Page:The city of dreadful night - and other poems (IA cityofdreadfulni00thomrich).pdf/135

 Of this Goddess, fierce and splendid, Whom they witless had offended; And they murmured out faint prayers, Inarticulate despairs, Till her haught and angry mien Grew more gentle and serene.

Stood the high priest forth, and went Halfway up the green ascent; There began a preachment long Of the great and grievous wrong She unto her own soul wrought In thus living without thought Of the gods who sain and save, Of the life beyond the grave: Living with the beasts that perish, Far from all the rites that cherish Hope and faith and holy love, And appease the thrones above: Full of unction pled the preacher; Let her come and they would teach her Spirit strangled in the mesh Of the vile and sinful flesh, How to gain the heavenly prize, How grow meet for Paradise; Penance, prayer, self-sacrifice,