Part 2 — CHARLOTTE CORDAY.

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BY MRS. ELIZABETH J. EAMES.

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“Among the victims put to death by Marat was a young man of noble and imposing mien, renowned for virtue and bravery, and said to be the betrothed of the martyred Charlotte Corday.”

This clearly chiseled face—

So full of tender beauty and meek thought—

This head of classic grace,

These delicate limbs, in sculptured pureness wrought,

These fingers, fairy small, could these belong to thee—

Once merriest girl in France, the proud, the fond, the free?

Methinks thy slender form

Seems with a proud, commanding air to rise;

And wondrous power to charm

Dwells in the midnight of those thoughtful eyes:

While on thy curved lip, and lofty marble brow

Sitteth the high resolve, that suits thy purpose now!

Did not thy woman’s heart

Thrill with emotions never felt before?

Didst thou not shrink, and start

To stain thy fair hand with the purple gore?

Hadst thou no chilling fear, O, self-devoted maid!

Of the dark doom that soon must fall upon thy head?

Yes! for one moment thou

Didst struggle with youth’s natural dread of death!

One moment didst thou bow

Thy woman’s heart—then, with firm step, free breath,

Didst thou approach the bath of the terrific man

With whom the fearful “Reign of Terror” first began!

How deep the avenging steel,

With fatal aim, pierced through his guilty breast!

While ’mid the mortal chill

His starting eye the demon-soul expressed!—

Until it closed forever, and the blood

Made dark the waters where the ruthless monster stood!

So, ’neath this fragile form

Dwelt the resolve that made thy country free—

And this fair, feeble arm

Performed a deed of immortality!

But, oh! thy strength, true love! for him ’twas done—

Well didst thou avenge the death of thy heart’s cherished one!