 | Interludes and Undertones, or, Music at Twilight |  |
80
LXI. THE VERY LAST SMOKE.
[_]
[A French teacher in Edinburgh, convicted of murdering his wife, requested that during the last half-hour preceding his execution, he might be allowed to smoke. A cigar was handed to him. Hence his reflections—ex fumo.]
There's pleasure in a good cigar—
I'll smoke it ere I die,
And think meanwhile on life and death—
Under the fading sky.
I'll smoke it ere I die,
And think meanwhile on life and death—
Under the fading sky.
Puff! I was once a happy boy,
And thought the world was fair,
Puff! Puff! I frolicked as I went,
In ignorance of care.
And thought the world was fair,
Puff! Puff! I frolicked as I went,
In ignorance of care.
Puff! Puff! I won a blooming bride
One sunny summer day;
The love was lovely for awhile
But cool'd and died away.
One sunny summer day;
The love was lovely for awhile
But cool'd and died away.
Puff! Puff! my spring-time quickly passed,
But I was strong and bold,
And toiled and toiled—and fought, and fought,
And conquered conquering gold!
But I was strong and bold,
And toiled and toiled—and fought, and fought,
And conquered conquering gold!
81
Puff! Puff! I played a skilful game:
And when I'd nearly won,
I wakened from a gorgeous dream
To find myself undone!
And when I'd nearly won,
I wakened from a gorgeous dream
To find myself undone!
Puff! Puff! I thought I would repent,
And I repented sore;
Puff! 'twas in vain, I sinned again
As boldly as before.
And I repented sore;
Puff! 'twas in vain, I sinned again
As boldly as before.
Puff! Puff! The end approaches fast—
I do not fear to die—
I'll draw my last faint final whiff
Nor weep to say good-bye!
I do not fear to die—
I'll draw my last faint final whiff
Nor weep to say good-bye!
Have I no hope? I think I have
That I may be forgiven!
Puff! Puff! my sin was dark and deep,
Have mercy—pitying Heaven!
That I may be forgiven!
Puff! Puff! my sin was dark and deep,
Have mercy—pitying Heaven!
| Interludes and Undertones, or, Music at Twilight | |