Part XVI

He knew, he felt: the thoughts inspiring him
Shall not, will not within his brain die out.
But that there must, there will yet come the day
When from their prison breaking they go forth
And conquer all the world o'er which they spread.

It came to pass. What strenuous work of years
Had not accomplished, now by happy chance
A moment brought about. He found somewhere,
In some secluded, subterranean place
A printing shop where he could print his works.

What did he say therein? He told the world
That priests are not like ordinary men,
But devils have become, that kings are not
By grace divine or some such nonsence vain,
Great demigods, but are plain, common men,
That all men equal are, all have the right,
— Nay more, — as duty to their Lord God owe
To be free, that who freedom does not prize
— God's greatest gift, — betrays his very God.

His book was published and all o'er the world
With lightning swiftness was distributed
And eagerly was read. Men, all athirst,
Drank its invigorating cristal flow
From which their very souls grew young again.
The powers though, alarmed, grew deathly pale
Upon their furrowed fronts vindictive ire 's seen,
With thunderings they shriek. "A traitor he
"Who wrote this book, religion he blasphemes,
"His majesty the king he dares assail,
"The author must severely punished be."
The frightened populace repeated it:
Indeed, a traitor he who wrote this book,
Religion he blasphemes, insults the king,
"As is prescribed by law the author must
Severely punished be. Inviolate
"And sacred are our faith likewise our king."

Most awful was the punishment he met.

Arrested in the street, he's carried off,
"Desist!" appealingly he cries, "desist
"Fear naught, I'll not attempt to run away,
"I follow you where'er you lead me to;
"But just one moment wait. That window yon
"You see, the window of my home it is.
"My wife and child live there, pray take me there
For one short minute only, so that I
"May say good-bye to them and then you may
"To prison take me, take me anywhere.
"Let me embrace them once again and then

"I'm yours, for I'd far rather go to hell
"After I've said my last good-bye to them
"Then go to heaven without a parting kiss.
Are you yourselves without family ties?
"Are you no husbands? Have no children you?
"What would you say if you were treated thus?
"In all the world I have naught else but them,
"In all the world they have naught else but me.
"Let me, good men, oh, let me go to them
"That once again, — who knows? — the last time, I
"May hold them next my heart. Don't pity me,
"Bait pity them, they're surely innocent.
"They 're not to blame, no malefactors they.
"Why punish them? Oh! do not kill them too.
"Oil, God! If with my earnest plea your hearts
"I can not move, my flowing tears appeal
"To you for this one boon, my tears which are
"But drops of blood which well from my poor
"And are the sweat-drops of a dying soul."

And weepingly he fell upon his knees.
And as in better days he had embraced
His sweethart's knees, his captors knees now held
Within his arms and wept. His captors though
With brutish, mocking laugther kicked at him,
Bade him to rise, nay, picked him up with force
And carried him towards the cart which stood
Near by in which to carry him to jail.
When he then saw that all his prayer's in vain,
His furious ire aroused, he rose and fought
With all desperate force at his command
To shake his captors off. with madman's strength
He struggled to free himself and shrieked and roared.
But all in vain, he was subdued and bound
And thrown into the van. — "Cursed be you all,"
He yelled, — "Curse you, and yours, ye fiends and

brutes
"In human shape. You aire the devil's own
"'Tis not a human heart a loathsome toad
"You have. As great as is upon your souls
"The weight of rascality, as great
"Shall be the fearful scars upon your cheeks,
"And then the worms of the dunghill shall
"Upon your carcass feast! Cursed be your king,
"In whose name you drag manly virtue down,
"And carry to the slaughter house. Curse you,
"You good-for-nothing idiotic king
"Who think yourself a God to be. In truth
"You are the devil, aye, the prince of lies.
"Who did entrust the millions to you?
"Who did entrust the sheepfold to the wolf?
"Your hands are bloodred like your regal cloak,
"Your face is pale as is the crown you wear,
"Your heart is black as is the mourning which
"Follows your deeds, as lengthened shade is drawn
"By setting, sun. How long yet will you dare
"Usurp your selfassumed illegal rights?
"The powers and prerogatives you stole?
"Oh! that it come, that in their might supreme
"Your subjects rise in violent revolt
"Against you, as the storm-swept ocean waves
"Arise, and when with hundred thousand men
"To give them battle you go forth: God grant
"It, that you do not bravely die -upon
"The battle field as would be fit a man,
"A craving coward you, you start the flight
"Run for your life, try to escape and hide
"Beneath you/- throne as hides beneath a couch
"The dog that had been by his master whipped
"From thence you should be dragged and as you

stand
"Before the crowd of women and of boys:
"With mocking laughter they should spit at you.
"Who theretofore had kissed your hand and feet
Should then command you their own toes to kiss
"And as you kneel down their behest to do
"Let them then kick at your distorted face,
"Break one by one your teeth and trample out
"Your wretched life. Die like a beast! Despair!
"As do despair I here! Oh wife! Oh child!"