Poem: The Ballad Of Reading Gaol

(In memoriam

C. T. W.

Sometime trooper of the Royal Horse Guards

obiit H.M. prison, Reading, Berkshire

上海龙凤shlf最新地址July 7, 1896)

I

He did not wear his scarlet coat,

For blood and wine are red,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And blood and wine were on his hands

上海龙凤shlf最新地址When they found him with the dead,

The poor dead woman whom he loved,

And murdered in her bed.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址He walked amongst the Trial Men

In a suit of shabby grey;

上海龙凤shlf最新地址A cricket cap was on his head,

And his step seemed light and gay;

But I never saw a man who looked

上海龙凤shlf最新地址So wistfully at the day.

I never saw a man who looked

With such a wistful eye

Upon that little tent of blue

Which prisoners call the sky,

And at every drifting cloud that went

With sails of silver by.

I walked, with other souls in pain,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Within another ring,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And was wondering if the man had done

A great or little thing,

When a voice behind me whispered low,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址'THAT FELLOW'S GOT TO SWING.'

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Dear Christ! the very prison walls

Suddenly seemed to reel,

And the sky above my head became

Like a casque of scorching steel;

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And, though I was a soul in pain,

My pain I could not feel.

I only knew what hunted thought

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Quickened his step, and why

He looked upon the garish day

With such a wistful eye;

The man had killed the thing he loved,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And so he had to die.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Yet each man kills the thing he loves,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址By each let this be heard,

Some do it with a bitter look,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Some with a flattering word,

The coward does it with a kiss,

The brave man with a sword!

Some kill their love when they are young,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And some when they are old;

Some strangle with the hands of Lust,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Some with the hands of Gold:

The kindest use a knife, because

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The dead so soon grow cold.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Some love too little, some too long,

Some sell, and others buy;

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Some do the deed with many tears,

And some without a sigh:

For each man kills the thing he loves,

Yet each man does not die.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址He does not die a death of shame

上海龙凤shlf最新地址On a day of dark disgrace,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Nor have a noose about his neck,

Nor a cloth upon his face,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Nor drop feet foremost through the floor

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Into an empty space.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址He does not sit with silent men

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Who watch him night and day;

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Who watch him when he tries to weep,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And when he tries to pray;

Who watch him lest himself should rob

The prison of its prey.

He does not wake at dawn to see

Dread figures throng his room,

The shivering Chaplain robed in white,

The Sheriff stern with gloom,

And the Governor all in shiny black,

With the yellow face of Doom.

He does not rise in piteous haste

To put on convict-clothes,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址While some coarse-mouthed Doctor gloats,

and notes

Each new and nerve-twitched pose,

Fingering a watch whose little ticks

Are like horrible hammer-blows.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址He does not know that sickening thirst

That sands one's throat, before

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The hangman with his gardener's gloves

Slips through the padded door,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And binds one with three leathern thongs,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址That the throat may thirst no more.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址He does not bend his head to hear

The Burial Office read,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Nor, while the terror of his soul

Tells him he is not dead,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Cross his own coffin, as he moves

Into the hideous shed.

He does not stare upon the air

Through a little roof of glass:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址He does not pray with lips of clay

For his agony to pass;

Nor feel upon his shuddering cheek

The kiss of Caiaphas.

II

Six weeks our guardsman walked the yard,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址In the suit of shabby grey:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址His cricket cap was on his head,

And his step seemed light and gay,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址But I never saw a man who looked

So wistfully at the day.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址I never saw a man who looked

With such a wistful eye

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Upon that little tent of blue

Which prisoners call the sky,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And at every wandering cloud that trailed

Its ravelled fleeces by.

He did not wring his hands, as do

Those witless men who dare

To try to rear the changeling Hope

上海龙凤shlf最新地址In the cave of black Despair:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址He only looked upon the sun,

And drank the morning air.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址He did not wring his hands nor weep,

Nor did he peek or pine,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址But he drank the air as though it held

Some healthful anodyne;

上海龙凤shlf最新地址With open mouth he drank the sun

As though it had been wine!

And I and all the souls in pain,

Who tramped the other ring,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Forgot if we ourselves had done

上海龙凤shlf最新地址A great or little thing,

And watched with gaze of dull amaze

The man who had to swing.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And strange it was to see him pass

With a step so light and gay,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And strange it was to see him look

上海龙凤shlf最新地址So wistfully at the day,

And strange it was to think that he

Had such a debt to pay.

For oak and elm have pleasant leaves

That in the springtime shoot:

But grim to see is the gallows-tree,

With its adder-bitten root,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And, green or dry, a man must die

Before it bears its fruit!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The loftiest place is that seat of grace

For which all worldlings try:

But who would stand in hempen band

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Upon a scaffold high,

And through a murderer's collar take

His last look at the sky?

It is sweet to dance to violins

When Love and Life are fair:

To dance to flutes, to dance to lutes

Is delicate and rare:

But it is not sweet with nimble feet

上海龙凤shlf最新地址To dance upon the air!

So with curious eyes and sick surmise

We watched him day by day,

And wondered if each one of us

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Would end the self-same way,

For none can tell to what red Hell

上海龙凤shlf最新地址His sightless soul may stray.

At last the dead man walked no more

Amongst the Trial Men,

And I knew that he was standing up

In the black dock's dreadful pen,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And that never would I see his face

上海龙凤shlf最新地址In God's sweet world again.

Like two doomed ships that pass in storm

上海龙凤shlf最新地址We had crossed each other's way:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址But we made no sign, we said no word,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址We had no word to say;

For we did not meet in the holy night,

But in the shameful day.

A prison wall was round us both,

Two outcast men we were:

The world had thrust us from its heart,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And God from out His care:

And the iron gin that waits for Sin

Had caught us in its snare.

III

上海龙凤shlf最新地址In Debtors' Yard the stones are hard,

And the dripping wall is high,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址So it was there he took the air

Beneath the leaden sky,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And by each side a Warder walked,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址For fear the man might die.

Or else he sat with those who watched

His anguish night and day;

Who watched him when he rose to weep,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And when he crouched to pray;

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Who watched him lest himself should rob

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Their scaffold of its prey.

The Governor was strong upon

The Regulations Act:

The Doctor said that Death was but

A scientific fact:

And twice a day the Chaplain called,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And left a little tract.

And twice a day he smoked his pipe,

And drank his quart of beer:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址His soul was resolute, and held

上海龙凤shlf最新地址No hiding-place for fear;

He often said that he was glad

The hangman's hands were near.

But why he said so strange a thing

No Warder dared to ask:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址For he to whom a watcher's doom

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Is given as his task,

Must set a lock upon his lips,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And make his face a mask.

Or else he might be moved, and try

To comfort or console:

And what should Human Pity do

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Pent up in Murderers' Hole?

What word of grace in such a place

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Could help a brother's soul?

With slouch and swing around the ring

上海龙凤shlf最新地址We trod the Fools' Parade!

We did not care:  we knew we were

The Devil's Own Brigade:

And shaven head and feet of lead

Make a merry masquerade.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址We tore the tarry rope to shreds

With blunt and bleeding nails;

上海龙凤shlf最新地址We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And cleaned the shining rails:

And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank,

And clattered with the pails.

We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones,

We turned the dusty drill:

We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And sweated on the mill:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址But in the heart of every man

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Terror was lying still.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址So still it lay that every day

Crawled like a weed-clogged wave:

And we forgot the bitter lot

That waits for fool and knave,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Till once, as we tramped in from work,

We passed an open grave.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址With yawning mouth the yellow hole

Gaped for a living thing;

The very mud cried out for blood

To the thirsty asphalte ring:

And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair

Some prisoner had to swing.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Right in we went, with soul intent

上海龙凤shlf最新地址On Death and Dread and Doom:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The hangman, with his little bag,

Went shuffling through the gloom:

And each man trembled as he crept

Into his numbered tomb.

That night the empty corridors

Were full of forms of Fear,

And up and down the iron town

Stole feet we could not hear,

And through the bars that hide the stars

上海龙凤shlf最新地址White faces seemed to peer.

He lay as one who lies and dreams

In a pleasant meadow-land,

The watchers watched him as he slept,

And could not understand

上海龙凤shlf最新地址How one could sleep so sweet a sleep

上海龙凤shlf最新地址With a hangman close at hand.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址But there is no sleep when men must weep

Who never yet have wept:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址So we - the fool, the fraud, the knave -

That endless vigil kept,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And through each brain on hands of pain

Another's terror crept.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Alas! it is a fearful thing

上海龙凤shlf最新地址To feel another's guilt!

For, right within, the sword of Sin

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Pierced to its poisoned hilt,

And as molten lead were the tears we shed

For the blood we had not spilt.

The Warders with their shoes of felt

Crept by each padlocked door,

And peeped and saw, with eyes of awe,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Grey figures on the floor,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And wondered why men knelt to pray

Who never prayed before.

All through the night we knelt and prayed,

Mad mourners of a corse!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The troubled plumes of midnight were

The plumes upon a hearse:

And bitter wine upon a sponge

Was the savour of Remorse.

The grey cock crew, the red cock crew,

But never came the day:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And crooked shapes of Terror crouched,

In the corners where we lay:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And each evil sprite that walks by night

Before us seemed to play.

They glided past, they glided fast,

Like travellers through a mist:

They mocked the moon in a rigadoon

Of delicate turn and twist,

And with formal pace and loathsome grace

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The phantoms kept their tryst.

With mop and mow, we saw them go,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Slim shadows hand in hand:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址About, about, in ghostly rout

They trod a saraband:

And the damned grotesques made arabesques,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Like the wind upon the sand!

With the pirouettes of marionettes,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址They tripped on pointed tread:

But with flutes of Fear they filled the ear,

As their grisly masque they led,

And loud they sang, and long they sang,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址For they sang to wake the dead.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址'Oho!' they cried, 'The world is wide,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址But fettered limbs go lame!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And once, or twice, to throw the dice

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Is a gentlemanly game,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址But he does not win who plays with Sin

上海龙凤shlf最新地址In the secret House of Shame.'

上海龙凤shlf最新地址No things of air these antics were,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址That frolicked with such glee:

To men whose lives were held in gyves,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And whose feet might not go free,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Ah! wounds of Christ! they were living things,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Most terrible to see.

Around, around, they waltzed and wound;

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Some wheeled in smirking pairs;

With the mincing step of a demirep

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Some sidled up the stairs:

And with subtle sneer, and fawning leer,

Each helped us at our prayers.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The morning wind began to moan,

But still the night went on:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Through its giant loom the web of gloom

Crept till each thread was spun:

And, as we prayed, we grew afraid

Of the Justice of the Sun.

The moaning wind went wandering round

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The weeping prison-wall:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Till like a wheel of turning steel

We felt the minutes crawl:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址O moaning wind! what had we done

To have such a seneschal?

At last I saw the shadowed bars,

Like a lattice wrought in lead,

Move right across the whitewashed wall

That faced my three-plank bed,

And I knew that somewhere in the world

上海龙凤shlf最新地址God's dreadful dawn was red.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址At six o'clock we cleaned our cells,

At seven all was still,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址But the sough and swing of a mighty wing

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The prison seemed to fill,

For the Lord of Death with icy breath

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Had entered in to kill.

He did not pass in purple pomp,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Nor ride a moon-white steed.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Three yards of cord and a sliding board

Are all the gallows' need:

So with rope of shame the Herald came

上海龙凤shlf最新地址To do the secret deed.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址We were as men who through a fen

Of filthy darkness grope:

We did not dare to breathe a prayer,

Or to give our anguish scope:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Something was dead in each of us,

And what was dead was Hope.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址For Man's grim Justice goes its way,

And will not swerve aside:

It slays the weak, it slays the strong,

It has a deadly stride:

With iron heel it slays the strong,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The monstrous parricide!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址We waited for the stroke of eight:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Each tongue was thick with thirst:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址For the stroke of eight is the stroke of Fate

That makes a man accursed,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And Fate will use a running noose

上海龙凤shlf最新地址For the best man and the worst.

We had no other thing to do,

Save to wait for the sign to come:

So, like things of stone in a valley lone,

Quiet we sat and dumb:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址But each man's heart beat thick and quick,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Like a madman on a drum!

With sudden shock the prison-clock

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Smote on the shivering air,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And from all the gaol rose up a wail

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Of impotent despair,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Like the sound that frightened marshes hear

上海龙凤shlf最新地址From some leper in his lair.

And as one sees most fearful things

上海龙凤shlf最新地址In the crystal of a dream,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址We saw the greasy hempen rope

Hooked to the blackened beam,

And heard the prayer the hangman's snare

Strangled into a scream.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And all the woe that moved him so

That he gave that bitter cry,

And the wild regrets, and the bloody sweats,

None knew so well as I:

For he who lives more lives than one

上海龙凤shlf最新地址More deaths than one must die.

IV

上海龙凤shlf最新地址There is no chapel on the day

On which they hang a man:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The Chaplain's heart is far too sick,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Or his face is far too wan,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Or there is that written in his eyes

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Which none should look upon.

So they kept us close till nigh on noon,

And then they rang the bell,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And the Warders with their jingling keys

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Opened each listening cell,

And down the iron stair we tramped,

Each from his separate Hell.

Out into God's sweet air we went,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址But not in wonted way,

For this man's face was white with fear,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And that man's face was grey,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And I never saw sad men who looked

上海龙凤shlf最新地址So wistfully at the day.

I never saw sad men who looked

With such a wistful eye

Upon that little tent of blue

We prisoners called the sky,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And at every careless cloud that passed

上海龙凤shlf最新地址In happy freedom by.

But there were those amongst us all

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Who walked with downcast head,

And knew that, had each got his due,

They should have died instead:

He had but killed a thing that lived,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Whilst they had killed the dead.

For he who sins a second time

Wakes a dead soul to pain,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And draws it from its spotted shroud,

And makes it bleed again,

And makes it bleed great gouts of blood,

And makes it bleed in vain!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb

With crooked arrows starred,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Silently we went round and round

The slippery asphalte yard;

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Silently we went round and round,

And no man spoke a word.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Silently we went round and round,

And through each hollow mind

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The Memory of dreadful things

Rushed like a dreadful wind,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And Horror stalked before each man,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And Terror crept behind.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The Warders strutted up and down,

And kept their herd of brutes,

Their uniforms were spick and span,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And they wore their Sunday suits,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址But we knew the work they had been at,

By the quicklime on their boots.

For where a grave had opened wide,

There was no grave at all:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Only a stretch of mud and sand

By the hideous prison-wall,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And a little heap of burning lime,

That the man should have his pall.

For he has a pall, this wretched man,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Such as few men can claim:

Deep down below a prison-yard,

Naked for greater shame,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址He lies, with fetters on each foot,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Wrapt in a sheet of flame!

And all the while the burning lime

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Eats flesh and bone away,

It eats the brittle bone by night,

And the soft flesh by day,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址It eats the flesh and bone by turns,

But it eats the heart alway.

For three long years they will not sow

Or root or seedling there:

For three long years the unblessed spot

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Will sterile be and bare,

And look upon the wondering sky

With unreproachful stare.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址They think a murderer's heart would taint

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Each simple seed they sow.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址It is not true!  God's kindly earth

Is kindlier than men know,

And the red rose would but blow more red,

The white rose whiter blow.

Out of his mouth a red, red rose!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Out of his heart a white!

For who can say by what strange way,

Christ brings His will to light,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Since the barren staff the pilgrim bore

Bloomed in the great Pope's sight?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址But neither milk-white rose nor red

May bloom in prison-air;

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The shard, the pebble, and the flint,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Are what they give us there:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址For flowers have been known to heal

上海龙凤shlf最新地址A common man's despair.

So never will wine-red rose or white,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Petal by petal, fall

上海龙凤shlf最新地址On that stretch of mud and sand that lies

By the hideous prison-wall,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址To tell the men who tramp the yard

That God's Son died for all.

Yet though the hideous prison-wall

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Still hems him round and round,

And a spirit may not walk by night

That is with fetters bound,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And a spirit may but weep that lies

上海龙凤shlf最新地址In such unholy ground,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址He is at peace - this wretched man -

上海龙凤shlf最新地址At peace, or will be soon:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址There is no thing to make him mad,

Nor does Terror walk at noon,

For the lampless Earth in which he lies

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Has neither Sun nor Moon.

They hanged him as a beast is hanged:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址They did not even toll

A requiem that might have brought

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Rest to his startled soul,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址But hurriedly they took him out,

And hid him in a hole.

They stripped him of his canvas clothes,

And gave him to the flies:

They mocked the swollen purple throat,

And the stark and staring eyes:

And with laughter loud they heaped the shroud

In which their convict lies.

The Chaplain would not kneel to pray

By his dishonoured grave:

Nor mark it with that blessed Cross

上海龙凤shlf最新地址That Christ for sinners gave,

Because the man was one of those

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Whom Christ came down to save.

Yet all is well; he has but passed

上海龙凤shlf最新地址To Life's appointed bourne:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And alien tears will fill for him

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Pity's long-broken urn,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址For his mourners will be outcast men,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And outcasts always mourn

V

I know not whether Laws be right,

Or whether Laws be wrong;

All that we know who lie in gaol

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Is that the wall is strong;

And that each day is like a year,

A year whose days are long.

But this I know, that every Law

That men have made for Man,

Since first Man took his brother's life,

And the sad world began,

But straws the wheat and saves the chaff

上海龙凤shlf最新地址With a most evil fan.

This too I know - and wise it were

If each could know the same -

上海龙凤shlf最新地址That every prison that men build

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Is built with bricks of shame,

And bound with bars lest Christ should see

上海龙凤shlf最新地址How men their brothers maim.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址With bars they blur the gracious moon,

And blind the goodly sun:

And they do well to hide their Hell,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址For in it things are done

上海龙凤shlf最新地址That Son of God nor son of Man

Ever should look upon!

The vilest deeds like poison weeds,

Bloom well in prison-air;

It is only what is good in Man

上海龙凤shlf最新地址That wastes and withers there:

Pale Anguish keeps the heavy gate,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And the Warder is Despair.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址For they starve the little frightened child

Till it weeps both night and day:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And they scourge the weak, and flog the fool,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And gibe the old and grey,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And some grow mad, and all grow bad,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And none a word may say.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Each narrow cell in which we dwell

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Is a foul and dark latrine,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And the fetid breath of living Death

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Chokes up each grated screen,

And all, but Lust, is turned to dust

In Humanity's machine.

The brackish water that we drink

Creeps with a loathsome slime,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And the bitter bread they weigh in scales

Is full of chalk and lime,

And Sleep will not lie down, but walks

Wild-eyed, and cries to Time.

But though lean Hunger and green Thirst

Like asp with adder fight,

We have little care of prison fare,

For what chills and kills outright

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Is that every stone one lifts by day

Becomes one's heart by night.

With midnight always in one's heart,

And twilight in one's cell,

We turn the crank, or tear the rope,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Each in his separate Hell,

And the silence is more awful far

Than the sound of a brazen bell.

And never a human voice comes near

上海龙凤shlf最新地址To speak a gentle word:

And the eye that watches through the door

Is pitiless and hard:

And by all forgot, we rot and rot,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址With soul and body marred.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And thus we rust Life's iron chain

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Degraded and alone:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And some men curse, and some men weep,

And some men make no moan:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址But God's eternal Laws are kind

And break the heart of stone.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And every human heart that breaks,

In prison-cell or yard,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Is as that broken box that gave

Its treasure to the Lord,

And filled the unclean leper's house

上海龙凤shlf最新地址With the scent of costliest nard.

Ah! happy they whose hearts can break

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And peace of pardon win!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址How else may man make straight his plan

And cleanse his soul from Sin?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址How else but through a broken heart

上海龙凤shlf最新地址May Lord Christ enter in?

And he of the swollen purple throat,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And the stark and staring eyes,

Waits for the holy hands that took

The Thief to Paradise;

And a broken and a contrite heart

The Lord will not despise.

The man in red who reads the Law

Gave him three weeks of life,

Three little weeks in which to heal

上海龙凤shlf最新地址His soul of his soul's strife,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And cleanse from every blot of blood

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The hand that held the knife.

And with tears of blood he cleansed the hand,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The hand that held the steel:

For only blood can wipe out blood,

And only tears can heal:

And the crimson stain that was of Cain

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Became Christ's snow-white seal.

VI

In Reading gaol by Reading town

There is a pit of shame,

And in it lies a wretched man

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Eaten by teeth of flame,

In a burning winding-sheet he lies,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And his grave has got no name.

And there, till Christ call forth the dead,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址In silence let him lie:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址No need to waste the foolish tear,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Or heave the windy sigh:

The man had killed the thing he loved,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And so he had to die.

And all men kill the thing they love,

By all let this be heard,

Some do it with a bitter look,

Some with a flattering word,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The coward does it with a kiss,

The brave man with a sword!