 | The complete poems of S. Weir Mitchell |  |
THE TOMBS OF THE REGICIDES
LUDLOW AND BROUGHTON
[9]
The regicides buried in the church of St. Martin, at Vevey, are Broughton, Ludlow, and Phelps. The tomb-stones of the first two are visible. Phelps has recently been commemorated by a stone placed upon the wall by the American descendants of his family,—Phelpses of New England and New Jersey. Ludlow and Broughton lived to a great age at Vevey, and so, also, I believe, did Phelps, of whom less is known.
Set gray 'gainst the ivy-clad walnuts,
Stands, sombre as Calvin, and barren
Of crucifix, altar, and picture,
The church of St. Martin. A stranger,
I stood where the pride of its arches
Looks scorn on the Puritan's sadness.
Not prouder for Switzerland's annals
The glory of Morat or Sempach
Than these darkened tablets that tell us
How gladly for Ludlow and Broughton
She lifted the shield of protection,
How sternly she answered the summons
To render her guests to the headsman.
The parents that gave their true soul-life
Were England and Freedom. Ah, surely
With courage and conscience they honored
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And did the just deed and abided.
Long, long were the days that God gave them
With friendships and peace in this refuge,
Where sadly they yearned for the home-land,
And saw their great Oliver's England
Bowed low in the dust of dishonor.
Vevay, August 19, 1888.
| The complete poems of S. Weir Mitchell | |