Page:The poems of Emma Lazarus volume 1.djvu/130

Fixed on the circus with a savage joy,
Where brandished swords flashed white, and hu man blood
Streamed o er the thirsty dust, and Death was king.
He started, shuddering, and drew breath to see
The foul pit choked with weeds and tumbled stones,
The cross raised midmost, and the peaceful moon
Shining o er all ; and fell upon his knees,
Restored to faith in one wise, loving God.
Day followed day, and still he bode in Rome,
Waiting his audience with the Cardinal,
And from the gates, on pretext frivolous,
Passed daily forth, his Eminency slept,
Again, his Eminency was fatigued
By tedious sessions of the Papal court,
And thus the patient pilgrim was referred
Unto a later hour. At last the page
Bore him a missive with Filippo s seal,
That in his name commended Tannhauser
Unto the Pope. The worn, discouraged knight
Read the brief scroll, then sadly forth again,
Along the bosky alleys of the park,
Passed to the glare and noise of summer streets.
" Good God ! " he muttered, " Thou hast ears for all,
And sendest help and comfort ; yet these men,
Thy saintly ministers, must deck themselves