"Though from his breast who braves me to the fight, "Guarding my own, my sword aloof I wave; "What praise, while yet against his lawless might "I stake the sacred trust my Maker gave ? "How mid assembled Angels shall I dare "For Judgement throned the Son of God to see; "Afraid for Him the sting of scorn to bear, "Who bore the sting of scorn and death for me*! "And is it then so deep a crime to die, "Shielding from taint my yet unspotted name ?"Away, vain sophistry! A Christian I, "And fear at Duty's call to risk my fame? "Yet how, proud foe, thy cold insulting eye, Where hide my head, while Slander's envious cry, "Roused at thy bidding, trumpets my disgrace? "My native woodlands shall I seek, the sneer • There sculks the Coward,' murmur through the ❝ street? "What, live to infamy, of fools the scorn, "The dastard's butt, the by-word of the brave? "No: farewel Doubt!"- Beneath the waving thorn, Go, learn his fate at yonder nameless grave. Stranger! If trials like to his are thine, • Hark to the voice, that whispers from his sod. "Shame dost thou dread? The shame of Sin decline: "Talk'st thou of Valour? Dare to fear thy God." |