Yes, I heard the song of warning
All too late! I saw them stand
On the bridge;—her eyes down drooping,
While he clasp’d her willing hand.
Marcus saw, and came to meet me;
And Paulina softly said,
“Brother! I must have your blessing;
Put your hand upon my head.
Bless and love me, O my brother,
Still my guide and guardian be!”
Marcus said, “My Christian brother,
Let your love extend to me!”
Then, with all my heart, I bless’d them,
And submitted to my fate,
Praying God to give me courage
To be silent, brave, and great.
Soon my soul grew calm and stronger;
And the marriage-rites were seal’d;
And I saw how Lino’s daughter
Loved the youth who bore his shield!
Marcus, true and gallant-hearted,
Was a Christian! He had heard
From the lips of sweet Paulina
Echoes of the Gospel Word!
Time pass’d on, and “Persecution
Of the Christians!” was the cry:
Day by day the martyr’d heroes
Left the world without a sigh.
Then it was that I was Bishop;
And though Cæsar’s arm was strong,
Yet I shelter’d many a victim
Of his tyranny and wrong.
And I suffer’d death for helping
Marcus and his wife to fly;
But to save my sweet Paulina
I was well content to die!
And I died—with joy and gladness,
Mocking all the earthly pain
That a Cæsar’s wrath inflicted,
Singing, “I shall rise again.”
Then my spirit wander’d freely,
Mounting up from sphere to sphere,
Traversing the well-known places
To my earthly life so dear!
Often, in the early Spring-time,
Timid lovers I inspire,
Till they tell the oft-told story,
Bravely, and with words of fire.
Still the birds among the branches
Build their nests, and seem to say,
“Seek your sweet one, lest you lose her
Ere the Spring-time pass away!”
 | An image should appear at this position in the text. To use the entire page scan as a placeholder, edit this page and replace "{{missing image}}" with "{{raw image|Once a Week Dec 1860 to June 61.pdf/219}}". Otherwise, if you are able to provide the image then please do so. For guidance, see Wikisource:Image guidelines and Help:Adding images. |  |
