Classic Poem

Entire, more than entire have we been devastated!
The maddened clarion, the bold invaders' horde,
The mortar thunder-voiced, the blood-anointed sword
Have all men's sweat and work and store annihilated.

The towers stand in flames, the church is violated,
The strong are massacred, a ruin our council board,
Our maidens raped, and where my eyes have scarce explored
Fire, pestilence, and death my heart have dominated.

Here through the moat and town runs always new-let blood,
And for three-times-six years our very rivers' flood
With corpses choked has pressed ahead in tedious measure;

I shall not speak of that which is still worse than death,
And crueller than the plague and torch and hunger's breath:
From many has been forced even the spirit's treasure.