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the church of the gesù.
A crucifix—with rigid clasp
The fingers held it in their grasp;
An ebon cross upon the vest
Seemed with its weight to still the breast;
A mournful light was on the' brow,
Reflected from the lamp's red glow,
Which o'er its ashy paleness shone,
And lit the head as with a crown.
The fingers held it in their grasp;
An ebon cross upon the vest
Seemed with its weight to still the breast;
A mournful light was on the' brow,
Reflected from the lamp's red glow,
Which o'er its ashy paleness shone,
And lit the head as with a crown.
Faster and faster from the street,
Though scarce you heard the tread of feet,
Noiseless, yet swift, the masses came.
Soon warm and moist with human breath
Flickered and waved the torches' flame,
Save where around that Crowned Death
With steadfast awe they burned: no more
From storied arch to marble floor
The sunbeam's chorded radiance streamed,
But now its shortened columns gleamed
O'er heads bowed down, whose tonsured line
Shone as a saintly halo fine—
O'er downcast eyes, whose shadows broad,
Told me of midnight fast and prayer,
Though scarce you heard the tread of feet,
Noiseless, yet swift, the masses came.
Soon warm and moist with human breath
Flickered and waved the torches' flame,
Save where around that Crowned Death
With steadfast awe they burned: no more
From storied arch to marble floor
The sunbeam's chorded radiance streamed,
But now its shortened columns gleamed
O'er heads bowed down, whose tonsured line
Shone as a saintly halo fine—
O'er downcast eyes, whose shadows broad,
Told me of midnight fast and prayer,
