The Poetical Works of Robert Southey, Esq. (Volume 13); Minor Poems (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1823. Excerpt: ... QUEEN ORRACA, AND THE FIVE MARTYRS OF MOROCCO. This Legend is related in the Chronicle of Alfonso II., and in the Historia Serafica of Fr. Manoel da Esperanca. The friars five have girt their loins, And taken staff in hand; And never shall those friars again Hear mass in Christian land. They went to Queen Orraca, To thank her and bless her then; And Queen Orraca in tears Knelt to the holy men. "Three things, Queen Orraca, We prophesy to you: Hear us, in the name of God "In Morocco we must martyr'd be; Christ hath vouchsafed it thus: We shall shed our blood for him Who shed his blood for us. "To Coimbra shall our bodies be brought; For such is the will divine; That Christians may behold and feel Blessings at our shrine. "And when unto the place of rest Our bodies shall draw nigh, Who sees us first, the King or you, That one that night must die. "Fare thee well, Queen Orraca; For thy soul a mass we will say, Every day while we do live, And on thy dying day." The friars they blest her, one by one, Where she knelt on her knee; And they departed to the land Of the Moors beyond the sea "What news, O King Affonso What news of the friars five? Have they preach'd to the Miramamolin; And are they still alive?" "They have fought the fight, O Queen They have run the race; In robes of white they hold the palm Before the throne of grace. "All naked in the sun and air Their mangled bodies lie; What Christian dared to bury them, "What news, O King Affonso, Of the Martyrs five what news? Doth the bloody Miramamolin Their burial still refuse?" "That on a dunghill they should rot, The bloody Moor decreed; That their dishonour'd bodies should The dogs and vultures feed: "But the thunder of God roll'd over them, And the lightning of God flash'd round; Nor thing impure, nor...