Chapter I

He who offends the public will
And thus excites the populace
With a vindictive wish to kill
And sink his name in deep disgrace,
Is hung or burned in effigy;
But none would think of worshiping
The instrument of cruelty
That should a friend's sad exit bring;
Yet when the Christ was crucified,
By order of the crazy throng,
The bloody cross on which he died--
The tool of deep and ghastly wrong--
Derisively was raised on high,
By the decree of hell's dark prince,
And human souls, not thinking why,
Hell's sign have worshiped ever since!
Could more complete subversion be
Of reason, taste and decency?