Rise and Establishment of Protestantism at Geneva - James Aitken Wylie

one dreamt of the cruel deed that was about to cut
short the life of a man who might have shone in the
first rank in a great monarchy. .... The headsman
bound the noble Levrier, armed men surrounded
him, and the martyr of law was conducted slowly
to the castle-yard. All nature was dumb, nothing
broke the silence of that funeral procession;
Charles's agents moved like shadows beneath the
ancient walls of the castle. The moon, which had
not reached its first quarter, was near setting, and
shed only a feeble gleam. It was too dark to
distinguish the beautiful mountains, in the midst of
which stood the towers whence they had dragged
their victim; the trees and houses of Bonne were
scarcely visible; one or two torches, carried by the
provost's men, alone threw light upon this cruel
scene. On reaching the middle of the castle-yard
the headsman stopped, and the victim also. The
ducal satellites silently formed a circle round them,
and the executioner prepared to discharge his
office. Levrier was calm, the peace of a good
conscience supported him in this dread hour.
Alone in the night, in those sublime regions of
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