And bade her read and tell me all.

Upon her knees she fell and whined

That she had loved me too, and had

Deceived me of Maria’s heart—Ah! God!

In that damned moment’s rage

I struck her as she knelt—to kill!

The wedding guests did drag me off

And take the knife away. But, Ah!

There was one stain of blood it bore,

Where, as I struck, it slashed across