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THE PROPHECY OF THE DEAD.
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Do ye hear, O ye Dead, in your tombs— Ye Dead, whose bold blows made us free—Do ye hear the reveillè of drums? Can ye say what the issue shall be? Past the midnight that comes, Is the noon rising up from the sea?
Who whispered? Is life underneath Astir in the dust of the brave?For there steals to my ear such a breath As can only steal out of the grave: "Ye must go down to death: Ye have drunk of the blood of the slave."
We have sinned, we have sinned, O ye Dead! Our fields with the out-crying bloodOf Abel, our brother, are fed: Must we therefore be drowned in the flood? Waits no Ararat's head? Is no ark guided there by our God?
"Ye must go down to death: have ye heard The tale of the writings of yore,—How One in the sepulchre stirred, And cast off the grave-clothes he wore? In the flesh dwelt the Word— Inheriting life evermore.
