THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY.

ASTOR, LENOX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

JUDAS RETURNING THE THIRTY PIECES.

III.

An instant-and the stern old man

Grew cold and reckless as beforeA 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,

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?"

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