Classic Poem

They led him to the peopled wall.
“Thy sons,” they said, “are those within!
If at thy word their standards fall
Thy life and freedom thou shalt win!”

Then spake that warrior bishop old:
“Remove these chains that I may bear
My crozier staff and stole of gold:
My judgement then I will declare.”

They robed him in his robes of state:
They set the mitre on his head:
On tower and gate was silence great:
The hearts that loved him froze with dread.

He spake: “Right holy is your strife!
Fight for your country, king and faith:
I taught you to be true in life:
I teach you to be true in death.

“A priest apart by God is set
To offer prayer and sacrifice:
And he is sacrificial yet
The pontiff for his flock who dies.”

Ere yet he fell, his hand on high
He raised, and benediction gave;
Then sank in death, content to die:—
Thy great heart, Erin, was his grave.