XL.
THE MARTYR BOY
.
CONSUMMATUS IN BREVI EXPLEVIT TEMPORA MULTA.
Dearest to me of all the martyr host,
Whose name, like some strange spell of memory,
Shifted the rudder of my being, tost
Darkly erewhile on doubt's tempestuous sea!
Champion of truth! in truth's predestined home,
Beneath the unchristened tyrant's ruthless sway,
Was gained thy crown of glorious martyrdom:
O guide our feet along the ancient way!
Glory of Boyhood! in the deepening gloom
Of Pagan night our eyes are fixed on thee,
Joying to consecrate the first fresh bloom
Of thy young heart's unsullied purity
To Him who loved thee. Flower of innocence,
Dear follower of the Child of Nazareth,
Taming for His dear sake each rebel sense
To stern obedience in the grasp of death!
Favourite of Jesus! in thy trial hour
He still was by thee, making darkness light;
The wild beasts of the Coliseum cower
Owning thy triumph in the unequal fight.
And fiercer far than they, the expectant crowd,
Drunk with the blood of Saints, are speechless now,
Tranced as in ecstacy; so brightly glowed
The unearthly lustre on thy virgin brow.
Mirror of chastity! as years roll by,
Fresh votaries press to kneel around thy grave,
Fresh laurels grace thy deathless victory,
So strong, so pure, so beautiful, so brave!
Saint of our Saxon sires! thy cherished name
Was once a household word on English tongues;
Forgive the long neglect, the bitter shame,
Forgive three centuries of cruel wrongs.
Return once more to this dear land, return,
Bring back the ancient zeal, the ancient joy,
Bid the old love in our cold bosoms burn,
Bring back the faith that armed our Martyr Boy!
