Alfred H. Miles, ed. The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907.
By III. “The sage his cup of hemlock quaffed”William Johnson Fox (1786–1864)
T
And calmly drained the fatal draught:
Such pledge did Grecian justice give
To one who taught them how to live.
The anguish of His cross endured:
Such pangs did Jewish bigots try
On Him who taught us how to die.
That men would grow more wise and just;
From Calvary’s mount the Christ could see
The dawn of immortality.
Their souls are safe, their triumph nigh:
Power may oppress and priestcraft ban;
Justice and faith are God in man.