What is this thing that's taken hold,
That causes mans' distress?
What makes him freeze like winters' cold,
And does his mettle test?

What makes his body tremble so?
His limbs look how they shake,
Were it a nightmare he would roll,
And suddenly awake.

See sweat, the brow and palms replete,
The stomach how it turns,
It's fear, that thing that touches deep,
For calm the heart, it yearns,

Now he that harboured unbelief,
Will bid the heavens prove,
And plead the gods grant swift release
From fright and pending doom!
JS