They urg'd her to confess the deed,
I'm innocent she cry'd!
In vain her Blaisot tried to plead,
But, "mercy" all denied.

43

Immoveable the laws command,
No treaties could prevail;
They seiz'd Annette with desp'rate hand,
Her fate they all bewail.

44

Immur'd within a dungeons gloom,
She waits the destin'd blow;
Tho' innocent, the culprits doom,
Must end her ev'ry woe.

45

Her trial came,----Annette was cast,
Each heard it with a sigh;
And now their ev'ry hope was past,
Annette was doom'd to die.

46

Her dreary moments, who can tell,
Till Blaisot met her view;
They wept, they sigh'd, when Annettes knell
Proclaim'd their last adieu.

[Illustration: _Verse 56_]

47

Then from her neck, a cross she took,
And gave it kisses three;
Receive from one, by hope forsook,
A gift design'd for thee.

48

He trembling took the proffer'd prize,
Forebodings shook his frame;
A flood of tears bedim'd his eyes,
He bless'd the givers name.

49

With down cast look, and heavy heart,
He homeward bent his way;
He tax'd the fates, that love could part,
Or cause such sad dismay.

50

Just as he reached his Fathers cot,
The once abode of rest;
His nature ev'ry care forgot,
He sank by grief opprest.

51

And has his form extended lay,
The cross was fair to view;
The Magpie seiz'd it for his prey,
And to the Abbey flew.

52

His worships clerk observ'd the theft,
And told him of his loss;
The dormant youth was now bereft
Of reason and his cross.

53

Now swiftly to the spot he flew,
The Abbey enter'd soon;
His valu'd cross, now met his view,
With it, the fork and spoon.

54

With joy he seized the stolen plate,
His bliss, what tongue can tell;
He wonder'd, gaz'd, till rous'd by fate,
And Annette's dying knell.

55

He starting, trembel'd at the sound----
Again it struck his ear;
With lightening speed he struck the ground
To save his only dear.

56

In solemn state, Annette was led,
Towards the fatal spot;
All pray'd a blessing on her head,
Her guilt they all forgot.

57

Old Gerard sought in vain to spare
Her life, her destin'd fate;
When Blaisot entered in dispair,
And shew'd the stollen plate.

58

A shout of joy, now rent the sky,
Old Gerard join'd the pair;
Erect they stand, who guilt defy,
The guilty do not dare,

59

Before the sun, with bended knee,
They sank with awful fear;
With praises to their Lord's decree,
T