 | A book of Bristol sonnets |  |
31
SERMON IN THE COLLEGE CHAPEL.
“WORK WHILE YE HAVE THE LIGHT.”
FEBRUARY 6th, 1876.
Upon the battle's fameless edge He fell,
His nerve untried, His sword unfleshed in fight;
And He was such a champion for the right,
The warrior's school had trained His heart so well.
Mourn not; who knew His chivalry can tell
That He had risen in the grey morn light,
Had fought His foes with God alone in sight,
And won as Jacob won on Penuel!
The swifter journey claims the earlier end,
And seeming just to have begun to live,
He died a veteran! Oh, His death forgive!
True gentle knight, sure helper, firmest friend!
Ye cannot grudge Him to the Hosts of Heaven;
Snatch up His sword, and strive as He has striven!
| A book of Bristol sonnets | |