I have taken Parley P. Pratt’s account of Joseph Smith rebuking the guards at the Richmond Missouri Jail and set it to poetry.
Majesty
Upon the floor so hard he lay, in chains without a bed
No sleep would come, with guards about, their pistols filled with lead
There in the dark, the midnight hour, they spewed forth words obscene
They boasted of their murders vile, of acts depraved and mean
He lay in silence, horrified, his patience wearing thin
When suddenly, he sprang to life, disgusted by their din
His voice was as a lion's roar, of thunder loud and great
Addressing those with evil tongues, words of rebuke he spake
"Ye fiends of hell's infernal pit, Silence! Speak no ill
By Jesus Christ, I rebuke you and order you, be still
I will not live a minute more and hear your filthy lies
This minute if you do not cease, then you or I will die"
In majesty, so terrible, he stood with dignity
While guards their weapons now did drop and crouched down at his feet
Forgiveness they did seek of him, their hearts were now contrite
No other words, escaped their tongues, throughout the long, dark night
Though there be emperors and kings, and royal courts and crowns
Only within an obscure jail, could majesty be found.
Upon the floor so hard he lay, in chains without a bed
No sleep would come, with guards about, their pistols filled with lead
There in the dark, the midnight hour, they spewed forth words obscene
They boasted of their murders vile, of acts depraved and mean
He lay in silence, horrified, his patience wearing thin
When suddenly, he sprang to life, disgusted by their din
His voice was as a lion's roar, of thunder loud and great
Addressing those with evil tongues, words of rebuke he spake
"Ye fiends of hell's infernal pit, Silence! Speak no ill
By Jesus Christ, I rebuke you and order you, be still
I will not live a minute more and hear your filthy lies
This minute if you do not cease, then you or I will die"
In majesty, so terrible, he stood with dignity
While guards their weapons now did drop and crouched down at his feet
Forgiveness they did seek of him, their hearts were now contrite
No other words, escaped their tongues, throughout the long, dark night
Though there be emperors and kings, and royal courts and crowns
Only within an obscure jail, could majesty be found.