Go slow, my soul, to feed thyself — A Tale of Two Cities

Go slow, my soul, to feed thyself ¹
Upon his rare approach－
Go rapid, lest Competing Death
Prevail upon the Coach－
Go timid, should his final eye ⁵
Determine thee amiss－
Go boldly－for thou paid'st his price
Redemption－for a Kiss－

(F.1322/J.1297)

[1–8]:: -This poem is about the last scene of A Tale of Two Cities (1859) by Charles Dickens.
[2] his rare approach:: the proposal that Carton disguised as Darnay and die for him, a rare thing people will do.
[1, 2] Go slow:: Darnay didn't want to be replaced by Carton, who then drugged Darnay. Carton should go slow so to avoid being discovered.
[3, 4] Go rapid, Coach:: the coach that carried Darnay to escape, should go rapid.
[5, 6] Go timid, amiss:: Carton (disguised as Darnay now) to avoid guard's checking, should go timid.
[7, 8] Go boldly, Redemption:: Carton went boldly before the guillotine. "They said of him, about the city that night, that it was the peacefullest man's face ever beheld there. Many added that he looked sublime and prophetic."
[8] for a Kiss:: Carton died for his love to Lucie, Darnay's wife. The theme of this poem, a man loves a woman so much to die for her.