Poems, 1799 Part 6

He started up and graspt a stake And waited for his prey; There came a lonely traveller And Jaspar crost his way.

But Jaspar's threats and curses fail'd The traveller to appal, He would not lightly yield the purse That held his little all.

Awhile he struggled, but he strove With Jaspar's strength in vain; Beneath his blows he fell and groan'd, And never spoke again.

He lifted up the murdered man And plunged him in the flood, And in the running waters then He cleansed his hands from blood.

The waters closed around the corpse And cleansed his hands from gore, The willow waved, the stream flowed on And murmured as before.

There was no human eye had seen The blood the murderer spilt, And Jaspar's conscience never knew The avenging goad of guilt.

And soon the ruffian had consum'd The gold he gain'd so ill, And years of secret guilt pa.s.s'd on And he was needy still.

One eve beside the alehouse fire He sat as it befell, When in there came a labouring man Whom Jaspar knew full well.

He sat him down by Jaspar's side A melancholy man, For spite of honest toil, the world Went hard with Jonathan.

His toil a little earn'd, and he With little was content, But sickness on his wife had fallen And all he had was spent.

Then with his wife and little ones He shared the scanty meal, And saw their looks of wretchedness, And felt what wretches feel.

That very morn the Landlord's power Had seized the little left, And now the sufferer found himself Of every thing bereft.

He lent his head upon his hand, His elbow on his knee, And so by Jaspar's side he sat And not a word said he.

Nay--why so downcast? Jaspar cried, Come--cheer up Jonathan!

Drink neighbour drink! 'twill warm thy heart, Come! come! take courage man!

He took the cup that Jaspar gave And down he drain'd it quick I have a wife, said Jonathan, And she is deadly sick.

She has no bed to lie upon, I saw them take her bed.

And I have children--would to G.o.d That they and I were dead!

Our Landlord he goes home to night And he will sleep in peace.

I would that I were in my grave For there all troubles cease.

In vain I pray'd him to forbear Tho' wealth enough has he-- G.o.d be to him as merciless As he has been to me!

When Jaspar saw the poor man's soul On all his ills intent, He plied him with the heartening cup And with him forth he went.

This landlord on his homeward road 'Twere easy now to meet.

The road is lonesome--Jonathan, And vengeance, man! is sweet.

He listen'd to the tempter's voice The thought it made him start.

His head was hot, and wretchedness Had hardened now his heart.

Along the lonely road they went And waited for their prey, They sat them down beside the stream That crossed the lonely way.

They sat them down beside the stream And never a word they said, They sat and listen'd silently To hear the traveller's tread.

The night was calm, the night was dark, No star was in the sky, The wind it waved the willow boughs, The stream flowed quietly.

The night was calm, the air was still, Sweet sung the nightingale, The soul of Jonathan was sooth'd, His heart began to fail.

'Tis weary waiting here, he cried, And now the hour is late,-- Methinks he will not come to night, 'Tis useless more to wait.

Have patience man! the ruffian said, A little we may wait, But longer shall his wife expect Her husband at the gate.

Then Jonathan grew sick at heart, My conscience yet is clear, Jaspar--it is not yet too late-- I will not linger here.

How now! cried Jaspar, why I thought Thy conscience was asleep.

No more such qualms, the night is dark, The river here is deep,

What matters that, said Jonathan, Whose blood began to freeze, When there is one above whose eye The deeds of darkness sees?

We are safe enough, said Jaspar then If that be all thy fear; Nor eye below, nor eye above Can pierce the darkness here.

That instant as the murderer spake There came a sudden light; Strong as the mid-day sun it shone, Though all around was night.

It hung upon the willow tree, It hung upon the flood, It gave to view the poplar isle And all the scene of blood.

The traveller who journies there He surely has espied A madman who has made his home Upon the river's side.

His cheek is pale, his eye is wild, His look bespeaks despair; For Jaspar since that hour has made His home unshelter'd there.

And fearful are his dreams at night And dread to him the day; He thinks upon his untold crime And never dares to pray.

The summer suns, the winter storms, O'er him unheeded roll, For heavy is the weight of blood Upon the maniac's soul.

LORD WILLIAM.

No eye beheld when William plunged Young Edmund in the stream, No human ear but William's heard Young Edmund's drowning scream.

Submissive all the va.s.sals own'd The murderer for their Lord, And he, the rightful heir, possessed The house of Erlingford.

The ancient house of Erlingford Stood midst a fair domain, And Severn's ample waters near Roll'd through the fertile plain.