Judas the Second

By Francis Saltus Saltus (1849–1889)

General Bernadotte was one of Napoleon’s marshals. He was elected Crown Prince of Sweden, and in that capacity led the “army of the North”, against Napoleon in 1813. He died on March 8, 1844.

HIS Christ came unto him, and from the pain

And dismal sloughs of misery and care

Raised him with friendship saintly and most rare,

Saying, “Be thou my friend, my friend remain.”

His Christ did more: He let his hand attain

Honors he dared not humbly beg in prayer;

His sinful past in mercy he did spare,

And to uplift him to a throne did deign!

Then, with the liberal laurels on his brows,

The gift of one immortal, noble heart,

Who made irradiant his disgraceful lot,

He, traitor to his country and his vows,

Betrayed that Master with a devil’s art;

And hell doth know him now as Bernadotte!

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