His eye was stern and wild, his cheek was pale and cold as clay,
Upon his tightened lips a smile of fearful meaning lay.
He mused awhile, but not in doubt, no trace of doubt was there;
It was the steady solemn pause of resolute despair.
Once more he looked upon the scroll, once more its words he read;
Then calmly with unflinching hands, its folds before him spread,
I saw him bare his throat and sieze the blue, cold, gleaming steel
And grimly try the tempered edge, he was so soon to feel.
A sickness crept o’er my heart, and dizzy swam my head;
I could not stir, I could not feel, I felt benumbed and dead.
Black icy horror struck me dumb, and froze my senses o’er,
I closed my eyes in utter fear and strove to think no more;
Again I looked .mw-parser-output .nowrap,.mw-parser-output .nowrap a:before,.mw-parser-output .nowrap .selflink:before{white-space:nowrap}— — across his face a fearful change had passed,
He seemed to rave — — on cheek and lips a flaky foam was cast,
I saw him lift on high the glittering steel — —
Which so soon must make him reel;
Then I found my tongue — — “Hold, mad-man, stay thy frantic deed,” I cried and forth I sprang,
And thru the air it rang.
He heard me, but he heeded not, one glance around he gave,
But ere I could arrest his hand — — he began to shave.
.mw-parser-output .wst-floatright{float:right;text-indent:0}Selected.