midnight
For bloody deeds of daring high , He had won a deathless fame ; And o'er that reckless , bloody crew , Had gained a pirate-captain 's name . And though their coffers teem 'd with gold , Their sordid souls still sighed for more : And to procure the paltry trash They scour 'd the seas from shore to shore . But Retribution 's hour must come ; Vengeance can not always sleep ; Justice , with her glittering sword , Pursues them swiftly o'er the deep . At midnight , in a dungeon lone , An aged female knelt in prayer ; But oh , her low , sepulchral tone Seemed fraught with anguish and despair . `` My son , '' she cried , `` to morrow 's sun Must witness your disgraceful death ; O , seek a dying Saviour 's love , E'en with your expiring breath . The sun of Righteousness has risen , And o'er my path shed golden light , And shone upon the narrow way , That ever followed leads aright . And I have followed to the cross , On which a dying Saviour hung , Bemoaned my sins with weeping eyes , Besought his grace with suppliant tongue .