A Ballad Of Hell

The devil stopped her at the brink.

She shook him off; she cried, "Away ! "

"My dear, you have gone mad, I think."

"I was betrayed: I will not stay."

Across the weltering deep she ran;

A stranger thing was never seen:

The damned stood silent to a man;

They saw the great gulf set between.

To her it seemed a meadow fair;

And flowers sprang up about her feet.

She entered heaven; she climbed the stair

And knelt down at the mercy-seat.

Seraphs and saints with one great voice

Welcomed that soul that knew not fear.

Amazed to find it could rejoice,

Hell raised a hoarse, half-human cheer.