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A book of Bristol sonnets

By H. D. Rawnsley

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THE THREE PICTURES OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST, IN THE BILLIARD ROOM AT LEIGH COURT.
 


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THE THREE PICTURES OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST, IN THE BILLIARD ROOM AT LEIGH COURT.

I saw how wrought by Santi's dark-eyed son
The Boy forerunner of his playmate learned;
And near, that hand for which the Muses yearned,
Old Vinci's pride, had set the Man Saint John;
Lit in his wilderness communion.
How like a torch his arm uplifted burned;
That torch to ash, Murillo, thou hast turned!
Hard by, the charger, and the Head thereon!
“All flesh shall see”—the pale lips seem to say—
“Our God's salvation!” swum in blood and gold,
“It is not law, I tell thee as I told,
“My words shall hound thee to the judgment day.
“Christ, by the stroke in black Machærus' hold,
“Thy messenger has but prepared Thy way!”
 

Raphael.

Leonardo da Vinci was from early to middle life famed for his musical skill.

Saint Mark vi. 16-28. How the deed haunted the conscience-stricken Herod Antipas is well set forth in verse 16.

Machærus (Makaur), the castle fortress on the western cliffs of the Dead Sea, in which John was beheaded, was, from its colour, called by the Rabbis the Black Fortress.