Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-04-01


6 yVbv did I seek these hated haunts
Long shunn'd SO fearfully;
WAS there not room on ether hills
To1hNe and shelter me /!
Here's blood on every stone meet,
Bones in eadh glen so dim,
And com rade Gregory that's, dead =
But III not think Of him.
&c I'll seek that hut where was won't
To dwell in former day,
Nor terror's vain, nor things long past
Shall scare me thence away.
That cavern from the laws pursuit
Has saved me oft before,
And fear constrains to visit haunts
hoped to see no nere." !,
Through well-known paths, through
long untrod,
The robker took his way,
Until before his eyes the cave
All dark and desert lay.
There he, when safe beneath its reof,
Began to think the crowd
Had left pursuit, SO wild tho paths,
The tempest was SO loud.
The bolts had still rstain'd their place,
He barred the massy door,
And laid him down, and heard the blast
Careering Ger the moor.
Terror and guilt united strove
TIE chase sweet sleep away;
But sleep With toll prevail'd at last,
And seized him where he lay =,
A knock comes laundering to the door,
The robbers heart leaps high
Now open quick, remcm6erst not
Thy comrade Gregory !"
i" yYhoe'er thcu art, with (smother'd
voice
Strive not to cheat mine ear,
NV eomrade Gregory is dead,
His bones are hanging near :!
Now ope thy door, nor parley more,
Be sure Pm Gregory
And 'twere not for the gibbet rope,
NV voice were clear and Tree.
The wind Is high, the wind is loud,
It bends the old elm tree!
The blast has tos,'d my bones about
This night most YEARLY.
g The elm was dropping on my hair,
The shsekles galI'd my feet 1;
To hang in chains is better lair,
And oh bed is sweet I!
For many a night I've borne my lot,
Nor yet disturb'd thee here,
Then sure pillow thou wilt give
Unite thy old eompesr!"
GO Tempt me no more," the rebber cried,
And struggled with his fear,
6 Were this night to ops my door,
Thy taunt should cost thee dear -
All, comrade, you did not disewn,
Nor bid me brave the cold,
The door was open'd soon, when l
Brought murde,'d Mansells gold.
When for bride you gave me up
To the cruel gallows tree,
You made my bed with readiness,
And stir'd the fire for me
But | have sworn to visit thee,
Then cease to bid re go,
And Opener thy bolts and bars
Shall burst beneath my blow.
Oh sick at heart grew Polydore,
And wish'd the dawn Of day;
That voice had .quell'd his haughtiness,
He knew not what to say.
For nov the one that stood without
An entrance craved. ence mere,
:. And when no answer was return'd,
He strickland burst the doer.
Some words he mutter'd DER the latch,
They were no words OF good,
And by the embess of the hearth,
All in his shaeklss stood.
A wreath of rusted iron bound
Hi. grim unhallowed head;
A demons spark was in his eye
Its mortal light was dead.
C Why .hrink'st thou thus, good com.
rade, now
With such wilder'd gaze,
Dost fear my rusted shackles elank,
BEST fear my withcr'd face
But for the gallows rope, my lace
Had meier thus startled thee:
And the gallows rope, vast not the
fruit
OF thy foul treasherys
e But come thou forth, we'll visit now
The elm sfth wither'a rind;
For though thy door was bard to me,
Yet / viii be more kind.