THE MONUMENT OF GIORDANO BRUNO

Not from without us, only from within,

Comes or can ever come upon us light

Whereby the soul keeps ever truth in sight.

No truth, no strength, no comfort man may win,

No grace for guidance, no release from sin,

Save of his own soul's giving. Deep and bright

As fire enkindled in the core of night

Burns in the soul where once its fire has been

The light that leads and quickens thought, inspired

To doubt and trust and conquer. So he said

Whom Sidney, flower of England, lordliest head

Of all we love, loved: but the fates required

A sacrifice to hate and hell, ere fame

Should set with his in heaven Giordano's name.

Cover thine eyes and weep, O child of hell,

Grey spouse of Satan, Church of name abhorred.

Weep, withered harlot, with thy weeping lord,

Now none will buy the heaven thou hast to sell

At price of prostituted souls, and swell

Thy loveless list of lovers. Fire and sword

No more are thine: the steel, the wheel, the cord,

The flames that rose round living limbs, and fell

In lifeless ash and ember, now no more

Approve thee godlike. Rome, redeemed at last

From all the red pollution of thy past,

Acclaims the grave bright face that smiled of yore

Even on the fire that caught it round and clomb

To cast its ashes on the face of Rome.