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EARTH'S MARTYRS.
Many have hymned Thy Martyrs, Earth, of old,
Who fell on red flames, as on flowers cold;
But we, Thy poets, in a different fire,
And at an inward worser flame expire;
For that which did their bodies ashes make
Our souls consumes; we shrivel at that stake.
We burn, yet live; they in a moment died;
We are Thy real Martyrs, Thy true pride.
STEPHEN PHILLIPS.
Who fell on red flames, as on flowers cold;
But we, Thy poets, in a different fire,
And at an inward worser flame expire;
For that which did their bodies ashes make
Our souls consumes; we shrivel at that stake.
We burn, yet live; they in a moment died;
We are Thy real Martyrs, Thy true pride.
STEPHEN PHILLIPS.
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