Page:Modern Czech Poetry, 1920.djvu/41

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J. S. MACHAR.
23

PASQUINO ON THE DEATH OF POPE
HADRIAN VI.

Hadrian dead? Then thrust a bodkin straight
Into his heart, that he be dead in sooth;
And on the tidings twice or thrice dilate,
To fix belief that it is sober truth.

Hadrian dead! Rise, honest souls, and go
Where Rome all throngs in one united band,
To his physician's dwelling, to bestow
Homage on him who freed his native land.

“The Pagan Flames” (1911).


5. CROMWELL AT THE CORPSE OF CHARLES I.

The strength and soundness ot this body promised
Long course of life … Even as on King Saul,
The Lord bestowed all gifts on him, and him,
Even as Saul He sentenced with His sentence …
We were the voice of Him, the sword of Him.
He doth but lend authority to kings,
But gives the people power to judge a king;
For kingly power thrives only from the people.
And since this Stuart was a murderer,
A traitor, tyrant, foe unto his people,
The spirit of the Lord departed from him,
And him His wrath delivered to our judgment.
Thus, after the exemplar of old times,
And as exemplar to all coming ages
Hath been this body's fate … The people are
E'en as the apple of God's eye, and most
When the Lord yields a king unto their judgment…
Falsehood, deceit and feigning were his weapons,
And they are broken as a reed doth break;