have battled well, 
 
 Done all that men could do, 
 But where we have one man to fight — 
 
 The North has twenty two. 
 They flock to aid her from all lands, 
 
 E'en far beyond the seas, 
 Ay, every race, and creed, and hue, 
 
 But we have none of these 
 To fight and shout for us, and wave 
 
 Our ensign to the breeze. 
 So we can't fill our wasted ranks 
 
 Just any time we please. 
 So soon we'll have to yield to 
 
 Dire, stern necessity, 
 And calmly wait our doom and fate 
 
 What ever it may be." 
 
 LXXXVIII. 
 
 Fierce I exclaimed, by heaven Payne 
 
 I never dreamt nor thought — 
 That you would fear to rush where fame 
 
 And glory might be sought. 
 You who have faced the brittle brunt 
 
 On red Antietam's moor, 
 And braved the iron hurricane 
 
 Round Gettysburg did roar, 
 And many a corpse encumbered field 
 
 That reek'dwith human gore, 
 Would ever shrink from danger when 
 
 Upon the vevge of fame, 
 When Fortune opens wide her arms 
 
 And calls you by your name. 
 By heaven, Payne, it cannot be, 
 
 I will not so believe 
 That such a soul is born in you. 
 
 It cannot so deceive, 
 Belie, your dauntless outward look,
 
 TUB PRiESIDICIDE. 103 
 
 Ho ! lio ! I see it now. 
 
 > 
 
 That little lass with sunny eyes, 
 
 And with the smiling brow, 
 And cheeks that with the rainbow vies. 
 
 In all its varied tints and dyes 
 Has made your spirit bow 
 
 'Neath Cupid's yoke, but cast it off — 
 Nor let it gall your soul, 
 
 You yet will blush that e'er you were 
 A slave 'neath Lis control. 
 
 Last night I watched you at the ball, 
 And saw that lass of yours 
 
 Had you completely 'neath her thrall, 
 She'd not let yeu move from her at all, 
 
 Nor drink when e'er a toast we'd call, 
 Such things my soul abhors 
 
 You seem'd to dote upon her smile 
 With all your heart and soul. 
 
 But cast her from your mind, let Love 
 No more your heart control. 
 
 Long as you are a slave to Love 
 Your mind will not be free, 
 
 For Love 's a pest to human kind 
 Both high and low decree. 
 
 Stealthily it coils round human hearts — 
 As doth the ivy twine 
 
 Its binding hurtful folds around 
 The tall and stately pine, 
 
 Ay, it is a treacherous rock 
 Amidst life's whirling stream — 
 
 On which poor mortals often wreck 
 "When all doth hopeful seem , 
 
 And your's like all mankind's will die. 
 Yea, perish as a dream. 
 
 For human love however strong — 
 Its life is very shorty 
 
 To one like me who's roam'd the world 
 It seems an idle thought. 
 
 I hold it frailer than the web 
 That little spiders weave ; 
 
 Tis fools who nurture up the flame — 
 And o'er lost friendships grieve. 
 
 I hold it as the simplest thing 
 That any man can do — 
 
 To build his joy on woman's love. 
 Or deem her vows are true. 
 
 Woman's love is writ in water ; 
 Her vows are traced on sand, 
 
 Her heart and soul are far away 
 E'en when she gives her hand. 
 
 And little cares she whom she has
 
 104 THE TR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 To torture or to please, 
 
 So she can gratify her wants, 
 And live in sloth and ease. 
 
 Woman must have been placed on earth 
 Man's comfort to destroy. 
 
 For ever since she had her birth 
 God turn d to woe and pain his mirth. 
 
 His rapture, and his joy. 
 Instead of bliss, toil, want, and woe. 
 
 Must all his life employ 
 She's all his recompense for woe, 
 
 That peevish, sickening toy. 
 And who slights woman's love cuts deep, 
 
 Wakes broods of vipers fell — 
 That lie coil'd up in half repose 
 
 'Neath blooming asphode-1. 
 If 'tis not true of all the sex, 
 
 It is of most I ween, 
 The false and sly we often meet, 
 
 The true are seldom seen. 
 At times they shine amongst their sex 
 
 Grand, glorious and sheen, ° 
 
 Like blazing comets in the sky 
 
 With mighty voids betweea. 
 So follow me, and by my soul 
 
 Before a year goes round, 
 You shall be rich in gold and lands. 
 
 Be honor'd andrenown'd. 
 Why fly from Fortune's smile when forth 
 
 To you she holds her hand ? 
 Why fail to slake your thirst when by 
 
 The flowing stream you stand ? 
 Now Payne let good or ill betide — 
 
 Your fortune's mine I swear. 
 If you will aid me in the plot 
 
 I solemnly declare — 
 Your friend I'll be so long as God 
 
 My life on earth shall spare. 
 And I'll ne'er sever from your side 
 
 In danger, woe, nor fear. 
 And more, I solemnly affirm 
 
 That every one of ye. 
 Who back and aid me in the plot 
 
 Shall ne'er be shunn'd by me. 
 That is if well they do the thing 
 
 They undertake to do. 
 And act like men with eense and thought 
 
 And courage prompt and true. 
 Yea, I will aid and comfort them, 
 
 Betide it weal or woe, 
 Yea, let us stride to wealth and fame,
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 105 
 
 Or to the gallows go. 
 What if my numbers be S9 few ? 
 
 All vast things on this earth we view, 
 But from little atoms sprung and grew 
 
 To their gigantic size. 
 From little springs vast oceans flow, 
 
 From little sparks vast fires glow, 
 From acorns mighty forests grow 
 
 Through which the whirlwind sighs, 
 And little grains of dust and sand 
 
 Make up the mountains huge and grand 
 That tower to the skies ! 
 
 And little flakes of fleecy snow 
 That fall upon the mountain's brow — 
 
 Through heat, and cold, and blast, and storm. 
 The avalanche and glacier form. 
 
 A little spark explodes the mine, 
 And rocks that some vast mountain line 
 
 Are from their bases torn. 
 Whole hills by one small spark of flame 
 
 Igniting with the powder train 
 Are to destruction borne. 
 
 And one small breath of heat give birth 
 Unto the fierce Simoom, 
 
 That sweeps along the startled earth 
 Spreading fell blight and gloom. 
 
 Small rays of light will spread 'till they 
 The whole creation span, 
 
 And one small microscopic cell 
 Give birth unto a man. 
 
 Though small the band in which I trust 
 To carry out the deed, 
 
 Yet surely as we drink this wine 
 It must and will succeed 
 
 The other day you know you swore 
 Before both God and man, 
 
 You'd staLd by me through good or ill 
 In any scheme I'd plan, 
 
 So speak out freely now as then — 
 And say you'll do the thing, 
 
 Nor let us sit like wordy fools 
 All night here arguing. 
 
 If you intend to move at all — 
 And strike at my command, 
 
 You'll hesitate no more, but speak, 
 And reach me forth your hand." 
 
 LXXXIX. 
 
 Straight forth he stretch'd his hand to clasp 
 
 Mine own within his stalwart grasp, 
 And thus he spake to me,
 
 106 
 
 THE PRiESIDICIDE. 
 
 "Yea, Booth, let good or ill betide, 
 I will not sever from thy side, 
 But strike and dare for thee." 
 
 xc. 
 
 All was accomplished, Dame Surratt 
 
 Meanwhile the rest had done, 
 For she got Harold, Atzerodt, 
 Young Arnold and her son, 
 To work the fiendish scheme with me, 
 
 And help me drive it through ; 
 How she made them consent so soon 
 
 To help, I never knew. 
 In fact I never cared to know. 
 
 So did not question her, 
 I was to busy at that time 
 
 To think that she might err — 
 In picking out the sort of men 
 
 That such a plot would need, 
 To make it work right surely on, 
 
 And at all points succeed. 
 But he who seeks by felon means 
 
 To carry out his aims. 
 It matters not how dark and foul 
 
 May be the scheme he frames, 
 Some vile woman of her stamp he 
 
 Should always have in league. 
 For she'll be quicker than a man 
 
 In cunning sly intrigue. 
 She'll have more wile and artifice, 
 
 And more persuasive force, 
 More skill in guile and craftiness 
 
 However fair or coarse — 
 Than all the fiends in shapes of men 
 
 That roam upon the earth, 
 She'll far more foul crime conceive, 
 
 Nor fear to give it birth. 
 Let her be fair, or foul, gay or mild. 
 
 Sweet of temper, or rough and wild, 
 Her tongue in one short hour, — 
 
 Can coax more of the human race 
 To deeds of horror and disgrace, 
 
 Than fiendish man however base 
 Could coax in thrice the time and space 
 
 With all his strength and power. 
 At least I found it so, for while 
 
 I was persuading one 
 To league with me, Mary Surratt 
 
 Got three besides her son. 
 In doing it no aid at all 
 Did she from me obtain.
 
 TIIK n;.P.SIDICIDK. 
 
 Thoujih oft had she not aided me 
 
 With mind and tongue so sharp and slee, 
 I'd fail'd in winning Payne. 
 
 XCT. 
 
 Time sped away on lightning wings — 
 
 Yet slow it pass'd I thought, 
 Each hour seem'd as though it some 
 
 New doubt and trouble brought. 
 For every dreary day and night 
 
 Each sound and sight I caught, 
 Seem'd plainly whisper unto me 
 
 The plotwouM come to naught, 
 One constant deadly fear I had, 
 
 Which racked me night and day, 
 For it I could not eat nor sleep, 
 
 I could not sport nor play, 
 It was that some one in the plot 
 
 Might turn traitor and betray. 
 One rainy night I heard a row 
 
 Within the street below. 
 Heard the tramp of hurrying feet, 
 
 Saw torches flash and glow, 
 With fear I shook from head to heel — 
 
 And sprang from out my bed, 
 I caught my dirk and pistol up 
 
 And to the window sped. 
 I fancied straight, the plot was known. 
 
 And they were after me, 
 Yea, that some one had traitor turn'd. 
 
 Who could the villain be ? 
 Once, twice, 1 fanced that I heard 
 
 Them call me by my name, 
 A chill ran all my marrow through, 
 
 Blood curdled through my frame. 
 Black icy horror smote me dumb — • 
 
 Chill'd nerve, and pulse, and vein, 
 I cocked my loaded pistol quick 
 
 And put it to my brain. 
 I cannot fight them all methought, 
 
 And there's not one bare chance 
 For me to fly, escape from them, 
 
 Should they on me advance. 
 So ere they shall take me living 
 
 To judge me for the crime, 
 And bring me to the gallows grim 
 
 I'll end my earthly time. 
 But swift the multitude pass'd on, 
 
 Without a sign of harm 
 To me or mine, and soon I ceased 
 
 To tremble with alarm. 
 
 107
 
 108 THE PRiESIDICIDE. 
 
 They were a throng of firemen — 
 
 With engines rushing on — 
 To some huge fire that far away 
 
 Beyond my window shone. 
 I heard the fire bells toll forth 
 
 Their sullen loud ahirra, 
 Back to bed I went, glad 'twas all 
 
 Imaginary harm. 
 And strove to ease my mind with thoughts 
 
 That all were firm and true, 
 Who in the plot were leagued with me, 
 
 Or ought about it knew. 
 
 XCII. 
 
 The inauguration day arrived, 
 
 The day that godlike man — 
 His second term as President 
 
 O'er this wide realm began. 
 He fairly chosen for that post 
 
 Of honor, rank, and power, 
 By all his country's truest sons, 
 
 Her manhood, pride, and flower, 
 Because there was no fitter man 
 
 To guide her in that hour 
 Of tempest and of storm, within 
 
 The nation to be found; 
 They knew if he was at the helm 
 
 All would be safe and sound. 
 They knew him honest and sincere, 
 
 That they could trust in him, 
 Let the nation's future career 
 
 Be bright, or dark, and dim. 
 With him they felt as doth the throng 
 
 Within some noble bark. 
 Though angry billows bellow round, 
 
 And night is inky dark : 
 And though the furious tempest 
 
 Shatters masts, shrouds and sail. 
 They feel they need not fear the waves, 
 
 Nor tremble at the gale, 
 For they have a pilot at the helm 
 
 Who will not shrink nor quail — 
 How ever fierce the billows toss j 
 
 And one who ne'er oid fail 
 To guide his vessel safely on 
 
 By clift and dangerous rock, 
 However dark the night, or fierce 
 
 The waves and tempest's shock. 
 I saw him on that day come forth 
 
 And on the terrace stand, 
 Swear before the face of heaven,
 
 THE pr>esidicideJ 109 
 
 (I saw him raise his hand) 
 That he with faithful heart and soul 
 
 Would guide and rule the land. 
 That nothing he would leave undone— 
 
 That God vouchsafed to show — 
 How ho might bind the land again, 
 
 Make blood&hed cease to flow, 
 Yea, soothe the people's frantic rage, 
 
 And heal the wounds of war 
 Ease all their misery and woe 
 
 Within the realm afar. 
 He really seem'd the while he spake — 
 
 That with all his heart and soul — 
 He longed and yearned and prayed for that 
 
 To be the end and goal. 
 ]Te looked serene as one whose life 
 
 In God is rooted fast, 
 A man who feareth naught but God, 
 
 There faith securely cast. 
 As some firm rocky fort that recks 
 
 Not flood nor sieire nor storm. 
 So arm'd in faith and lofty pride 
 
 He rear'd his kingly form. 
 And all of that long while he spake — 
 
 (Methinks I see it now) 
 Though men by thousands stood around — 
 
 There was not one I trow — 
 But seem'd to hear his words with joy, 
 
 And wore a smiling brow, 
 And shouted forth tLeir hearty cheers 
 
 Soon as he made the vnw. 
 I even Inok'd in many faces 
 Of old friends of mine — 
 Who once declared they hated him, 
 
 And swore by all divine 
 That it should ever last 'till death, 
 
 But there I fail d to trace 
 One sign of hate, or yet a sneer, 
 
 Upon their brow or face. 
 They seem'd to sho-it as hearfy cheers. 
 
 As those who from the first 
 Had praised, and bless'd that chief, and all 
 
 His fame and glory nursed. 
 And sooner would have died right out 
 
 Than e'er his name have cursed. 
 Ay, all around both far and near 
 Look'd happy, bright an<l gny. 
 Though winds blew cold and fierce and dark 
 
 And rainy was the day. 
 And that bright sunshine of the world, 
 That best and noblest gift.
 
 110 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Which God in loving kiudness seOi. — 
 
 The soul of man to lift 
 From the miry swamps of sloth, 
 
 And make it shine and soar — 
 Midst grand and nuble things, as though 
 
 Some god his soul upbore. 
 And keep it ever glad and bless'd, 
 
 Yea, she was smiling there, 
 That being we men call woman, 
 
 That looks 80 sweet and fair. 
 She who is ever good and kind, 
 
 And ever on the road 
 To soothe her fellow creature's woes, 
 
 And ease life's weary load. 
 Who like a soothing angel stands 
 
 Beside the couch of woe. 
 Couch of contagion, fell disease, 
 
 Where man would fear to go. 
 Yea, she's the sunshine of the world, 
 
 Before her sunny smile 
 Afar grief's mirky clouds are hurl'd, 
 
 And rapture dawns the while. 
 By thousands all around they stood, 
 
 With eyes so bright and sheen, 
 And like merry laughing angels 
 
 They gladden'd all the scene. 
 They waved their snowy hands, and join'd 
 
 In all that wild acclaim — 
 That roar'd from mouths of men to greet 
 
 That hero as he came. 
 I saw I was the only one 
 
 Midst all that mighty throng. 
 Who bore towards that grand President 
 
 One thought of harm or wrong. 
 Only one who could not rejoice, 
 
 Be happy or be gay. 
 And hail him as the nation's choice 
 
 On that important day. 
 I could not bear to hear the voice 
 
 Of one I hated so. 
 And was so soon to vilely slay 
 
 By foul assassin blow. 
 Afar from that gay throng I drew 
 
 With dark and sullen soul, 
 For I could scarce my fiendish thoughts 
 
 Within my breast control. 
 I felt all like the devil felt, 
 
 The night that he was hurl'd 
 Before the rage and strength of God, 
 
 From out the blissful world. 
 And flounder'd down amidst the rocks
 
 THE PR^SlblCIDE. Ill 
 
 And yawning gulfs of hell, 
 And saw and fe,lt the fiery hiss 
 
 Of dragons fierce and fell. 
 While afar above in heaven 
 
 Amongst the s:iitited throng — 
 He heard sweet music rise and fall, 
 
 And heard the l;iun;h and song — 
 Of pure and spotless, happy souls, 
 
 Untouched by want or woe, 
 'Mougst whom he ne'er again could mix, 
 
 Or ever hope to go. 
 
 XCIII. 
 
 Oh ! had I been born in olden time 
 
 When chivalry began, 
 When naught but deeds of high renown 
 
 Could charm the soul of man. 
 When naught but honor, worth and fame, 
 
 And deeds of manly style, 
 Could ever bring on Beauty's cheek 
 
 One warm approving smile. 
 Yea, win one loving gaze from her, 
 
 And charm her soul awhile. 
 Days when any knight the gauntlet 
 
 Unto the world might fling; 
 When any yeoman of the land 
 
 Might ride in listed ring, 
 And do strong battle hand to hand 
 
 With peer, and prince, and king, 
 Ay, meet them in the tourney's whirl, 
 
 With heart and soul on flame — 
 And win renown, or let some king 
 
 His knightly ardor tame. 
 Yea, die amidst the rush of spears, 
 
 Or win a deathless name. 
 Fall or spread o'er wide Christendom 
 
 His everlasting fame. 
 In those glorious days of old, 
 
 No king was ever crown'd. 
 But what some steel-clad champion 
 
 Beside him would be found, 
 Who for valor, strength and courtesy. 
 
 Was o'er the world renown'd, 
 And whose high ofiice 'twas to throw 
 
 The gauntlet on the ground — 
 Ere his prince the diadem had ta'en, 
 
 A challenge unto those 
 That prince's right of sovereignty 
 
 Dared openly oppose. 
 Yea, fling a challenge to the world, 
 
 And meet his prince's foes.
 
 112 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Oil ! were those grand liigh offices 
 
 Of honor and of praise, 
 But fiU'd at those important times 
 
 In these degenerate days, 
 How proudly had I sat upon 
 
 A charger black as night ; 
 My body sheathed from head to heel 
 
 In armor flashing bright. 
 And strong as the torrent dashing 
 
 Down an Andean height. 
 Proudly I'd drawn my sword and thrown 
 
 A challenge unto those, 
 Who dared openly, by thought or deed, 
 
 That President oppose. 
 Who dared deny his right and claim 
 
 To sway and rule the land. 
 And I had fiercely met them in 
 
 Stark battle hand to hand. 
 
 XCIV. 
 
 Strance thoughts are these for one like me. 
 
 Who did so fell a deed — 
 Who strove to blast his native land, 
 
 And civil discord breed. 
 Who slew his country's noblest son — 
 
 The first in rai k and power — 
 And more, to do it when I did. 
 
 At that dark trying hour. 
 Oh coward, felon, false and sly! 
 
 Oh traitor dark and fell ! 
 Oh murderer of the basest kind ! 
 
 Oh villain sprung from hell ! 
 Oh sharp, and keen, and subtle knave ! 
 
 Oh liar vile and base ! 
 Oh well may the hot burning tears 
 
 Bedew my curs'd face ! 
 Well may I writhe in agony, 
 
 And curse the fatal hour, 
 I willingly became a slave 
 
 Unto the devil's power. 
 Well may I curse my awful deeds, 
 
 And like a madman rave 
 With pain of body and of mind, 
 
 Above my yawning grave. 
 
 xcv. 
 
 The night arrived — that awful night 
 The bloody work was done — 
 
 At Dame Surratt's we all convened. 
 For fitter place was none. 
 
 And there we ate, laugh'd, sang and swore. 
 And pour'd down floods of wine, 
 
 Until the clock upon the wall
 
 THE PRiESIDICIDE. 113 
 
 Aroused this soul of mine 
 From that wild scene of revelry. 
 
 I instantly arose, 
 And told to each his fearful task, 
 
 And how to deal his blows ; 
 But ere I ceased, thus Payne began 
 
 With solemn voice to speak — 
 The wine was flashing in his eyes, 
 
 And flaming on his cheek : 
 '^Booth, I can't see what good 'twill be 
 
 For us t) do this thing; 
 Sure every one of us unto 
 
 The gallows it will bring. 
 It is as foul and awful plot 
 
 As e'er was framed by man. 
 Or e'er was conjured in the brain 
 
 Since earth and sea began. 
 Torture I'd bear like Ravaillac, 
 
 And be as firm and brave 
 As him, at the stake or ghastly rack, 
 
 The gallows or the grave. 
 I fear no woe or pain with which 
 
 Man can torment my form, 
 My soul would brave it as the rock 
 
 The lightning and the storm. 
 But 'tis a horrid thing, I swear, 
 
 For us to sneak forth thus, 
 And vilely slay and murder men 
 
 Who never injured us." 
 Fierce on his speech I broke with eyes 
 
 Like flaming coals of fire. 
 The blood went boiling through my veins. 
 
 And shook my form with ire. 
 First with curses on his fears I broke 
 
 With all my voice's strength, 
 Pour'd forth a volley of foul oaths 
 
 A half a rood in length. 
 "By heaven Payne then can it be 
 
 You are so frail in mind ? 
 Why you are unstable as water, 
 
 Inconstant as the wind. 
 'Twas but the other day you swore 
 
 (I deem'd your vow was true) 
 You would aid me heart and hand 
 
 To drive this business through. 
 Yea, help me slay and butcher those 
 
 Who drove the South to shame, 
 Who pour'd forth armies on her soil 
 
 And wrapt her towns in flame, 
 Who tore her blooming vineyards down, 
 
 Left them desolate and lone,
 
 114 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Made her a howling "wilderness 
 
 Bare as the arid Zone, 
 Made many a stately mansion 
 
 That once looked bright and fair, 
 And where once merry laughter rung 
 ^ Upon the evening air — 
 A sad and lonely, ruin'd pile, 
 
 O'er which the grasses wave. 
 Its owners exiled from the land, 
 
 Treated as the meanest slave, 
 Or thrown in dungeons dark as night. 
 
 Damp, gloomy as the grave." 
 ''Ay, but Booth every one that you 
 
 This night would doom to death — 
 Of this are innocent, so why 
 
 Stop off their vital breath ? 
 This bloody war had long began 
 
 Ere they arose to power, 
 We insatiate for war, arose 
 
 To slaughter and devour. 
 Had the North not stemm'd the Southern tide, 
 
 And down its pride have ta'en. 
 Then every town the North could boast 
 
 Had ere this in ashes lain. 
 And base indeed had been those men, 
 
 And lost to sense of shame — 
 When they assumed the nation's rule. 
 
 And unto power came. 
 Had they not strove with heart and hand 
 
 To quell rebellion in the land. 
 And trample out its flame. 
 
 They had been cursed for ever more 
 Throughout the land, from shore to shore, 
 
 Had they stood mute and tame, — 
 Until their haughty greedy foe 
 
 Had ta'en or ruin'd all. 
 Had split the realm, and wrapped the North 
 
 In shame and sorrow's pall. 
 So well trimm'd armies to their aid 
 
 As swift as light they brought — 
 To crush the fierce rebellion low, 
 
 Ay, bring it unto naught ; 
 And they have said and done no more 
 
 Than just the thing they ought. 
 This war arose like all that yet 
 
 Within the world have been — 
 And all that e'er will roar and ring 
 
 Upon this Globe I ween. 
 It grew through lying tongues of those 
 
 Who in the pulpit preach. 
 Whose proper business 'tis — good will
 
 THE PR^SIDICIQE. 115 
 
 And love, mongst men to teach. 
 Yea, they who feign to teach God's laws 
 
 Unto their fellow men, 
 And scatter blessings like the dews 
 
 That fall on field and fen. 
 But instead of acting like God's 
 
 Vicegerents on the world, 
 And spreaaing peace and love 'mongst men 
 
 They war's red flag unfurl'd. 
 Long naught but war and politics 
 
 They've from the pulpit hurld, 
 Savage and wild the preachers shriek 
 
 Their bloody doctrines forth — 
 Unto their gaping congregations, 
 
 Alike o'er South and North, 
 Loud every day the pulpit roars 
 
 With words, but not like those 
 Christ our Saviour taught alike 
 
 To all his friends and foes. 
 Pour forth bl od as water, cut down, 
 
 Burn, massacre, and slay, 
 Show no quarter to a foe. 
 
 Is the gospel of the day. 
 Through them alone this war to its 
 
 Fell magnitude did grow, 
 They are alone responsible 
 
 For all the nation's woe. 
 Instead of rushing unto arms 
 
 And making discord ring, 
 We should have heed them as the rock 
 
 Doth the scorpion's sting. 
 Some ones are really good I tro ./ 
 
 Amongst the gospel crew. 
 Who strive to vvorship God, and do 
 
 As well as flesh can do. 
 Though good or ill to them betide 
 
 To mammon ne'er are true, 
 Who strive to hide their neighbour's faults, 
 
 Not point them out to view 
 Who ne'er foam'd forth vile politics 
 
 Within the house of God, 
 Nor pray'd for war to waste the land 
 
 Like Timour's scourging rod. 
 But breathing peace and love to men 
 
 The sacred pulpit trod. 
 And these shine 'mongst the gospel crew 
 
 All glorious and sheen, 
 Like blazing comets in the sky 
 
 With mighty voids between."
 
 IIG THE PRiESIDICIDE. 
 
 XCVL 
 
 A blood red flush came o'er my face — 
 
 I felt it burning there, 
 Nor could I speak an ample space 
 
 For rage, surprise and care. 
 First I thought, straight to rush on him 
 
 And brain him at a blow, 
 Hold no more parley with a man 
 
 Who could desert me so. 
 At length I calmly said, "Tis true 
 
 Some preachers have had much to do 
 In breeding up this cruel strife, 
 
 That had cost so much blood and life, 
 For they have made the pulpits grnan 
 
 With things they should have left alone, 
 Ay, every day the pulpit roars 
 
 With naught but politics and wars, 
 And lying tales from them ; 
 
 They preach up murder, blood and death, 
 Applaud it with their fiendish breath 
 
 Though 'twere a gospel gem. 
 They wish for cities wrapped in fire, 
 
 Cities sacked, and horrors dire, 
 And things they should condemn. 
 
 They have maliciously stirr'd up 
 The people's hate and ire, 
 
 Set South 'gainst North, and North 'gainst South 
 In battle fierce and dire. 
 
 But trust to me and soon as we 
 Arise to rank and power, 
 
 For by my soul I swear we will, 
 If ye'll not fear to slay and kill 
 
 At the appointed hour; 
 Then every preacher in the land 
 
 Who e'er the pulpit trod, 
 Dared preach forth themes of blood and war 
 
 Witbin the house of God, 
 We soon will bring unto account, 
 
 And send them to their graves. 
 Or make such ranters ever be 
 
 The meanest quarry slaves. 
 But time speeds on, I must be gone, 
 
 And ere I go know this — 
 He who dares betray the plot 
 
 Instant death cau never miss. 
 Ye all may fail to act with me 
 
 Through cowardice of heart, 
 Yet, nathless slaughter there shall be. 
 
 For I shall do my part. 
 And if ye fail to help me drive 
 
 The plot through thoroughly, 
 If only part of it be done,
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 117 
 
 It will be worse for every one 
 Who's leagued in it with me — 
 
 Though if it all were done complete ; 
 Ay, if it fail you all will meet 
 
 The gallows and the grave 
 As sure as fate, so pause and wait 
 
 Like fools until it be too late 
 Your necks from hemp to save 
 
 With you I hold no more debate, 
 I go my part to brave. 
 
 Curse on your coward stagnant souls, 
 How ghast'yye appear, 
 
 Ye tremble now like aspen leaves, 
 Ye putrefy with fear ; 
 
 Ye look like very statues of 
 Fell Terror and Despair. 
 
 Homer's Irus was a coward — 
 But ye are worse by far, 
 
 Grone is all your manly-hood 
 Fear doth all your spirits mar. 
 
 Ye all would cower ere the sword 
 Flash'd from its shining sheath, 
 
 Nor could ye as Irus stand till some 
 Ulysses touched your teeth. 
 
 Aha ! ye all are trembling still, 
 As sheep in mountain fold 
 
 Ye quake with fear, when suddenly 
 They in their midst behold 
 
 The howling wolves and tigers come, 
 Or lions fierce and grim, 
 
 Ay, ay, like them ye quake with fear. 
 With fear your eyes grow dim. 
 
 Quake on, fear on, poor coward fools, 
 Ye little know as yet 
 
 How vast a bill ye owe the laws, 
 But ye shall pay the debt. 
 
 To night I do a deed that shall 
 All human senses rock — 
 
 As if the earth were rent in twain 
 By some fell earthquake shock. 
 
 I'll do it, though full well I know 
 That dire, hate and wrath, 
 
 And Vengeance fell, like dragons grim 
 Will aye pursue my path. 
 
 And all of ye, that e'er were seen 
 In company with me, 
 
 Will then be seized, deem'd privy to 
 The deed of felony. 
 
 No utter chance there'll be for you 
 To 'scape the felon's tomb,
 
 118 THE PR^:SIDICIDE. 
 
 As true as niizbt now shades tlie land — 
 The gallows is your doom. 
 
 For know, my plot is as some tree 
 That is complete and whole, 
 
 Ye are the branches of that tree, 
 And I the root and bole. 
 
 One branch remove, it injures not 
 The stable trunk, nor root, 
 
 Awhile the sap may flow, but soon 
 Springs forth another shoot. 
 
 But let the livid lightning rend 
 Its stately bole, or wound. 
 
 And blast the vital roots, then all 
 The branches kiss the ground. 
 
 Ho! ho! what trrmbling still? if thus 
 Ye quake with mortal dread 
 
 To hear me speak, oh, how yc'll quake, 
 When ye on the gallows tread. 
 
 Vile worthless lumps of dirt, without 
 A soul to do or dare, 
 
 'Tis but thoughts of corporeal pain 
 That makes ye quail with fear, 
 
 And for your soul's eternal doom 
 Ye have no thought nor care, 
 
 Only death and mortal man yc dread, 
 Of God ye have no fear. 
 
 Poor lads how pale ye look, the fiends 
 Of Fear must ia ye dwell, 
 
 If thus to hear me speak ye quake. 
 How will ye face the fiery lake ? 
 
 The fusing fla nes of hell ? 
 Ha ! what will ye then do ? when round 
 
 Ye vast and grim and tall, 
 The flames of hell as ocean's waves 
 
 'Neath tempests leap and fall. 
 Fear on poor terror stricken lads, 
 
 Ay, tremble while ye may, 
 Cowards your days are number'd and soon 
 
 Your memory '11 decay, 
 Yea, from all thoughts of mortal men 
 
 Ye soon will pass away, 
 As the water'd lilies reck not of 
 
 The dvought of yesterday. 
 Payne, Payne, farewell faint-hearted man, 
 
 i lavished love on you, 
 Like water pour'd upon the sand 
 
 Beyond the reach of mortal hand 
 To gather up anew. 
 
 No mother ever loved her child 
 Aa I have cherished you. 
 
 It grew to passion almost wild.
 
 THE PRiESIDICIDE. lid 
 
 Would yours were half as true 
 
 Oh, could I forget you ever ! 
 But 'twould be a vaia endeavour 
 
 To cast you from my mind, 
 No power on earth could sever 
 
 My warm soul from you, no, never, 
 You there shall live unshrioed 
 
 Through all eternity, and burn 
 Within this spirit's core ; 
 
 But farewell you faint-hearted man 
 Farewell forever more. 
 
 Farewell, my love is strong as death ; 
 My hatred savage as the grave : 
 
 The coals thereof are coals of fire. 
 Whose flame shall ever glow and rave.i' 
 
 XCVIT. 
 
 Burning with rage, remorse and shame, 
 
 1 darted like a flash of flame 
 From out the dusky room, 
 
 My name I thought I heard them call 
 As I departed through the hall^ 
 
 1 paused not 'till I reached the stall, 
 And found my horse and groom, 
 
 Already saddled was my steed, 
 I sprung on him with lightning speed, 
 
 And through the mist and gloom 
 I rode upon my errand fell — 
 
 Grlowing like demon hot from hell; 
 I reached the fatal place 
 
 I glided in the Theatre, 
 Upon the mirth, uproar and stir — 
 
 I gazed a little space; 
 Oh all the place was crowded full ! 
 
 Although the play was dry and dull — 
 The actors just the same, 
 
 Though poor the play, the actors rude, 
 Forth from that lively multitude 
 
 Oft hearty cheerings came. 
 But what enlivened so the night, 
 
 And gave that audience delight, 
 Ay, so their rapture fann'd. 
 
 Was he — who sat in silence there, 
 The good, the noble, and sincere, 
 
 The loved, the honor'd, and the dear, 
 The ruler of the land. 
 
 I saw — and gazed a little space 
 Upon his open, candid face, 
 
 I saw a passing smile 
 Upon his noble visage play, 
 
 As sunbeams at the close of day ;
 
 120 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 Great God, in fear I turn'd away — 
 
 It seem'd its bright and kindly ray 
 Dawn'd full on me the while. 
 
 Yea, full on mc it fell and beam'd 
 With all its warmth serene ; 
 
 I know not why, hut oh ! it seem'd 
 His ej^es on mine forever gleam'd 
 
 With all their glowing sheen ! 
 Oh, oft I turn'd my gaze away 
 
 And stol'n-wise look'd at him ! 
 . But still I found their kindly ray 
 
 Did still unswerving on me play, 
 It made my senses swim. 
 
 A low dull sound rung in mine ear 
 All the while I was standing there, 
 
 A sullen, mournful sound, and drear, 
 It smote my soul and sense with fear, 
 
 And made me pant for breath. 
 Deep, deeper came those murmurs low — 
 
 As though a spirit wail'd in woe 
 Above the coming death. 
 
 My breast could scarce my thoughts oontsin 
 , All hell was flashing in my brain 
 
 And surging in my soul, 
 Swift towards the outer door I sped, 
 
 Trembling with more than mortal iread — 
 And keen anxiety, my head 
 
 Hot as a burning coal. 
 And as I pass'd from out the door 
 
 I turn'd and looked at him once more, 
 Still beam'd his eye on me, 
 
 And still that bright celestial smile 
 Was beaming down on me the while 
 
 With sunny brilliancy. 
 'Sdeath ! I could not slay that man 
 
 For all the gold on earth's broad span — 
 Nor do him aught of harm — 
 
 While his keen gaze was hx'd on me, 
 He look'd so kind and fatherly 
 
 I could not raise my arm 
 To point my pistol to his head, 
 
 It seem'd my p'lrpose dark and dread, 
 And all my rage and bate had fled, 
 
 Before that kindly smile he shed, 
 As at a mighty charm, 
 
 Yea, awhile all fell vengeance sped, 
 And left a love for him instead. 
 
 XCYIII. 
 
 I read strange tales long, long agone 
 Of murder, crime, and woe,
 
 THE PRiESIDICIDE. 121 
 
 Of valiant men and good who died 
 
 By the assassin's blow. 
 In all it seem'd those men would feel 
 
 By instinct, swift as light, 
 The presence of their mortal foe 
 
 Ere he approach'd their sight, 
 Ay, long ere they had cause to fear 
 
 The coming woe and harm, 
 Or cause to fancy they should die 
 
 By any human arm. 
 But when'er he who did the deed — 
 
 Though it was years ahead — 
 Chanced to come within their presence — 
 
 Or when they heard his tread 
 A sudden feeling wild and strange 
 
 Would through their being go. 
 Their eyes by instinct turn'don him — 
 
 With keer.cr sharper glow 
 Than they were ever known to shine 
 
 On aught on earth before. 
 This may but be the phantasy, 
 
 Or lies and nothing more. 
 Of those who penn'd those thrilling tales 
 
 Of horror, crime and gore. 
 I cannot tell, but this I know, 
 
 In haste three times I went 
 Within that merry Theatre 
 
 To slay the President; 
 And every time I enter'd there — 
 
 Just ere I reached the spot 
 Where I could take a steady aim, 
 
 Make certain that my shot — 
 Would send him to his long account 
 
 His oyes would turn on me. 
 Ay, gaze on me all kind and sheen 
 
 Just as his face I'd see. 
 And every time I met his stare — 
 
 Smiles his visage wore, frank as e'er 
 On mortal face we'll find, 
 
 The while from head to heel I shook, 
 For in his open candid look 
 
 I read as from a seraph's book 
 Good will to all mankind. 
 
 Three times I strode with hasty pace 
 That Theatre within, 
 
 Resolved to let a bullet fly — 
 And do the deed of sin, 
 
 And three times did I retire 
 From out that fatal place — 
 
 With panting heart, and reeling step 
 And brain, and burning face.
 
 122 THE PRiSrPICIDE. 
 
 Had I bnt mark'd a frown or sneer 
 Acroi>s his featnres crawl 
 
 The while I ga^ed upon him there 
 rd felt no fear at all 
 
 In taking stire and steady aim, 
 And doing the fell deed, 
 
 Tea, I"d paused not but done it 
 With all the devil s speed. 
 
 Each time I gaied on him, he looked 
 All kindly and sincere. 
 
 Though he ne'er harbored thought nor wish 
 But what the world might hear. 
 
 Upon his face I failed to trace 
 Ausht but universal love 
 
 To all hia fellow men on earth. 
 And trust in Gri:>d above. 
 
 And so I could not slay the man 
 Wbile thus he sazed on me, 
 
 I eoold not find it in my heart 
 To act so emelly; 
 
 'Twould been as parricide done with 
 A fiend's ferocity. 
 
 XCIX. 
 
 There was a tavern close at hand 
 
 To which I hied with speed. 
 There I poured down wine as water 
 
 To steel me to the deed. 
 Soon I felt it fire my brain, 
 
 And with it renseanee came. 
 My blood went bouLdins through each vein 
 
 Like rushing liquid flame. 
 For hate was in me strong as death, 
 
 And cruel as the grave, 
 Fiery as the Simooms' breaths 
 
 That o'er Sahara rave ; 
 And jealousy as fierce and fell 
 
 As ocean's angry wave — 
 That draws the ship-wrect'd seaman towards 
 
 The Maelstrom's dread abyss. 
 'Where ghastlj green-eyed monsters war. 
 
 And Iong-toQ2tied dragons hiss. 
 And where 'midst racing roaring brine 
 
 The bones of men are toas'd. 
 The bones of ship- wrecked marineiB 
 
 Through coiuitkas a^es lost. 
 Headlong it spins him round and round, 
 
 Rejoicing at his doom. 
 Still Barroving at every bound. 
 
 To that dread brim still closer wound, 
 That rim of spray and spume. 
 
 Then whirk him in that gulf profound
 
 1^ 
 
 
 GrL;.-—-. — ■ " ; 
 
 EMkaezir. 
 
 4 
 
 J -r — -^ 
 
 ilijBMiiHk 
 
 ^ ■*"rc:. 
 
 I 
 As ■ ^- — r ■- If --or. 
 
 El- 
 He ~_ ^ 
 

 
 124 THE PR.TiSIDICIDE. 
 
 I felt his breath upon my cheek 
 
 'Twas fetid arid air — 
 Like that supposed to issue from 
 
 Dread hell's most foul abyss j 
 An unseen serpent coil'd around 
 
 My arm, I heard it hiss. 
 Swift, noiseless as the devil moves 
 
 When on some errand dread, 
 I drew my pistol from my breast 
 
 And aim'd it at his head. 
 Forth went the bullet through his brain 
 
 With sad and sullen roar, 
 I saw the crimson blood stream forth, 
 
 And rush upon the floor. 
 Oh then great God the deed was done ! 
 
 The blackest deed that earth — 
 Has known or witness'd since the fiends 
 
 And devil had their birth. 
 I drew my dagger from its sheath 
 
 And leaped upon the stage, 
 For I was wild and frantic then 
 
 With demon fear and rage, 
 And Terror strung each thew and nerve 
 
 With more than human force, 
 With strength that is not of this world ; 
 
 I was strong as the torrent hurl'd 
 Adown its Alpine course. 
 
 Fear joined with crime more daring owns 
 By far than courage hath. 
 
 Courage is not strong nor fierce as Fear, 
 Nor half its strength has Wrath, 
 
 And had some flame or yawning gulf, 
 Or danger cross'd my path, 
 
 I'd leapt o'er them, nor paused to think 
 Of any shock nor scath ! 
 
 So agile and so strong I felt. 
 So desperate and fell, 
 
 I would have braved the jaws of Death 
 And all the fiends of heil — 
 
 To clear me but one hour from 
 That dread infernal place, 
 
 So I might gaze no longer on 
 That slaughtered Chieftain's face 
 
 And had a thousand sturdy men 
 All armed with sword and spear 
 
 But strove to block my passage then, 
 Or stop my fierce career. 
 
 I do most verily believe 
 I had not stood at bay, 
 
 But through and through their hostile ranks 
 Have hewn my gory way ;
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 125 
 
 Yea, as the reaper cuts right through 
 The yellow ripened grain 
 
 And spreads it all in even swaths 
 Along the harvest plain. 
 
 Or made them fly like ocean's spray 
 When the black squall doth blow, 
 
 Or like reeds that in the flood-time 
 Spin down the whirling Po. 
 
 My brain was red-hot liquid flame 
 Like that which seethes in hell, 
 
 When I leaped forth upon the stage 
 With panther spring and yell. 
 
 That dread moment I seem'd endowed 
 With strength and terror fell, 
 
 Crazed and nerved beyond the power 
 Of human voice to tell. 
 
 For some one I know was hired 
 To out the lights around — 
 
 Just soon as my pistol fired, 
 Ay, at the very sound, 
 
 So outward I might safely rush 
 Amidst the gloom profound. 
 
 But while I ruslied across the stage 
 The place was bright as day, 
 
 No one had dimmed the lights, it seem'd 
 They shone with brighter ray. 
 
 Then through the rearward door I went 
 With more than lightning's speed, 
 
 Then down the narrow street I rushed 
 And vaulted on my steed 
 
 All had been done as swift as thought, 
 Yea, like a flish of flame 
 
 I flew in the place, did the deed. 
 Then outward shouting came. 
 
 'Twas done so quick, so rapidly, 
 So swift, so sudden, and so free, 
 
 It even seem'd to me — 
 To be a passing flying dream, 
 
 And not reality. 
 And when I sprung upon the stage 
 
 Not one knew what it meant, 
 Not e'en the ones who sat around 
 
 The slaughtered President, 
 So swift I spvung upon the stage. 
 
 So swift from it I went, 
 That all that multitude around 
 
 Sat gaping with surprise. 
 All dumb and mute they sat with 
 
 Parted lips and straining eyes, 
 Wrapt in such vast astonishment 
 
 Not one of them could rise.
 
 I2() THE PR^SIDICIDE. 
 
 CT. 
 
 Deep, deep and fast my rowels sank 
 
 Within my charger's foamy flank, 
 O'er ditch, and fence, and clift, and meed^ 
 
 He thu'ider'd on with billow's speed 
 When tempests are abroad ; 
 
 He flew as though he well could heed 
 The danger of his lord. 
 
 With spur and rein his flight I cheer'd 
 'Till morning in the sky appear'd, 
 
 Then towards a lonely wood I steer'd 
 That stood a mile before 
 
 There, in his rapid flight I rear'd, 
 And sprung to earth once more. 
 
 But oh the pain, that smote me then ! 
 Thn keen and bitter pain, 
 
 It sent a thrill through all my form, 
 I felt it in my brain. 
 
 When I that fearful leap had made 
 That night unto the stage — 
 
 Although I did not feel it then 
 Through fear, and haste, and rage, 
 
 A slender bone within my leg 
 Broke as I touched the floor, 
 
 And now the points pierced through the skin 
 A half an inch and more. 
 
 I strove to soothe my broken limb, 
 But all my toil was vain, 
 
 And Terror mated with Despair 
 Made all my pain more pain. 
 
 Soon Harold journey'd up to me, 
 Then ofi" to Mudd's we went, 
 
 Though at each move I made, my wound 
 Pains through my body sent. 
 
 CII. 
 We went to Mudd's, for well knew he 
 
 About the dark Conspiracy, 
 We met him at his door. 
 
 We told him of the murder grim; 
 He strove to set my broken limb, 
 
 And fix it right once more. 
 But all the while he bent o'er me, 
 
 He trembled like an aspen tree. 
 And ghastly looked his brow, 
 
 Nor has he set the bone aright. 
 Perhaps he could not for his fright. 
 
 Perhaps he knew not how. 
 
 cm. 
 
 On, on, I flew o'er field and fen
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 127 
 
 With Harold by my side, 
 He swore to aid me in my fligKt 
 
 And be my friend and guide, 
 And lead me throupli these lonely swamps 
 
 No matter what betide. 
 And in this damp and lonely bield 
 
 Just ere the night closed in — 
 Just ere this driving storm with all 
 
 Its fury did begins— 
 Alone he left me here, while he 
 
 Went forth with trembling tread — 
 To seek among the sons of men 
 
 One little piece of bread, 
 To ease that craving agony 
 
 Which at our vitals gnaws. 
 For fell hunger will drive mankind 
 
 Within the lion's jaws 
 And ah, they must have captured him ! 
 
 Or else he's gone astray, 
 I know he would not willingly 
 
 Have stay'd so long away. 
 Ah me ! he must have fallen in 
 
 The clutches of the law ; 
 And that crowd of flying horsemen 
 
 That just ere dusk I saw — 
 Scouring along by yonder wood 
 
 Perchance have taken him. 
 Perchance this very night he hangs 
 
 Upon 6ome gallows grim. 
 If they have captured him, oh Grod 1 
 
 They soon will have me too, 
 For he's not over firm of mind, 
 
 Nor yet the bravest of mankind, 
 And he may give some clue — 
 
 To them, so me they may easy find. 
 And me for aye undo. 
 
 CIV. 
 
 Oh God ! perchance those horsemen — 
 
 Or spies are around me now. 
 Hark ! a strange moving then I heard 
 
 Upon yon maple bough. 
 Men by thousands will be after me 
 
 And seek me far and near, 
 For a price is set upon my head. 
 
 Those who capture me alive or dead 
 Will ample fortunes share. 
 
 Harold I should not have sent for food, 
 Better to starve and die 
 
 Alone in woe and agony, 
 Than die a death of infamy
 
 128- THE ril.ESIDICIDE. 
 
 Upon the scaffold bigli. 
 But to DO gallows shall I go, 
 
 Lost and wretched as I am 
 No such vile disgrace and shame 
 
 My latest hour shall damn. 
 My soul shall leave its mortal form 
 
 Midst scenes of strife and battle storm; 
 While blood flows round me red and warm, 
 
 Midst scenes of smoke and flame, 
 I'll die as doth the lion die — 
 
 When his young lound him slaughter'd lie. 
 Whose courage and ferocity 
 
 No earthly force can tame, 
 Who fears not when he sees his foes 
 
 Surround his bloody den, 
 Who dies while biting, tearing hard 
 
 'Moagst dying hounds and men. 
 My soul shall leave its earthly frame 
 
 As doth the huge volcano's flame 
 Quit the crater with a roar. 
 
 That sends one sudden blaze of lisht 
 Across the land, then sinks to night 
 
 And gloom forever more. 
 
 CV- 
 
 But ere I sink into the grave 
 
 Right gladly would I know — 
 If any other in the plot 
 
 Did dare to strike a blow 
 That night save mo, I fain would know 
 
 Who was murder'd on that night, 
 And where the rest who leagued with me 
 
 Have hid or ta'en their flight, 
 For Harold is the only one 
 
 That I have fix'd my eyes upon— 
 Ever since that tremendous time 
 I went to perpetrate the crime. 
 And left them gaping one and all 
 
 At me in Dame Surratt's old hall, 
 Half drunk, and ready for a brawl. 
 
 But they were cowards all at heart, 
 Not much they did I trow. 
 
 For when I left them there, I saw 
 Fear, stamp'd upon each brow. 
 
 If aught that night was done by them 
 In shape of felony, 
 
 'Twas Dame Surratt who urged them on, 
 They would not strike for me. 
 
 She may have spurr'd them to the deed, 
 For she was sly and keen, 
 
 Knew well the way to lead astray 
 Such wretches low and mean.
 
 THE PR^SIDICIDE. 129 
 
 CVI. 
 
 Away, away witli thoughts like these, 
 
 Why think of dogs like them ? 
 They are not worthy e'en to touch 
 
 The devil's garment hem, 
 Not one of them shall die like me, 
 
 They are too vile and low — 
 And far too cowardly to fall 
 
 With face unto their foe. 
 They'll all upon the gallows swing — 
 
 The scorn of human kind, 
 The hate, derision, and contempt, 
 
 Of e'en the dark in mind 
 But my fell earthly race shall end, 
 
 My spirit from its body wend 
 Midst scenes of blood and fire, 
 
 Amidst the clash and crash of steel, 
 And combat fierce and dire. 
 
 My hands are on my carbine now. 
 My dagger 'tween my teeth, 
 
 And they who dare to venture near, 
 A bullet through each heart shall tear, 
 
 Be each my dagger's sheath. 
 I'll die as doth befit the slayer 
 
 Of so great a man, 
 Though sorely now I rue the deed 
 
 As any mortal can. 
 And though I acted cowardly 
 
 And low and mean, and vile, 
 By sneaking up behind the man 
 
 And killing in that style. 
 Such cowardice shall not disgrace 
 
 My latest hour on earth, 
 Ah no ! I shall not so besmirch 
 
 The land that gave me birth ! 
 His dark, untimely, cruel death 
 
 The world shall ever mourn, 
 And bards shall sing his worth and fame 
 
 To ages yet unborn. 
 And they shall tell of him who did 
 
 The dark atrocious crime, 
 Through it my name shall ever live 
 
 Through all revolving time. 
 Good nicQ and brave may be forgot, 
 
 Oblivion aye hide the spot 
 Their dust and fame are nursed. 
 
 But while men breathe on earth they'll hear 
 With shudders of revenge and fear 
 
 Of me, the fell, accurs'd. 
 This generation of mankind 
 
 May seek to hide my name,
 
 130, THE PB^SIDICIDE. j. 
 
 The next that comes will seek to know 
 Who dealt the fierce tremendous blow, 
 
 And wrou2;ht the deed of shame. 
 My name like Eratostratus — 
 
 Though wrapt in blood and crime, 
 Shall live in spite of man and fiend 
 
 Through all the tide of time. 
 
 CVII. 
 
 'Sdeath ! how fierce the lightnings flash, 
 
 How dread the thunders boom — 
 The world, a moment's light they give, 
 
 Then tumult and donee gloom. 
 The tempests howl, the torrents roar 
 
 In headlong fury by, 
 Oh there is madness on the earth 1 
 
 And anger in the sky. 
 And there is madness in my soul. 
 
 And horror in my mind, 
 Sorrow, Eemorse, and grim Pespair, 
 
 All visit me combined. 
 As lightning bolts my aching soul 
 
 They blast, and wound, and tear, 
 Yea, fierce lightning bolts self forged 
 
 In intramundane air. 
 Ah ! pain and fear and every ill 
 
 Hold form and soul in thrall. 
 Yea, every ill that e'er was born 
 
 On this terrestrial ball — 
 Since first it sprung in airy space 
 
 'Midst creation's mighty plan — 
 And there before the sun's bright disk 
 
 Its revolving course began. 
 'Tis by the sun's magnetic force 
 
 This world io space is held, 
 By it, earth lives in air, by it 
 
 From other worlds repeld. 
 And if that empyreal sphere 
 
 Should wither from the sky — 
 Earth would bolt through space-and in dark 
 
 Primeval chaos die. 
 So by Faith alone the spirit lives 
 
 And hopes and trusts in God, 
 If not for Faith dark man's soul would be 
 
 In its corporeal clod. 
 Faith like the sun that holds and guides 
 
 And keeps this world aright — 
 Illumes and cheers the soul of man — 
 
 Else all were hell and ni2;ht. 
 
 & 
 
 Earth weighed in God's vast universe 
 
 'o 
 
 But one mere atom lies —
 
 THE TRiESIDICIDE. 131 
 
 As one of its small grains of sand 
 
 Placed in a scale with a world more grand 
 And billion times earth's size 
 
 So every deathless soul of man 
 Though in itsself a world, and 'gan 
 
 Ere earth's sepulchral clod- 
 Is but a mere slight atom of 
 
 The all pervading God. 
 He is the centre source and life 
 
 Of every earth bound soul — 
 All are but mere parts of Him, 
 
 He's the vast stupendous whole. 
 All atoms, souls, suns, stars, and worlds 
 
 Are His to sway and rule, 
 He's all wise, benign, beneficent, 
 
 And man is but a fool. 
 Shall He who from nothing formed 
 
 All vast ethereal globes — 
 Fill'd them with life, and deck'd them all 
 
 With grand and glowing robes ! 
 Not cleanse a death ess soul fr(jm crime ! 
 
 Yea, make it pure again — 
 As first it sprung from llis own hand 
 
 All free from every stain ? 
 Yea Him to whom no mortal yet 
 
 Has ever call'd in vain ? 
 
 CVITI. 
 
 Blow, blow ye winds forever blow 
 
 O'er forest, hill and plain, 
 Ay, howl and groan like angry fiends 
 
 In everlasting pain. 
 And flash ye streams of lightning flash, 
 
 And roll ye thunders roll, 
 For nothing else this awful night 
 
 Can cheer my madden'd soul. 
 All my blood like heated lava 
 
 Is rushing through each vein, 
 And a fell volcano's fire 
 
 Is pent within my brain. 
 Ten thousand dreadful forms come round — 
 
 They beckon me away, 
 "%, fly, and hide thyself in hell"' 
 
 Each spectre seems to say. 
 A long, dark, sad funeral train 
 
 Aye moves before my eye and brain. 
 Strange sounds ring in mine ear, 
 
 I see a corpse all pale and white, 
 Whose's eyes still open glare 
 
 In wrath and rage at me. Oh God ! — 
 I cannot stand their stare 1
 
 lo2 THE PRiESIDICIDE. 
 
 Ah ! who art thou beside me now ! 
 With sunken cheeks and ghastly brow? 
 
 And thin and frightful form ? 
 Art thou Death to whom mortals bow 
 
 In war, peace, shine and storm ? 
 "Who summons to another sphere 
 
 The children of this earth ? 
 Who o'er men and bensts holds sway 
 
 From hour of their birth ? 
 If thou art he whom all men fear, 
 
 Then bid this mortal dark and drear, 
 Rise and mount his funeral bier. 
 
 Ah, Death I welcome thee! 
 For here I would no longer live. 
 
 All hell no deeper woes can give 
 Than my past agony. 
 
 Why leave a wretched cripple here 
 Rack'd with Hunger, Want, and Woe ? 
 
 Fell Horror, Terror, and Despair ? 
 Mated with Anguish dark and drear ? 
 
 Ah, take me forth ! [ care not where 
 With thee I have to go, 
 
 Take me forth thou dreadful power, 
 Let this be my dying hour. 
 
 Come to a lost and maddened soul, 
 That pants, that struggles for repose, 
 
 Ah ! bid me haste and reach the goal 
 Where earthly pains and sorrows close ! 
 
 Aha! the last dim morn has come, — 
 My flame of life burns feebly now ! 
 
 Death, come Death, all my pains benumb, 
 And smooth my cold and dewy brow. 
 
 My sands of life are almost run, 
 And grain by grain I feel them go ; 
 
 Let me not view yon rising sun, 
 'Twould treble all my ghastly woe ! 
 
 How dim all things around me grow !
 
 THE BATTLE OF ANTTETAM. 
 
 A Ballad for the Soldier. 
 
 BY J. DUNBAR HYLTON. 
 
 I. 
 
 Now all ye good men of the Union, 
 
 With loyal hearts and brave, 
 Who still stand by the gay old flag 
 
 That still o'er ye doth wave. 
 All ye who for your country's right, 
 
 And for her Liberty, 
 Would meet the strongest foe that breathes, 
 
 And die or still be free. 
 Come and make a circle round me, 
 
 A story I would tell, 
 How we at dread Antietam fought, 
 
 How gallantly we fell. 
 For I am a war-worn soldier 
 
 All seamed with grisly scars, 
 A wreck tossed on the shore of peace 
 
 By raging surge of wars. 
 I've told you how on many a field 
 
 We've nobly fought and bled. 
 How hot, and grim, with blood and dust 
 
 We've stalked o'er fields of dead. 
 I've told you how on bank and stream 
 
 In seasons warm and cold, 
 Northern hosts and Southern legions 
 
 Joined in their battles bold, 
 'Till the dark cold waves were flowing 
 
 Red, thick and warm with blood. 
 Ha, dauntless sons of North and South 
 
 How we've choked the crimson flood ! 
 I've told you of the fame and glory 
 
 That gleamed so bright and pure 
 Upon the crests of those who fell 
 
 On Shilo's cumbered moor. 
 But now your eyes shall open wide 
 
 As at a trumpet's call, 
 I'll tell you of the fellcst fight, 
 
 And sternest deed of all. 
 I'm a war-worn soldier, in whom 
 
 Stern woe with triumph blends ; 
 For I've sought 'mongst the wasted ranks 
 
 And missed my dearest friends. 
 They all are hushed in death's repose, 
 
 'Midst streams of clotted gore,
 
 lo4 THE BATTLE OP ANTIETAM. 
 
 For them, Ruin lay behind us, 
 
 And Yentreance stalked before. 
 For they were martyrs, those who died 
 
 Amidst the smoke and flame — 
 And ghastly thunders of the fray, 
 
 'Twas for Country's trust and fame ; 
 And honored through all coming time 
 
 Shall be each hero's name. 
 All ye who live in quiet homes 
 
 In luxury and ease ; 
 Who never faced the front of war 
 
 On land or rolling seas; 
 Little ye think how terribly 
 
 That day the cannon roar'd, 
 How on the ranks of horse and foot 
 
 The shot and shell was pour'd. 
 Little ye think how fiercely 
 
 That day the war-horns peal'd, 
 How in the reeking swamps of gore 
 
 The furious squadron's reel'd; 
 How thick the ghastly limbs of men 
 
 Were scattered o'er the field. 
 There was no heart in either host. 
 
 But was to pity steel'd, 
 And well did the chiefs of either host 
 
 That day their armies wield. 
 For all that skill or force could do 
 
 To win the ghastly fray, 
 By gallant Lee and brave McClellau 
 Was done that bloody day. 
 II. 
 Oh ! fell and goriest battle 
 
 That with ruin all outshines, 
 Far surpassing Shilo dread, 
 And Battle of the Pines. 
 How thick the dead lay scattered 
 
 Along the mountain side. 
 How fast adowa the gullies ran 
 
 The dark red crimson tide, 
 Until Antietam's rolling fli od 
 With human gore was dyed. 
 For columns with columns mingled fast 
 
 'Mid storms of grape and shell 
 And lost forever more, in one 
 Promiscuous carnage fell. 
 
 in. 
 
 Oh! well can I recall the scene 
 That dark and starless night, 
 
 When by ten thousands round we lay 
 Awaiting for the fight.
 
 THE BATTLE oF ANTIETAM. ISf) 
 
 There from all climes beneath the sun 
 
 Were warriors fierce and strong, 
 Ay, men from every distant isle 
 
 Had gathered in that throng. 
 But chiefly from our own dear land 
 
 The gallant squadrons came, 
 To crush the raging civil war, 
 
 And trample out its flame. 
 They came from where Atlantic billows 
 
 Thunder, leap and roar, 
 From where the Pacific's waters 
 
 Lave the proud rocky shore. 
 They came from all the States that boast 
 
 The red, the white and blue, 
 All those who to the good old flag, 
 
 Bear loyal hearts and true. 
 And far away o'er hill and valley 
 
 The Southern host was spread, 
 And with their countless camp fires 
 
 The cloudy sky was red. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Bight glad were we when o'er the gloom 
 
 The rays of morning reign, 
 And saw Aurora robe in light 
 
 The hills, and stream and plain. 
 Then beat of drums and cannons roar 
 
 The grave-like stillness broke. 
 And with one start, and with one shout. 
 
 The Northern army woke. 
 And far away to left and right 
 
 Where'er the vision came, 
 So dazzling shone bayonet, sword and lance, 
 
 The armies seemed on flame. 
 And far away o'er Southern hills 
 
 Well could the Northmen spy 
 Long moving clouds of swarthy dust 
 
 Loom up along the sky. 
 And nearer still, and nearer. 
 
 We saw the black whirlwind come, 
 With loud, glorious trumpet clang, 
 
 And stormy roll of drum. 
 But little time had we to gaze, 
 On the storm, or Aurora's rays. 
 
 And mark her beams on armor shine, 
 
 For we were ordered into line. 
 Bight swift each leader drew his brand 
 
 While eyes like lightnings glow. 
 And shouted forth his stern command — 
 
 "Advance upon the foe."
 
 136 THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 
 
 V, 
 
 Now, with banners spread and clamors dread, 
 Either host to gory slaughter sped ; 
 Like a mighty torrent, broad and strong, 
 The Northern army roU'd along 
 
 With glorious trumpet peal. 
 Like the roar of the sullen deep, 
 When o'er her howling tempests sweep. 
 And on the shores her billows leap, 
 'Till huge rocks groan and reel. 
 And thunders the while their revel keep 
 
 With the fell storm below ; 
 So with awful tumult vast and deep, 
 Adown the mountains dark and steep 
 
 Rushed on the foaming foe, 
 By thousands, horse and foot, they came. 
 With brandished steel and hearts on flame, 
 
 To the ghastly work of death; 
 And their loud savage wild acclaim, 
 
 E'en drown'd the trumpet's breath. 
 
 VL 
 
 The furious armies met like clouds. 
 
 Driven by contending storms. 
 When they come surcharged with thunder, 
 
 And lightnings robe their forms. 
 Columns of smoke hid plain and hill, 
 
 No eye the sun could scan, 
 And like rivers beneath their feet 
 
 The gory torrents ran 
 But onward, onward, still they rushed. 
 
 And wilder grew the din 
 Of hissing shot and bursting shell. 
 
 And roaring culverin. 
 And awful was the clash of steel, 
 And fierce the war-horns peal'd, 
 And fast in hellish tumult 
 
 To and fro the armies reel'd. 
 As before contending tempests 
 Is toss'd the howling ocean. 
 So to and fro the battle rock'd 
 
 In dire, fierce commotion. 
 And thicker still, and thicker. 
 
 Came down the iron rain, 
 Screaming, bursting, down it came, 
 
 And hid the field with slain. 
 And fast o'er their slaughter'd comrades 
 
 The hinder columns flow'd, 
 'Mid sulphurous gloom they rushed. 
 
 Save when the mortars glow'd. 
 And louder than the cannons' roar,
 
 THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 137 
 
 And horrid burst of shell, 
 And armor's clang and horses' tramp 
 
 Was heard the dying yell. 
 VII. 
 As down the mountains bleak and hoar 
 Impetuous torrents leap and roar, 
 Increased by a thousand rushing rills, 
 They thunder down the echoing hills 
 To the vales below, then o'er the plain 
 Rush foaming to the raging main, 
 So battalion on battalion came, 
 
 With promiscuous sound 
 Still rushing 'mid the awful gloom 
 
 Of that affray profound. 
 As when fell Eoreas blows and brings 
 The winter on his icy wings ; 
 Fast from the clouds the sheets of snow 
 Descend, and hide the fields below. 
 So thick, so fast the batteries round 
 Pour'd shot and shell with horrid sound, 
 So thick were driven o'er the crowds, 
 The screeching, burning iron clouds, 
 And as autumnal leaves are strew'd 
 Before the tempest wild and rude. 
 As snow beside the mountain dun 
 Is wasted by the summer sun, 
 So thick, so fast the squadrons fell 
 
 Before each fatal roar, 
 And whole ranks were hurl'd to atom* 
 
 Amid a sea of gore. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 But deeper still the combat grew 
 
 Along the hill and vale; 
 And faster still the showers flew 
 
 Of burning iron haU. 
 Our ranks were backward driven 
 
 Before the Southern tide, 
 Like chaff before the winds of heaven 
 
 We flew on every side. 
 As ocean's foaming waves are whirl'd 
 
 From the strong swarthy coast. 
 So we were broken, backward hurl'd 
 
 Before the Southern host. 
 Like wolves upon a flying fold 
 
 The foes came howling on ; 
 Ay, hard upon our broken rear 
 
 The Souhtern bayonet shone. 
 "All, alas, is lost," each soldier said, 
 
 And shrieking, panting flew. 
 As in one seething mass we fled.
 
 138 THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 
 
 The horrors rose anew. 
 Beneath the strong the weak were thrown, 
 
 Bruised by their comrades' tiead, 
 And far along the field was strown 
 
 With dying and with dead. 
 
 IX. 
 
 It is a dread and awful hour 
 
 When all by dust conceal'd, 
 Two armies meet to try their power 
 
 On fair and open field. 
 It is a dreadful thing to hear, 
 
 The first dread shock of war; 
 E'en earth doth seem to groan with fear, 
 
 And rock beneath the jar. 
 Like tempests on the armies go, 
 
 And burn with one desire, 
 Though cannon roar and mortars nour 
 
 Their blast of steel and fire ; 
 The horses neigh, the trumpets bray. 
 
 And rolls the stormy drum ; 
 While with banners spread to ghastly death, 
 
 The frantic thousands come. 
 Oft doth the soldier hear the groan, 
 
 And sighs, as 'neath his heel, 
 He treads some comrade of his own, 
 
 Pierced by the foeman's steel 
 All, all around is carnage drear, 
 
 Is horror and dismay. 
 And there's a dim, infernal glare. 
 
 And dire yells in upper air. 
 As though the hosts of hell were there, 
 
 Waging a ghastly fray. 
 
 X. 
 
 Ay, awful is the hour of fight. 
 
 And terrible to see, 
 Yet still more awful is the flight. 
 
 Greater far the horrors be 
 When from a ruthless victor foe, 
 
 The vanquished thousands fly : 
 All crowded in a mass they go. 
 
 And groan, and bleed and die. 
 Then not a hand is stretched to save. 
 One toil-worn mortal from the grave, 
 
 For all around is fear. 
 Like the frail reed borne down the wave, 
 That rushes to a darksome cave. 
 
 Is each poor mortal there. 
 In vain for mercy thousands call. 
 As on the gory earth they fall,
 
 THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 139 
 
 And there all trampled lie. 
 In vain the thousands shriek for aid, 
 For them no comrade's step is stay'd, 
 
 To succor is to die. 
 Terror and discord lead the van, 
 
 And ruin stalks behind. 
 And on their rear their cause of fear, 
 
 Comes like a burning wind. 
 Yes, let the shock of battle come, 
 
 With all its clash of steel; 
 Ay, sound the fife, and beat the drum, 
 
 Let all the war-horns peal ; 
 Let not a cannon's mouth be dumb, 
 
 And swift their strength reveal. 
 Let all the noise of battle rise. 
 
 And blend in one great roar. 
 And thicker far than driving hail 
 
 Let bullets round us pour ; 
 And we are safer 'mid the storm. 
 
 However stern the fight. 
 Than 'mid the wild terrors that deform 
 
 Such an unearthly flight. 
 
 XL 
 
 Onward we went in dreadful race. 
 
 By all the foes pursued ; 
 Onward swept the flight and chase, 
 
 Through glen and mountain wood. 
 Till 'mid the host, a voice was heard — 
 
 A voice as trumpet loud — 
 And on a steed a form was seen. 
 
 High o'er the flying crowd. 
 No voice, among the sons of men, 
 
 But his could stop that flight; 
 Like magic through the ranks it ran. 
 
 Through that wild ghastly sight. 
 "Ho ! back, ye cowards! back !" he cried ; 
 
 "What, flying from the foe 
 While on the verge of victory ? 
 
 Turn, and smite them low ! 
 Back, for the land that gave you birth, 
 
 Your children and your wives, 
 And those dear ones who suckled ye, 
 
 And give away your lives ! 
 Take no quarter, and give none; 
 
 Rush like a burning wind ; 
 Terror shall fly before your path 
 
 And ruin stalk behind ! 
 Let the winds that pass o'er your graves 
 
 Tell other climes and years : 
 Freemen ye lived and died — and love
 
 140 THE BATTLE OF AlSTIETAM. 
 
 Shall wet your tomb with tears I" 
 From man to man, from rank to rank, 
 
 His words like lightning flew ; 
 They nerved the meanest coward's soul 
 
 And woke the war anew. 
 McClellan conies! McCIellan comes! 
 
 The army shouted round, 
 And far away, the rocky hills 
 Returned the joyous sound. 
 Then like a fell destroying storm, 
 
 Back on the foes we bore. 
 And gave three cheers, which stunn'd Lee's ears, 
 
 And drown'd the battle's roar. 
 Like a meteor, from rank to rank, 
 
 Our gallant leader flew ; 
 Where'er the dauntless hero went 
 Right fierce the onslaught grew, 
 Where'er the hottest battle raged, 
 
 The gallant chief was seen, 
 His visage pale as is the corpse, 
 
 His eyes as lightning sheen. 
 His words fell like the dews of heaven 
 
 Upon a parching land ; 
 They urged the strong to deathless deeds, 
 
 And nerved the weakest hand ; 
 On ! gallant Ricketts. On ! he cried, 
 
 And take yon mountain ridge; 
 And Burnside — fight on, fight on, 
 
 And keep the gory Bridge, 
 At every order that he gave, 
 
 At every burning word 
 From all his fighting host around, 
 A mighty shout was heard. 
 
 XII. 
 
 Then loudly fierce Magruder swore. 
 
 And fiery Jackson storni'd. 
 And on like devils to the fray 
 
 The Southern cohorts swarm'd. 
 In their midst, on a sn .w-white steed, 
 
 Their sturdy Lee was seen ; 
 His voice was like the rising gale 
 
 That stirs the forest green. 
 And like a flashing meteor, 
 
 That shines through night afar. 
 His flaming sword was waving high, 
 
 Amid the clcud of war. 
 His soul was a lion clad with wings; 
 
 He drank joy in with the breath 
 Of fierce, tumultuous battle. 
 
 And the gloomy dust of death. 
 "On ! on ! to glory, or the tomb !" 
 
 He cried — " Ye true and brave ;
 
 THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 141 
 
 On, for Liberty and Laws, 
 
 Or fill a freeman's grave. 
 Press on ! press on ! till every man 
 
 Lies piled amidst the slaughter, 
 And none are left to bury us, 
 
 Save mother, wife or daughter." 
 From band to band that stai'k command. 
 
 Like forked lightning passed ; 
 And then lance, and bayonet, and sword. 
 
 Rushed on in numbers vast. 
 And then a mighty shout arouse 
 
 From the Southern multitude, 
 Like the noise of fell blasts that drive 
 
 Through some wild ancient wood. 
 On Hill and Longstreet roaring flew, 
 
 'Mid shrouds of smoke and iron rain, 
 And with ten thousand snorting steeds. 
 
 Fierce Stuart dashed amain. 
 Though on they came like a heaving flood, 
 
 Proudly we met the shock ; 
 Aye, still with bristling front we stood, 
 
 As solid as a rock. 
 But faster still the mortars round 
 
 Belched forth their awfnl thunder ; 
 Peal on peal they crashing roar'd, 
 
 'Till earth seem'd rent asunder. 
 And thickj like burning, driving clouds, 
 
 The bullets sped through air ; 
 From host to host they hissing flew 
 
 Upon their dread career. 
 The hoarded thunders of all time, 
 
 Pealing old p]arth's decay. 
 Will but a low, faint whisper be 
 
 To the roaring of that fray. 
 
 XIIL' 
 
 Now to the right of the Southern. might, 
 
 Before a narrow pass, 
 A strong and mighty battery stood — 
 
 Long rows of hollow brass ; 
 Tier upon tier, tube behind tube. 
 
 The ghastly entrance kept 
 Of that dark vale, and in their wombs 
 
 A thousand thunders slept 
 But we paused not here our columns, 
 
 To catch a moment's breath ; 
 Though the road before was leading o'er 
 
 To the grisly jaws of death. 
 For naught could daunt the Northern soul ! 
 
 Like a river red and large, 
 Upon that Southern battery 
 
 We made a furious charge.
 
 142 THE BATTLE OF ANTTETAM. 
 
 Onward we rusted to take the mound, 
 
 Though all its cannon roar'd, 
 And red hot iron on our ranks 
 Down like a deluge pour'd. 
 Still pressing onward to the mound 
 
 The Northern squadrons came, 
 Through wasting storms of shot and shell, 
 
 And through sulphurous flame. 
 Aye, in vain the mortars pour'd 
 Their floods of steel and fire ; 
 Still, onward to the mound we drew, 
 
 Nigher still, and nigher, 
 Until slaughter'd battalions fill'd 
 
 The ghastly trenches round, 
 And bore their stern avengers o'er 
 To the hated Southern mound ; 
 Then hand to hand, in mortal fray, 
 
 The Northmen met their foes, 
 Blood streamed for blood, death came for death, 
 
 And blows were heap'd on blows. 
 Fast heads, trunks, and quivering limbs, 
 
 Splashed in the crimson tide, 
 And many a strong soldier fell 
 His foeman's corse beside. 
 
 XIY. 
 
 As the swollen flood of Nile, 
 
 That overflows its banks, 
 So, o'er the bristling battlement. 
 
 Poured in the Northern ranks; 
 And fast besiegers and besieged 
 
 Were mingling in a mass. 
 When in fell rout the Southern bands 
 
 Went flying up the pass. 
 Fast up the gloomy winding vale 
 
 Their horrid flight they poured, 
 While at their heels the Northmen flew, 
 
 With gory, dripping sword. 
 But as we flew, alas ! we drew 
 
 Within the jaws of hell, 
 For the foes had batteries on hills 
 
 That overlooked the dell, 
 And suddenly upon us came 
 
 An awful storm of shell, 
 Such a roar and blaze of lightning 
 
 From ofi" those mountains came, 
 They seem'd like fell volcanos wrapt 
 
 In one stupendous flame. 
 It seemed, as though the demons 
 
 Had risen against us then, 
 And brought the guns of hell to bear
 
 THE BATTLE OF ANTIKTAM. 
 
 Upon the march of men. 
 Upon us fast a hundred guns 
 
 Belched forth their iron rain ; 
 The vale was dyed with human gore, 
 
 And piled with heaps of slain. 
 Born away on the battle cloud 
 
 That path their spirits trod, 
 That dark and awful path that leads 
 
 To the judg ment-seat of GrOD. 
 Unceasing the fell voUies roared, 
 
 And fast the iron flew, 
 'Till night o'er that unearthly scene 
 
 Her sable mantle threw. 
 O'er the world a sullen darkness fell, 
 
 Dread chaos all conceal'd, 
 Darkness horrible as all hell 
 
 Hid sky, and hill, and field. 
 
 XV. 
 
 And never night so welcome yet 
 
 E'er came to mortal man, 
 Or came to hide a battle field 
 
 Since this vast world began. 
 For, from sunrise until sunset. 
 
 That battle had not ceased. 
 Nor had a warrior paused to rest. 
 
 Save those whom death released 
 Of that fierce toil, and those, alas ! 
 
 Lay round in numbers vast, 
 Mountains of slain were heaped around 
 
 All gory and aghast. 
 There piled in common carnage lie, 
 
 Those whom mothers long shall mourn. 
 Those for whom orphans long shall grieve, 
 
 And widows weep forlorn. 
 Floating in blood, with slaughter'd steeds, 
 
 They cumber all the ground. 
 Or lie in the roaring waters. 
 
 Of red Antietam drown'd. 
 Yes, many a home within the land, 
 
 Some cherished one has there — 
 Whose form no more again they'll see, 
 
 Nor voice again they'll hear. 
 Nor can the news of victory, 
 
 One little hour beguile 
 The grief they bear, for those who sleep 
 
 On Antietam's carnage pile. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Now comrades has a soldier told, 
 In numbers weak and bIow, 
 
 UP>
 
 IM THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM^ 
 
 How we at dread Antietam fought, 
 
 To crush rebellion low. 
 Had I a muse like that of yore 
 
 Who sung of Hector's fall, 
 Then would I wake a tune and take, 
 
 And hold your hearts in thrall. 
 Then would I tell how Rickett s storm'd, 
 
 And won the mountain ridge, 
 And how intrepid Burnside fought, 
 
 And kept the gory bridge. 
 Tell how they in triumph rear'd the flag, 
 
 The flag that oft had stood. 
 Waving o'er piles of foemen dead. 
 
 And fields of streaming blood. 
 Like a fire my song should roar. 
 
 Through the wild stubborn fray, 
 And paint McCIellan 'midst the sceneg 
 
 Of horror and dismay. 
 How he led each dire assault 
 
 And roll'd the war along 
 Should be my theme ; all his cannon 
 
 Thundering in my song. 
 Amidst the mighty works of war, 
 
 I'd paint the hero then 
 Such as he was ; a being shining 
 
 High o'er all other men ; 
 In the fierce battle's foremost line, 
 
 Should the bold hero stand, 
 Wrath and destruction in his look. 
 
 And lightning in his hand ; 
 Like Homer's Achilles when he rose 
 
 To meet the Trojan ire, 
 And rushed amidst ten thousand foes. 
 
 And made all Troy retire. 
 
 MY ELLENORE. 
 
 The rain pours down, the sky is dark, 
 Save when the lightnings flash. 
 
 The thunders roll, the billows stark, 
 
 Oft upon our plunging bark. 
 Come with a mighty dash. 
 
 My comrades all have gone to sleep, 
 
 And I am left alone. 
 To guide her through the raging deep,
 
 MY KLLENORE. 145 
 
 And brave the storms that round me sweep 
 With sad and sullen moan. 
 
 But one thing here, amid this storm, 
 
 Has force to soothe my care, 
 Hath power to keep my spirit warm. 
 And cheer for aye my weary form, 
 
 Upon a night so drear. 
 
 'Tis thoughts of thee, thou cherished one, 
 
 My gentle Ellenore; 
 God of the tender, frail and lone. 
 To whom no prayer is breathed unknown, 
 
 Oh ! guard her evermore, 
 
 Oh ! keep Thou her from every ill 
 
 That doth beset mankind : 
 Almighty Father, at whose will, 
 The ocean tosses or lies still, 
 
 Keep her, body, soul and mind. 
 
 * 
 
 Oh ! Thou who formed the trembling land. 
 
 And made the roaring sea, 
 Within whose strong eternal hand. 
 This world is as a grain of sand. 
 
 Who through all time shall be, 
 
 Teach her, through all her joy or pain, 
 
 Thou'rt God ot all below ; 
 And from the distant land or main, 
 Can'st bring the wanderer home again. 
 
 And soothe his deepest woe. 
 
 Teach her to trust in Thee alone — 
 
 As through life's vale of tears 
 She journey's on ; let no harsh tone, 
 No angry look, disturb or gloom 
 
 The Sabbath of her years. 
 
 Father of all, at whose command, 
 
 Empires fall or rise. 
 Who hold'st the whirlwind in Thy hand. 
 Or bids it waste a trembling land, 
 
 Unknown to whom nought dies — 
 
 This night while she kneels before Thy throne. 
 
 May she by Thee be blest ; 
 And when upon her pillow lone 
 Her weary head to sleep hath gone 
 
 Still gladden Thou her rest.
 
 146 TO lANTHE. 
 
 By day, by night, in joy or pain, 
 
 Whate'er of woe betide, 
 And whether, in this stormy main 
 I sleep, or journey home again, 
 Grod shield my promised bride. 
 
 TO lANTHE. 
 
 And so at last the die is cast, 
 And you and I must sever — 
 
 With all my heart, for my own part, 
 I hope 'twill be forever. 
 
 You need not cry, nor heave a sigh, 
 
 For human love is fickle, 
 And yours and mine, though once divine, 
 
 Has proved like glass as brittle. 
 
 Why shed a tear that's not sincere ? 
 
 Ours are no more beguiling ; 
 They do not start from the inward heart, 
 
 So we shall part a smiling. 
 
 Since his race began, too frail was man 
 For constant love and wooing, 
 
 They will deceive all who believe 
 So has man been ever doing. 
 
 Aye, through all time, in every clime, 
 They've been deceivers ever; 
 
 One hand on gold and one on mold; 
 To one thing constant never. 
 
 And women, too, have been untrue. 
 To those who loved them dearly 3 
 
 Many a wife has saddened life, 
 Aye, made it dull and dreary. 
 
 And since true love doth seldom more 
 Within this world of ours, 
 
 We'er not the first to break and burst 
 The vows of bygone hours.
 
 POETS. 147 
 
 So let us part with gladsome heart, 
 All grief and anguish smother ; 
 
 Your love is dead, and mine has fled, 
 The love we bore each other. 
 
 POETS. 
 
 Poets are a wild, mysterious race, 
 
 The world is all their own ; 
 They throw a darkness o'er the brightest place, 
 
 And make fair the drear and lone ; 
 Their paths are on the bellowing ocean. 
 
 And by the mountain's side, 
 They give to dead things strength, life and motion, 
 
 Where others vainly tried. 
 'Tis theirs the power to soothe the saddest soul. 
 
 And make it smile at woe ; 
 And over joy a mirky cloud to roll. 
 
 Making tears of pity flow. 
 'Tis theirs the power to raise the grovelling mind 
 
 To grand and noble things, 
 Waft it to virtue's realm, pure, refined, 
 
 As though on angel's wings. 
 By them, on glory's glowing deathless page, 
 
 The warrior lives enshrined, 
 His sorrows and his joys, from age to age, 
 
 Are sung to human kind. 
 They are a mighty and a godlike race. 
 
 And mortals own their power ; 
 Their fame and glory outlive time and place 
 
 And earth's loftiest tower. 
 They are a wandering and a wayward throng, 
 
 Careless of their weal or woes, 
 Their fancy with the whirlwind sweeps along, 
 
 Or with the lightning glows. 
 'Tis said the ravens mourn when the war-clad 
 
 Conqueror yields his breath ; 
 ut all mute and living things 
 And mourn the Poet's death. 
 
 But all mute and living things on earth are sad 
 
 PHTHISIS. 
 
 There's a dread and dire disease — 
 A scourge amongst the race of clay j 
 
 It rides on every blast and breeze ; 
 O'er all the world it holds its sway. 
 
 A disease that makes sleep and rest 
 Unrefreshing to the human frame ;
 
 148 
 
 PHTHISIS. 
 
 That makes it ever feel oppressed 
 
 With some dull sense it cannot name ; 
 Which paints with transient bloom the cheeks, 
 
 A beautiful, yet morbid glow — 
 Like those red, unnatural streaks, 
 
 The perished leaves of Autumn show; 
 And gives, at times, the sunken eye 
 
 Most strange, unearthly gleams of light, 
 And spreads pallor o'er the forehead high, 
 Like the corpse's hue of ghastly white ; 
 But cheerful leaves the mind — no pall 
 
 Dims or clouds its horizon fair ; 
 It, aye, culls fresh rays of hope from all 
 
 The ghastly causes of despair. 
 A dread disease, that so prepares 
 
 Its victim, as it were, for death ; 
 Its mortal parts of grossness clears, 
 
 Yet thick and heavy makes the breathy 
 And round familiar features throws 
 
 Aspects and shades refined and strange — 
 Dread, unearthly signs, marks, forms, shows. 
 
 And tokens of the coming change, 
 A dread disease, whose strong embrace 
 Though twined so tenderly at first — 
 Scarce a victim on the earth's broad face 
 
 Can from its fatal bondage burst. 
 A dread disease, in which the war 
 Between the body and the soul 
 Is so gradual, quiet, sure, 
 
 And solemn in its onward roll, 
 That day by day, and grain by grain, 
 
 The mortal atoms waste away , 
 So that the soul grows light and fain 
 To feel its lightening load decay ; 
 And, feeling immortality 
 
 At hand, with all its glory rife, 
 Feels a wild thrill of ecstasy — 
 Deems it a new term of mortal life ; 
 A disease in which life and death, aye. 
 
 So strangely blend, and seem the same, 
 That death takes life's glow, and hue, and ray, 
 And life, death's gaunt and grisly frame.
 
 PEN?!A. KAILRGA9 DEFT., 
 
 YOUi^Q .. 
 
 Hate, Ut. Issue jyuii
 
 t
 
 \
 
 *
 
 H.E.H. 
 
 DUPi..
 
 ^*»^
 
 n