HONOUR'S MARTYR

    The moon is full this winter night； The stars are clear, though few； And every window glistens² bright With leaves of frozen dew.

    The sweet moon through your lattice gleams, And lights your room like day； And there you pass, in happy dreams, The peaceful hours away！

    While I, with effort hardly quelling³ The anguish⁴ in my breast, Wander about the silent dwelling⁵, And cannot think of rest.

    The old clock in the gloomy hall Ticks on, from hour to hour； And every time its measured call Seems lingering slow and slower：

    And, oh, how slow that keen-eyed star Has tracked the chilly⁶ gray！ What, watching yet！ how very far The morning lies away！

    Without your chamber⁷ door I stand； Love, are you slumbering⁸ still？ My cold heart, underneath⁹ my hand, Has almost ceased to thrill.

    Bleak¹⁰, bleak the east wind sobs¹¹ and sighs, And drowns the turret¹² bell, Whose sad note, undistinguished, dies Unheard, like my farewell！

    To-morrow, Scorn will blight¹³ my name, And Hate will trample¹⁴ me, Will load me with a coward's shame—— A traitor¹⁵'s perjury¹⁶.

    False friends will launch their covert¹⁷ sneers¹⁸； True friends will wish me dead； And I shall cause the bitterest tears That you have ever shed.

    The dark deeds of my outlawed¹⁹ race Will then like virtues²⁰ shine； And men will pardon their disgrace, Beside the guilt²¹ of mine.

    For, who forgives the accursed crime Of dastard²² treachery？ Rebellion, in its chosen time, May Freedom's champion be；

    Revenge may stain a righteous sword, It may be just to slay²³； But, traitor, traitor,——from THAT word All true breasts shrink away！

    Oh, I would give my heart to death, To keep my honour fair； Yet, I'll not give my inward faith My honour's NAME to spare！

    Not even to keep your priceless love, Dare I, Beloved, deceive； This treason should the future prove, Then, only then, believe！

    I know the path I ought to go I follow fearlessly, Inquiring not what deeper woe²⁴ Stern duty stores for me.

    So foes²⁵ pursue, and cold allies Mistrust me, every one： Let me be false in others' eyes, If faithful in my own.