THE VIRGIN MARTYR
Still I hear my son’s voice calling “mother” in the dead of night,
And am haunted by my girl’s eyes that will never see the light.
And am haunted by my girl’s eyes that will never see the light.
O my children that I might have had! my children, lost for ever!
O the goodly years that might have been—now desolate and bare!
O malignant God or Fate, what have I done that I should never
Take my birthright like the others, take the crown that women wear,
And possess the common heritage to which all flesh is heir?
O the goodly years that might have been—now desolate and bare!
O malignant God or Fate, what have I done that I should never
Take my birthright like the others, take the crown that women wear,
And possess the common heritage to which all flesh is heir?
HONOUR
Me let the world disparage and despise—
As one unfettered with its gilded chains,
As one untempted by its sordid gains,
Its pleasant vices, its profitable lies;
Justice, blind and halt and maimed, chastise
The rebel spirit surging in my veins,
Let the Law deal me penalties and pains
And make me hideous in my neighbours’ cyes.
As one unfettered with its gilded chains,
As one untempted by its sordid gains,
Its pleasant vices, its profitable lies;
Justice, blind and halt and maimed, chastise
The rebel spirit surging in my veins,
Let the Law deal me penalties and pains
And make me hideous in my neighbours’ cyes.
But let me fall not in mine own esteem,
By poor deceit or selfish greed debased.
Let me be clean from secret stain and shame,
By poor deceit or selfish greed debased.
Let me be clean from secret stain and shame,
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