XXIX VOICE OF THE PRIESTS
O school of vileness, treachery and lying,
“Asylum of the oppressed,” in evil days
Sounding to heaven the cruel oppressor's praise,
While God and King and Fatherland denying!
O wicked was your heartless justifying,
Your benediction on the torturer's blaze,
Your curses on the doomed who dared to raise
A voice against thy tyranny outcrying.
Ready the Empire's brutal force to crave,
Thou smil'st upon its prize unjustly won;
God's prophet is become a lying knave.
O saddest day the sun e'er shone upon
When cowers the Cross, the standard of the slave,
And Christ is made the tyrant's champion!
Juvenilia.