He—who had held a ruler’s place
Among them, by their choice and grace—
He—fallen lower than the dust—
Had sinned against his public trust!
The Herald ceased. The Poet arose,
The Poet, whose awful art now shows
To this poor heart, and heart of every one,
The horror of the thing that he had done.
“O Citizen! Dweller in this high place!
Son of the city! Sharer in its pride!