But alone he bent the knee;
And veiled his face for Christ's dear grace
Beneath the gallows-tree.
Then, radiant and serene, he rose,
And cast his cloak away;
For he had ta'en his latest look
Of earth and sun and day.

A beam of light fell o'er him,
Like a glory round the shriven,
And he climbed the lofty ladder
As it were the path to heaven.
Then came a flash from out the cloud,
And a stunning thunder-roll;
And no man dared to look aloft,--
Fear was on every soul.
There was another heavy sound,
A hush, and then a groan;
And darkness swept across the sky,--
The work of death was done!

WILLIAM EDMONDSTOUNE AYTOUN.

* * * * *




BORDER BALLAD.