FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152  
153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   >>  
rife in plots against the king? I hate the way of violence--the anarchist I spurn; Who scatters firebrands little knows where they may fall and burn. In my degree I have been bold to guard the nation's right, And keep alive within these realms the lamp of Gospel light: But in my gloomy dungeon laid, didst thou not visit me, And solemnly avow that I from wicked plots was free? How canst thou, then, unto my charge such grievous actions lay, And all thou hast so solemn said as solemnly unsay?" The whole assembled multitude full on Mackenzie turn'd, That even his harden'd countenance with shame and anger burn'd: "True, Jervieswoode, I told thee so, as my own private view-- Here I discharge the functions which to the crown are due." "If thou hast a conscience for thyself, and another for this place, I leave thee to the God of heaven and His all pardoning grace! My lords, I add no more--proceed--right well I know my doom: Death hath no terrors for my soul--the grave it hath no gloom!" 'Tis one from old Saint Giles! The blasts of midnight shake the hall, Hoarse sounding like a demon's voice, which the stoutest hearts appal! His doom is utter'd!--"Twelve hours hence thy traitorous head shall fall, And for a terror be exposed upon the city wall; Thy limbs shall quarter'd be, and hung, all mutilate and bare, At Jedburgh, and Lanark town, at Glasgow, and at Ayr; That all good subjects thence may learn obedience to the State, Their duty to our gracious king, and bloody treason's fate." A horror seizes every breast--a stifled cry of dread: "Who sheds the blood of innocence, the blood on his own head!" That pack'd and perjured jury shrink in conscience-struck dismay, And wish their hands as clear of guilt as they were yesterday. Mackenzie's cold and flinty face is quivering like a leaf, Whilst with quick and throbbing finger he turns o'er and o'er his brief; And the misnamed judges vainly try their rankling thoughts to hide Beneath an outward painted mask of loftiness and pride. Even she, the sweet heroic one! aye watchful at his side, Whose courage ne'er hath blanch'd as yet, though sorely, sharply tried-- Even she is crush'd beneath the weight of this last and deadly blow, And sinks upon her brother's neck, o'erwhelm'd in speechless woe. He, he alone, is calm of soul! Powers of no
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152  
153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   >>  



Top keywords:
Mackenzie
 

solemnly

 

conscience

 

innocence

 

perjured

 
shrink
 
violence
 

breast

 
stifled
 

struck


dismay

 

flinty

 
quivering
 

yesterday

 
seizes
 

horror

 
Lanark
 
anarchist
 

Glasgow

 

Jedburgh


quarter

 

mutilate

 

subjects

 

bloody

 

gracious

 

treason

 

obedience

 

Whilst

 

sharply

 

beneath


weight

 
sorely
 

courage

 

blanch

 

deadly

 
Powers
 

speechless

 
erwhelm
 

brother

 
watchful

judges
 

misnamed

 
vainly
 
rankling
 

finger

 

throbbing

 
thoughts
 

heroic

 
loftiness
 

Beneath