To think how many walk like me in woe!
Born what, how slaved to serve that hateful sign!
Souls lively, graceful, like to gods below!
I saw that lethal heraldry decline
From heaven like lightning among people vain;
Then on the stone I saw strange lustre shine.
The castle’s bell must break ere I with strain
Thence issued; and these things Who speaketh true
In heaven on earth, to me made wondrous plain. [7]
Next I beheld a bier of sombre hue
Adorned with broken lilies; crosses, tears;
And on their beds a lost woe-stricken crew. [8]
I saw the Death who racks our souls with fears;
This man and that she menaced, while she cried:
“I clip the folk who harm thee with these shears!”
That worthy one then on my brow wrote wide
With Peter’s pen words which-for he bade shun
To speak them thrice-within my breast I hide. [9]
Him I beheld who drives and checks the sun,
Clad with its splendour ‘mid his court on high,
Seld-seen by mortal eyes, if e’er by one. [10]
Then did a solitary sparrow cry
Loud from the keep; hearing which note, I said:
“He tells that I shall live and you must die!”
I sang, and wrote my hard case, head by head,
Asking from god pardon and aid in need,
For now If felt mine eyes outworn and dead.
Ne’er lion, tiger, wolf, or bear knew greed
Hungrier than that man felt for human blood;
Nor viper with more venomous fang did feed. [11]