Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-05-12


fair prospect in peace. They spoke, but
i did not hear what they said-they
pointed to the car which stood ready to
drag me round the ramparts to the glb-
bet. ! comprehended tneir meaning,
and mechanically obeyed them. The
priest took his place beside me, and the
executioncr, masked and muffied, sat in
the back part OF the vehicle. The car
rolled along slowly, while the bells
chiIned and tinkled in unison with the
dead sound of the drums, and the song
Of the monks rose into fuller dapasOn
as we approached nearer and nearer
The father-confessor prayed fervently
and long-with streaming eyes and trem-
uIous voice, he implored me to give but
one sign Of repentance-he told me of
Heaven-he told me OF hel-but in vain
his words fell upon my earl sat in al
most idiot listlessness. | bowed, and
crossed myself in imitation of his action
but | was gazing on the gilded towers,
so fearfully contrashd with the ghastly
implements Of death, and the solemn
pageantry of the procession. Alas!
heaven and earth were smiling in mock
cry of my sin and its punishment. The
swallow twittered carelessly over our
heads-the very dog snarled in dcrision,
and laid him down to bask in the SUM-
shine in undisturbed felicity.
The priest guessed my thoughts-he
foretold the time when the gigantic bat
Elements should crumble into dust, when
not one stone of the proud temple should
remain upon another, when the sun him
self should be extinguished. But Ishould
remain eternal, immortal. How | was to
exist, depended on this moment. Alas!
conviction came too late.
We had now reached the termination
of our fatal journey, we descended from
our vehicle, and advanced to the scaffold,
which was erected on the ramparts, and
commanded an extensive view of the
plain below. | looked down on the
most numberless multitude of heads. AT
my appearance they rose and fell like
the waves ithe troubled sea, they shrunk
backwards with loathing and adherence
as from some hideous reptile that was
about to dart among them. remember
ed many face that had known in bet
ter days. looked stedlastly at them
they buzzcd like a swarm Of hornets-a
smoihered groan spread from man to
man-they moved, they nodded, they
grinned at me. Oh! as | live, every lip
in that vast multitude is curlod in scorn,
every eye is glaring with horrible de-
fiance. now experienced that dread
full thirst which is said to indicate ap-
preaching death. Thirst, can call it!
my very vltals were scorched and con-
sumed Water, water, oh! what is the
wealth of the Indies compared with one
drop Of the pure, cool element.
retain perfectly distinct recollec-
ton Of the whole scene-the executioner
the platform-the ladder--the gbbet
and noosed hater---thc solitary raven
that had perched on the gallows-the
dcspairing countenance Of the confessor
and the pale, livid faces ofthc specta-
tors, that darkening wilderness Of eyes,
all concentrating in me. But what
horseman is that? He is covered with
dust and sweat; he is tottering on his
horsc's back with great fatigue. He
comes from Dresden; the crowd make
way for him; he has paper in his hand,
he dismounts, he presents it to the mag
istrate; ah l see the Electors broad
seal. 1t is, it is my pardon. Oh, joy,
joy! the sad preparation is at an end, life
is restored; l am freed from the very
jaws of death, to pass years Of virtue, of
happiness, of preparation for eternity
Alas, no. he hands it to his secretary, for
it relates to other matters. He now re-
minded me that the appointed time had
passed, and that l must prepare to as
cend the ladder with the minister Of pub
lie justice. Iprayed, knelt, l grovelled
on the earth, l would love him, l would
worship him, for one hour, one minute
of delay. l wept, pleaded, l had but
one request-but one. ! implored him
to grant me time for preparation for
another world; would he kill my soul as
well as my body3 No! but his orders
were peremptory, and he must comply
with them He told me in a mournful
voice, and with averted eyes, that if other
measures failed, force must be resorted
| to.
Slowly and sullenly suffered them to
conduct me to the foot Of the ladder
The executioner stripped me of the up
per part of my clothing, bound my pas
sive hands behind me, and clipped of
my long hair, Of which was once so
vain. Fool, fool! l was angry with him;
even at that moment | was weak enough
to be angry.