Select Poetry.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3359, 27 September 1879, Page 1

Select Poetry.

GIOEDANO BEUNO. Burnt hy order of the Church for outrling a plurality of tcorldt, A ». 1600. " With greator fear you now pi-onounce my doom Thau I tuiyioldisg take it from yoor hands." Ho stood before thorn in the council room Erect and firm, despite their iron bands. Ho cause ho pleads uphold by people's voice, No fiery impnlso heats a martyr's brain, Alone and cahn abides ho by the choice Of weary years of bondage and of pun. A page clmuo lay open tQ hji.tJgMfjjftiri-f'j.r Ho found the truth twsomi» Be q«je«» tionedwhy; f'^j. .', And it was writ in characters of light By GotVs ovni linger on tho midnight *6ky. Ho follmvod truth; proclaimed his purpose high With constant lips, and with unfaltering breath—- • Ho followed truth, and God-like dared to s die, And thought immortal triumphed over death i> Some had supernal joys before their Bight, And felt a Saviour's hand within their own; Ho had not this, but fought the final fight, And went into tho darkness all alone. Raiso high the faggots! Yo would "ahed no blood."* Oh holy Charity! Oh Christ-like grace! Thought yo, as 'mid tho raging flames he Btood, This damning lie would shield yo from disgrace ? Ho came, a greater gift? than priest or king, Ye robed and crowned him with devour, ing fame; Behold the rolling years avenging bring To yon and to your heirs undying shame. What need of monumental stone to thoe ? Within the heart of truth thou art en- • shrined, And in tho heart of all that seek to free From, priestly craft and creed, -the bondaged mind. Our sympathies arc spreading far and wido; The sun that shone upon the stake has set; Our churches multiply on every side; Bnt we have room for Brnno eren yet. The light is breaking! see the hill tops high Enkindling with the brightness of the sun! ,' Tho light is breaking that will never die;' When science and religion shine as one. L. J. Nicnouox. *"Be merciful and shed no blood* was the horriblo formula used in giving sentence of burning at the stake.