IN THE ROUND TOWER AT JHANSI,
June 8, 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.
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.
Close his arm about her now, 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."
Kiss and kiss: "It is not pain Thus to kiss and die. One kiss more."--"And yet one again."-- "Good by."--"Good by."
Note.--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.