One more Unfortunate, 
 Weary of breath, 
Rashly importunate, 
 Gone to her death! 
 
Take her up tenderly, 
 Lift her with care; 
Fashion'd so slenderly 
 Young, and so fair! 
 
Look at her garments 
Clinging like cerements; 
Whilst the wave constantly 
 Drips from her clothing; 
Take her up instantly, 
 Loving, not loathing. 
 
Touch her not scornfully; 
Think of her mournfully, 
 Gently and humanly; 
Not of the stains of her, 
All that remains of her 
 Now is pure womanly. 
 
Make no deep scrutiny 
Into her mutiny 
 Rash and undutiful: 
Past all dishonour, 
Death has left on her 
 Only the beautiful. 
 
Still, for all slips of hers, 
 One of Eve's family? 
Wipe those poor lips of hers 
 Oozing so clammily. 
 
Loop up her tresses 
 Escaped from the comb, 
Her fair auburn tresses; 
Whilst wonderment guesses 
 Where was her home? 
 
Who was her father? 
 Who was her mother? 
Had she a sister? 
 Had she a brother? 
Or was there a dearer one 
Still, and a nearer one 
 Yet, than all other? 
 
Alas! for the rarity 
Of Christian charity 
 Under the sun! 
O, it was pitiful! 
Near a whole city full, 
 Home she had none. 
 
Sisterly, brotherly, 
Fatherly, motherly 
 Feelings had changed: 
Love, by harsh evidence, 
Thrown from its eminence; 
Even God's providence 
 Seeming estranged. 
 
Where the lamps quiver 
So far in the river, 
 With many a light 
From window and casement, 
From garret to basement, 
She stood, with amazement, 
 Houseless by night. 
 
The bleak wind of March 
 Made her tremble and shiver; 
But not the dark arch, 
Or the black flowing river: 
Mad from life's history, 
Glad to death's mystery, 
 Swift to be hurl'd? 
Anywhere, anywhere 
 Out of the world! 
 
In she plunged boldly? 
No matter how coldly 
 The rough river ran? 
Over the brink of it, 
Picture it?think of it, 
 Dissolute Man! 
Lave in it, drink of it, 
 Then, if you can! 
 
Take her up tenderly, 
 Lift her with care; 
Fashion'd so slenderly, 
 Young, and so fair! 
 
Ere her limbs frigidly 
Stiffen too rigidly, 
 Decently, kindly, 
Smooth and compose them; 
And her eyes, close them, 
 Staring so blindly! 
 
Dreadfully staring 
 Thro' muddy impurity, 
As when with the daring 
Last look of despairing 
 Fix'd on futurity. 
 
Perishing gloomily, 
Spurr'd by contumely, 
Cold inhumanity, 
Burning insanity, 
 Into her rest.? 
Cross her hands humbly 
As if praying dumbly, 
 Over her breast! 
 
Owning her weakness, 
 Her evil behaviour, 
And leaving, with meekness, 
 Her sins to her Saviour!