I read my sentence－steadily－1
Reviewed it with my eyes,
To see that I made no mistake
In its extremest clause－
The Date, and manner, of the shame－5
And then the Pious Form
That "God have mercy" on the Soul
The Jury voted Him－
I made my soul familiar－with her extremity－9
That at the last, it should not be a novel Agony－
But she, and Death, acquainted－
Meet tranquilly, as friends－
Salute, and pass, without a Hint－13
And there, the Matter ends－
Reviewed it with my eyes,
To see that I made no mistake
In its extremest clause－
The Date, and manner, of the shame－5
And then the Pious Form
That "God have mercy" on the Soul
The Jury voted Him－
I made my soul familiar－with her extremity－9
That at the last, it should not be a novel Agony－
But she, and Death, acquainted－
Meet tranquilly, as friends－
Salute, and pass, without a Hint－13
And there, the Matter ends－
(F.432/J.412)
[1] my sentence:: the sentence of President of the judges.
[4] extremest clause:: the death sentence.
[5] shame:: Esmeralda, a young Gypsy dancer's crime.
[6, 7] Pious, Soul:: her sentence, "sorcery, magic, incontinence, and murder done upon the body of Sieur Phoebus de Chateaupers. God receive your soul!"
[11] Death acquainted:: a hint on witches, a misbelief that they dealt with death.