They took him and bound him and bore him away,
Down the hill's grassy side; down the hill's grassy side.
'Twas there the base hirelings in royal array,
His cause did deride; his cause did deride.

Five minutes were given, short moments, no more,
For him to repent; for him to repent;
He pray'd for his mother, he ask'd not another;
To Heaven he went; to Heaven he went.

The faith of a martyr, the tragedy shew'd,
As he trod the last stage; as he trod the last stage.
And Britons will shudder at gallant Hale's blood,
As his words do presage; as his words do presage.

"Thou pale king of terrors, thon life's gloomy foe,
Go frighten the slave; go frighten the slave;
Tell tyrants, to you, their allegiance they owe.
No fears for the brave; no fears for the brave."


REFERENCES

1. Johnston, Henry Phelps. Nathan Hale, 1776--Biography and
Memorials. Yale University Press. New Haven, 1914.

2. Stuart, I. W. Life of Captain Nathan Hale, the Martyr Spy
of the American Revolution, F. A. Brown. Hartford, 1856.