LXXVI.

Turn thou to mark (though tears may dim thy gaze)

The steel-clad group before yon altar-stone:

Heed not though gems and gold around it blaze;

Those heads unhelm’d, those kneeling forms alone,

Thus bow’d, look glorious here. The light is thrown

Full from the shrine on one, a nation’s lord,

A sufferer! but his task shall soon be done—

E’en now, as Faith’s mysterious cup is pour’d,

See to that noble brow, peace, not of earth, restored!