Polyeucte by Pierre Corneille
page 39 of 93 (41%)
page 39 of 93 (41%)
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No worldly thought has checked the flow, no guilty act has stained;
Thy wings are strong, while mine are weak; thy love is fresh, ungeigned,-- To these, thy heights, I cannot soar, held down by sense and sin, How can I storm the citadel?--the traitor lurks within! Forsake me not, my God! Thy spirit pour! Oh, make me true to Him whom I adore! With Thee I rise,--the flesh, the world, defy, Thou, who hast died for me, for Thee I die! Yes, I will go! With heaven-born zeal I burn, I will be free,--all Satan's lures I spurn; Death, torture, outrage, these will I embrace, To nerve my heart and arm, Heaven grant me grace! POLY. On eagle wings of faith and hope ascend! I hail my master--recognise my friend; The old faith wanes,--we light her funeral pyre, Her ashes fall before our holy fire; Come, trample under foot the gods that men have wrought; The rotten, helpless staff is broke, is gone--is naught. Their darkness felt they own, but let them see the light! Their gods of stone, of clay, but vampires of the night! Their dust shall turn to dust,--shall moulder with the sod, Ours for His name to fight:--the issue is with God. NEAR. The cause is just, is true--O coward heart, be still! I lived to doubt His word--I die to do His Will! |
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