The Reverend E. Bullinger set this to excellent music; and it was translated for Continental use into German, French, Swedish, and Hungarian in the same metre.
As quite a cognate subject here shall be added my ballad on Wycliffe, also written by request:—
Wycliffe.
"Distant beacon on the night
Full five centuries ago,—
Harbinger of Luther's light,
Now four hundred years aglow,—
Priest of Lutterworth we see
All of Luther-worth in thee!
"Lo, the wondrous parallel,—
Both gave Bibles to their land;
While, the rage of Rome to quell,
Princes stood on either hand,
John of Gaunt, and Saxon John,
Cheered each bold confessor on.
"Both are rescuers of souls,
Cleansing those Augæan styes—
Superstition's hiding holes,
Nunneries and monkeries;
Both gave liberty to men,
Bearding lions in their den!
"Wycliffe, Luther! glorious pair,
Great Twin Brethren of mankind;
Conscience was your guide and care,
Purifying heart and mind;
Both before your judges stood,
'Here I stand, for God and good.'
"Each had liv'd a martyr's life,
Still protesting for the faith;
Yet amid that fiery strife,
Each escap'd the martyr's death;
Rescued from the fangs of Rome,
Both died peacefully at home."