To have called these - Christians, had we dared!
Let defiance to them pay mistrust of thee,
And Rome make amends for Calvary!

XIX.

"By the torture, prolonged from age to age,
By the infamy, Israel's heritage,

By the Ghetto's plague, by the garb's disgrace,
By the badge of shame, by the felon's place,
By the branding-tool, the bloody whip,
And the summons to Christian fellowship, -

XX.

"We boast our proof that at least the Jew

Would wrest Christ's name from the Devil's crew.
Thy face took never so deep a shade

But we fought them in it, God our aid!

A trophy to bear, as we march, thy band

South, East, and on to the Pleasant Land!"

[Pope Gregory XVI abolished this bad business of the Sermon.-R. B.]

IIG

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Yet — I steal a glance behind! Dare I tell you what convinces Timid me that you, if bolder, Bold-are blind?

V.

Where we plan our dwelling

Glooms a graveyard surely!

Headstone, footstone moss may drape, ~

Name, date, violets hide from spelling,
But, tho' corpses rot obscurely,

Ghosts escape.

Nay, blame grief that 's fickle,
Time that proves a traitor,

Chance, change, all that purpose warps,
Death who spares to thrust the sickle,
Laid Love low, thro' flowers which later
Shroud the corpse!

VIII.

And you, my winsome lady,
Whisper with like frankness!

Lies nothing buried long ago?

Are yon - which shimmer mid the shady
Where moss and violet run to rankness-
Tombs or no?

IX.

Who taxes you with murder?
My hands are clean—or nearly!
Love being mortal needs must pass.
Repentance? Nothing were absurder.
Enough: we felt Love's loss severely;
Tho' now-alas !

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