Part 7 — SONNET. St. Francis and St. Dominic.

Francis and Dominic, the marvels twain Of those fair ages faith inspired and ruled, When Christendom, alike by darkness schooled And light, served God, and spurned the secular chain. Strong brother-saints of Italy and Spain, The nations, Christian once, whose love hath cooled, The sects pride-blind, the sophists sense-befooled, Your child-like, God-like lowliness disdain! But ye your task fulfilled! All love the one, Christ's lover, burning with seraphic fire; All light the other, from the cherub choir Missioned, a clouded world's re-risen sun; Warriors of God! for centuries three at bay Those crowned lusts ye kept that gore his church to-day. Aubrey de Vere.