Ballad of Reading Gaol

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. The chaplain would not kneel to pray By his dishonored grave; Nor mark it with that blessed Cross That Christ fir sinners gave; Because the man was one of those Whom Christ came down to save. The verses shame all of us fir we know their truth. Hospitals and doctors and nurses must take the place of prisons and judges and jailors and the sooner the better. Wilde's verses sound the requiem: they remind us that only he who is without sin has any right to punish. Listen to the words.