Letter Written from Prison by Two Political Offenders

When a hero fails of his purpose,
His acts are regarded as those of a villain and a robber.
Pursuing liberty, suddenly our plans are defeated.
In public we have been seized and pinioned and caged for many days.
How can we find exit from this place?
Weeping, we seem as fools; laughing, as rogues.
Alas! for us; we can only be silent.