Poem by Francis Turner Palgrave

Paulinus and Edwin

627

The black-hair'd gaunt Paulinus
  By ruddy Edwin stood:--
'Bow down, O King of Deira,
  Before the holy Rood!
Cast forth thy demon idols,
  And worship Christ our Lord!'
--But Edwin look'd and ponder'd,
  And answer'd not a word.

Again the gaunt Paulinus
  To ruddy Edwin spake:
'God offers life immortal
  For His dear Son's own sake!
Wilt thou not hear his message
  Who bears the Keys and Sword?'
--But Edwin look'd and ponder'd,
  And answer'd not a word.

Rose then a sage old warrior;
  Was five-score winters old;
Whose beard from chin to girdle
  Like one long snow-wreath roll'd:--
'At Yule-time in our chamber
  We sit in warmth and light,
While cavern-black around us
  Lies the grim mouth of Night.

'Athwart the room a sparrow
  Darts from the open door:
Within the happy hearth-light
  One red flash,--and no more!
We see it born from darkness,
  And into darkness go:--
So is our life, King Edwin!
  Ah, that it should be so!

'But if this pale Paulinus
  Have somewhat more to tell;
Some news of whence and whither,
  And where the Soul may dwell:--
If on that outer darkness
  The sun of Hope may shine;--
He makes life worth the living!
  I take his God for mine!'

So spake the wise old warrior;
  And all about him cried
'Paulinus' God hath conquer'd!
  And he shall he our guide:--
For he makes life worth living,
  Who brings this message plain,--
When our brief days are over,
  That we shall live again.'

1. The Captive Child
2. The Fugitive King
3. A Crusader's Tomb
4. Midnight at Geneva
5. At Fountains

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