Near the town of Romulus,
Faithful Maid and Martyr blest,
Agnes hath her sepulchre;
From her holy place of rest
She can see the city–towers;
She can hear the city stir.
Double crown of martyrdom
She hath granted her;
Chaste unspotted virginal,
Glory of a willing death.
Christ–devoted, she had scorned
Idol–sacrifice to pay;–
They had searched her long and sore,
Balancing her soul between
Offers thick of ease and bliss,
Iron–hearted threats of pain;
Mild and proud she looked on them:
“Ye may take and try me here;
So believe me, as ye see
Joy look from me in the fires,
Praises when ye list for cries.”
Then the stark tormentor said,
“It is easy to hush down
Struggling pain when life is cheap;
But she hath a precious gem;
Do she not our sacrifice,
Into public place impure
Be she led, and peril make
Of the pearl she loveth best;
Life she selleth but to buy
Visions of untasted bliss;
May be she will sell her dreams
To redeem her chastity.”
Then the holy Agnes said,
“Deem ye never that my Christ
Will forget His chosen so,
As to let the golden crown
Of my virgin brow be dimmed;
Ye may crust your steel with blood,
But my Christ and I have sworn
These His members bright and pure
Earthly lust shall never soil.”
Thus she boasted, and was led
Bless
(Henry Alford)
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