No More Learning

Take me away and hide me,
Or kill me afore I'm mad. . . .
It's rummy to think of me hanging
Who was such a quiet lad.

"I met her here on the tow-path,
Same as I used in May,
There wasn't no moon yet, only
The scent of the new-mown hay,
And I says--well--I thought for a moment
The happy times was near,
'The light that shineth in darkness
Is the light of your eyes, my dear. '

"Murder! a court full of lawyers. . . .
And justice guaranteed. . . .
And the judge will hang the prisoner
'For a cowardly cruel deed. '. . .
Murder! --excuse my laughing! . . .
It's a kind of catch in the breath. . . .
'But there's words more harsh than a rope is
And looks more bitter than death. '

"Murder! My Lud, if ever
Their ledgers are balanced true
Which of the pair?