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BEFORE SENTENCE by VICTOR GUSTAVE PLARR

First Line: TO-NIGHT, THOUGH EVERY KIND OF POISON SAP
Last Line: AND THINE ENSLAVING AMOUR WITH THE SLAV!
Subject(s): COURAGE; FRANCE; HONOR; JUSTICE; TRIALS; WAITING; WEARINESS; VALOR; BRAVERY; FATIGUE;

To-night, though every kind of poison sap
The sinews of thy strength, though the brave throb
Of thy firm heart grow faint, though traitors rob
Thy goddess' image of the old crimson cap,
Though Frenzy Reason's brain of brain entrap,
While Gown and Sword and the loud obscene mob
Hunt one Brave Man, whose warning like the sob
Of martyrs, jarred upon brute ears, mayhap;
To-night, O France, because, despite of all,
He still stands uncondemned, a freeman yet,
We hold our peace. Tomorrow thou mayst save
Thine honour. May thy lovers then forget
Blind justice, the sword's shadow on the wall,
And thine enslaving amour with the Slav!



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