Poems (Rossetti, 1901)/In the Round Tower at Jhansi
IN THE ROUND TOWER AT JHANSI.
June 3, 1857.
A HUNDRED, a thousand to one; even so;
Not a hope in the world remained:
The swarming howling wretches below
Gained and gained and gained.
Not a hope in the world remained:
The swarming howling wretches below
Gained and gained and gained.
Skene looked at his pale young wife:"
Is the time come?"—"The time is come!"—
Young, strong, and so full of life:
The agony struck them dumb.
Is the time come?"—"The time is come!"—
Young, strong, and so full of life:
The agony struck them dumb.
Close his arm about her now,
Close her cheek to his,
Close the pistol to her brow—
God forgive them this!
Close her cheek to his,
Close the pistol to her brow—
God forgive them this!
"Will it hurt much?"—"No, mine own:
I wish I could bear the pang for both,"
"I wish I could bear the pang alone:
Courage, dear, I am not loth."
I wish I could bear the pang for both,"
"I wish I could bear the pang alone:
Courage, dear, I am not loth."
Kissandkiss: "Itisnotpain
Thus to kiss and die.
One kiss more."—"And yet one again."—
"Good-bye."—"Good-bye."
Thus to kiss and die.
One kiss more."—"And yet one again."—
"Good-bye."—"Good-bye."
⁂ I retain this little poem, not as historically accurate, but as written and published before I heard the supposed facts of its- first verse contradicted.