The Lion is at rest,
With his awe-inspiring crest,
In full-maned majesty and strength he has laid him down to rest.
Of all earth’s mortal monarchs the bravest, strongest, best,
His bright eye kindled with the love of Jesus and the Cross.
Who gave mankind the Light Divine
To save the world from loss.
His grand life work is o’er,
And nations now deplore
The Lion of the Vatican, the warrior of the cross,
From Italy’s bay-indented shore
To where Columbia’s eagles soar,
Is heard the voice of weeping,
For the Lion softly sleeping,
The Lion of the Vatican,
Who never feared the face of man—
The Lion o’er whose urn
The mounting flames of glory burn;
Who died in duty’s harness—the Lion of Lucerne.
He sleeps, but not forsaken,
For the Judgment trump shall blow,
Its blast of joy or woe.
The nations of the dead shall rise
And the Lion of the Vatican shall waken.
Once in earth’s Gethsemane by all but God forsaken!
With glory crested on his head and splendor in his eyes,
The kingdoms gather round the great white throne
To hear the final sentence
Of all who seek or scorn repentance.
Long ere the dreadful conflagration
Which shall consume each nation,
Along each height or hollow shore,
Loud shall reverberate the roar
Which made the iron Bismarck bow
Before the Lion’s calm, majestic brow;
Which bade the hostile cannon cease
And harmless pave the paths of peace,
Who walked where princely Virgil trod
And then like Enoch walked with God.
Be patient, then, O Zion!
And wait the wakening of the Lion
Be patient still, for soon
Thy God shall grant the boon
Of universal peace;
And War’s red banner shall be furled
Throughout all the world.
Paul Kruger’s diamond bribe[C] was worth
The ransom of a hundred kings;
Yet diamonds and pearls and all
The riches of this world have wings;
The Lion held God’s treasure fast—
Honor and truth and Heaven at last.
CHIABRERA’S EPITAPH.
Chiabrera, an Italian poet, is said to have written the following inscription for his tomb:
“Friend, I while living sought comfort in Parnassus;
Do thou, better counselled, seek it in Calvary.”