"He holds a pistol to my head,
Swearing that he will shoot me dead,
If he have not my purse instead,
The robber!"
"_He_, _with the lash of wealth and power_,
_Flogs out my heart and flings the dower_,
_The plundered pittance of his hour_,
_The robber_!"
"He shakes his serpent tongue that lies,
Wins trust for poisoned sophistries
And stabs me in the dark, and flies,
The assassin!"
"_He pits me in the dreadful fight_
_Against my fellow_. _Then he quite_
_Strips both his victims in the night_,
_The assassin_!"
"PRAYER."
This is what I pray
In this horrible day,
In this terrible night,
God will give me light.
Such as I have had,
That I go not mad.
This is what I seek,
God will keep me meek
Till mine eyes behold,
Till my lips have told
All this hellish crime.--
_Then it's sleeping time_!