Page:In Bohemia (1886).djvu/85

Rh In lurid darkness spread the thing of error,
 * Swift ran the shudder and the fear beneath;

Till o'er the Queen's face passed the voiceless terror,
 * And Love grew pale to see the joy of Death.

Men stood benumbed to wait unknown disaster;
 * Full soon its sworded Messenger was seen;

"Behold!" he cried, "the weak shall have a master! 
 * The Strong shall rule! There reigns another Queen!" 

Then rushed the forces of the night-born Power,
 * And seized white Liberty, and cast her down;

Man's plundered birthright was the new Queen's dower.
 * The sorrow of the weak ones was her crown.

Her name was Law! She sent her proclamation
 * Through every land and set her crimson seal

On every strangled right and revocation
 * Of aim and instinct of the commonweal.

She saw the true Queen prisoned by her creatures;
 * Who dared to speak, was slain by her command.

Her face was lustreless. With smileless features
 * She took the throne—a weapon in her hand!