⚖️The Thief and the Cord⚖️1750 anonymous | Musical Broadsheet Poem скачать в хорошем качестве

⚖️The Thief and the Cord⚖️1750 anonymous | Musical Broadsheet Poem

“The Thief and the Cord” (c. 1750, Anonymous) O hark, my friends, and give an ear, While I my fate do thus deplore; A wretched youth, that now must die, And never see sweet England more. My hours are short, the minutes fly, And Death stands ready with his dart; In sorrow steep’d, I now confess The crimes that brought me to this smart. In youthful days, misled by sin, I left my home and honest trade; Bad company I wandered in, And so a lawless life I made. The midnight road my dwelling grew, The pistol my unhappy friend; And often have I bid “Stand still!” Where now I tremble at my end. No tears nor prayers avail me now, No sighs can move the judge’s word; What mercy can the sinner hope When he has braved both man and Lord? The clergyman he visits me, He bids me think upon my soul; But fear and guilt so rack my breast, I scarce can pray to be made whole. O wicked life! O hours misspent! O moments lost beyond recall! Had I but walked in virtue’s path, I had not come to this sad fall. But now the cart is at the gate, The bell doth toll, the crowd draws near; And I must tread that fatal road Where many met their end in fear. The rope is brought, the cord is cast, The cap is drawn upon my face; And as I stand, I cry to God To grant me mercy, love, and grace. Farewell, vain world, and all thy show, Thy glitt’ring snares deceive no more; Lord, take the trembling sinner home, Where thieves forgiven went before. “The Thief and the Cord” belongs to a popular 17th–18th-century ballad genre known as the “Last Goodnight” or criminal confession ballad. These poems were: Sold cheaply on single-sheet broadsides Sung or read aloud to crowds Supposedly narrated by criminals at the moment of execution Moralistic, warning people to avoid vice, drink, gambling, and “bad company” The poem’s structure—a condemned highwayman confessing wrongs, acknowledging divine justice, and accepting execution—is a perfect example of this type. Many similar ballads circulated around Tyburn, the famous London execution site. Circulation on Broadsides (c. 1700–1780). Broadsides were the mass media of the era: single sheets printed cheaply and sold in streets, inns, and marketplaces. Because broadsides were ephemeral, many original copies are lost or survive only in collections like the Roxburghe and Madden archives. Public hangings were major spectacles in 18th-century London. Ballads like this were often: Sold at the execution site itself Sung by hawkers in the crowd Sometimes claimed to be authentic confessions of the condemned Used to reinforce social and religious messages The poem’s emphasis on repentance and warning aligns with the sermon-like speeches commonly delivered on the gallows. As with most broadsides: The author is anonymous The poem existed in multiple versions Verses could be altered or replaced depending on the printer ✨ Poetic Vistas brings timeless poetry to life through music and visual storytelling. From beloved classics to hidden gems, each video pairs powerful verses with evocative soundscapes and inspirational animation — inviting you to see, hear, and feel poetry in a whole new way. 🎵 Experience the rhythm of language. 🎨 Explore new perspectives through motion and art. 📜 Rediscover the beauty of poetry, one vista at a time. Subscribe and journey with us through the landscapes of imagination and emotion. #ClassicPoetry #ModernPoetry #RomanticPoetry #SpokenWord #PoetryReading #PoetryShorts #ArtAndMusic #CinematicArt #EmotionalArt #LovePoetry #InspirationalPoetry #PoetryLovers #PoetryCommunity #CreativeAnimation #DigitalArt #MusicVideoArt #AestheticPoetry #PoetryVideo #TimelessPoems #ArtisticExpression