CANTO SIXTH

THE GUILLOTINE

CANTO SIXTH

THE GUILLOTINE

Come, sir, convey me to the block of shame.

RICHARD III.

'Tis better USING France than TRUSTING France.

HENRY VIII.

I

THANK heaven! this work demands no epic pen : "Twill therefore break no rules should I impart

A circumstance extraneous as a wen-
Allowing still those dogmas in the art

Of poetry their due respect: but then,
"The matter's in my head and in my heart!"
So Phebe says, you know, in "As you like it,"
And, whilst the bar is hot, I'd better strike it,

II

Away with trifling! I have just retraced

My steps to Place de Grêvés' dark square, and seen
A tall, undaunted youth his life-blood waste
Beneath the all-atoning Guillotine:

The sun shone out unfeelingly, and chased

Those clouds that better had become the scene;

And thousands, thousands thronged to see him die—
Jests on their lip and laughter in their eye!

III

And there I marked, by heaven! a father raise

His little child above the crowd, as tho'

He sought to sear the startled infant's gaze,

That bane and bloodshed with its growth might grow—(11)

Or freeze, at once, that precious fount which plays
When pity bids the heart and eye o'erflow!

I noted well the sallow villain's air,

And read of revolution horrors there. (12)

IV

The fettered victim in a cart came on:

An aged priest prayed by him; but the prayer
Passed to the winds; tho', ever and anon,
A crucifix was laid upon his sear,

White lip he felt it not; for, wild and wan,
His eye dilated round the crowded square ·
At last, with feverish gesture, quicker breath,
He fixed it on the instrument of death.

V

The hurdle paused. He rose with every nerve
Braced to die firmly; mounted on the stage-
Methought I saw him then begin to swerve-
"Twas I that shook! His features were a page
Where passion, it was easy to observe,

Had written much. He said his father's age

Must now be brought with sorrow to the grave—
For he had scorned the counsels which he gave.

(13)