Page:Bohemian legends and other poems.djvu/26

’Tis said the Emperor Ferdinand had qualms—
Perhaps he knew that death would place the palms
Of martyrdom upon those fearless souls and true,
Who preferred death to lives of bitter rue;
Howe’er it be, he passed a restless night,
Tossing and fuming till the dawn of light,
And then he turned him to his ghostly shade,
Father Lamormain, as one half afraid,
And questioned him, if he could do this thing.
“Without hurt to his conscience, or a sting
Of self-remorse, he could condemn to die,
These men?” To which the Jesuit made reply,
“He was the king and could do as he willed;”
And so he signed the warrant, his mind filled
With the great things a king alone can do.

It was the twenty-first of June; the sun
Rose in its splendor, shining on the land,
And on their faces who would soon have done
With earthly things, that poor devoted band.
Many were there who in the bygone days
Had stood before the throne in royal state.
Many were there who trod in learning’s ways,
Whom God had chosen for a martyr’s fate.
One gazing out upon the rising sun,
Beheld a rainbow shining in the sky,
Called to his brethren, “See our faith hath won
A sign from Heaven. God will see us die,
And from the scaffold we will go to Him,
Who is alone, the only Truth and Way.”
And on their knees they fell and prayed to Him,
Whom they should see this very blessed day.
’Tis sad to think they could not even pray
In peace, but pestered by the Jesuit band,
Their last farewells, they could not even say.
And this, my friends, was by the king’s command.
At length the cannons from the Vyšehrad
Began to fire, that the hour was near,
And meekly praying that God’s staff and rod
Might be their stay, they bid each other “cheer.”
Yea, with calm voice, they said, “Oh, brothers ours,
Ye enter first the paradise of God,
But we will follow in a few more hours.
Oh, tell our Father that His name we laud.”