Page:The Statues in the Block and Other Poems (1881).djvu/112

106 A voice that was cold and hard as stone:— "Make ready! Fire!" O Christ, the cry From the manacled men! not fear to die, Or whine for mercy; rebelled they stood, Well knowing the price of revolt was blood ; Well knowing—but each one knew that he Would sell his blood for his liberty!

Unwarned by a word, uncalled, unshriven, They dare by a look and the doom is given. They raise their brows in the wild revolt, And God's wrath flames in the fierce death-bolt; God's wrath?—nay, man's; God never smote A rebel dead whose swelling throat Was full with protest. Hear, then smite; God's justice weighs not shrieks the right.

"Make ready! Fire!" Again outburst The horror and shame for the deed accurst!