JUDAS RETURNING THE THIRTY PIECES.

III.

An instant-and the stern old man

Grew cold and reckless as before-
A moment flushed his aspect wan;
It past as in a moment o'er.

He knew the form that trembled there
Knew whence that madness and despair---
And the brief awe his brow had worn

Changed to a smile of withering scorn.

IV.

There, on his knees, the Traitor fell

There dashed to earth the price of blood

And twice essayed his tale to tell,

And twice th' o'ermastering Fiend withstood. Faltering, at length, his accents came,

299

Words, more than anguish, worse than shame-

"Oh! I have sinned-I have sold

The guiltless blood for guilty gold!"

V.

Then curled that proud Priest's lip of scorn--
Hate flashed from his indignant eye-
"And go," he cried, "thou wretch forsworn-
Accursed live! unpardoned die!

The deed is done-the price is paid
For Him thy coward-soul betrayed;
His blood may sate the wrath divine-
But who, foul traitor, recks of thine?"

VI.

He heard and with a frantic yell
Of agony and wild despair-
With guilt, that not a Cain could tell;
Remorse, that not a Cain could bear,
He rushed-Oh! whither?-Human eye
Saw not the doomed Apostate die;
He fell―unpitied-unforgiven-
Outcast alike of Earth and Heaven!

THE COMET.

BY EDWARD W. COX, ESQ.

AUTHOR OF THE "OPENING OF THE SIXTH SEAL," &c.

I.

THOU of the fiery face,

Where is thy dwelling-place?

Whence, thou mysterious one, whence is thy roaming?

Why, on thy red-flame wings,

Thus in thy wanderings,

Over the way of our world art thou coming?

II.

Oh! art not thou the sign-
Symbol of wrath divine-

Say, fearful minister of the Most High;

Who can look up to thee,

Being of mystery!

Heedless of Him whose dread home is the sky?

III.

Far doth thy flag of flame

To trembling man proclaim,

How some Almighty hand guideth its might ;
Awe-struck, the nations bow

Prostrate before thee now,

Thou of the fire-crown-the pinions of light!

IV.

Say, dread one! art thou not

One of a race forgot;

One of the worlds from their starry homes riven? And orbless and masterless,

One mighty wilderness,

Desolate roamest thou over the heaven?

V.

Or is it, formless one!

That thou hast fresh begun

In the pure regions of ether to move?

Art thou some new-born star,

Come from thy cradle, far,

Far, in the dark, doubtful places above?

VI.

Art thou some messenger

Sent from a higher sphere,

Prophet of ills, that are coming to this?
Thou of the flaming face,

Where is thy dwelling-place?

Surely thou art not a being of bliss.

VII.

Say thee, thou fearful one,

In thy flight to the sun,

How many stars hast thou swept from the sky? How many a mighty world

From its throne hast thou hurled,

Comet, since thus thou hast wandered on high?

VIII.

Yet, Star of Mystery,

Why have we fear of thee?

There is a strong arm that ruleth thy flight ;

'Tis an Almighty Hand,

Holds on thy course command,

And Mercy still watches over thy might!