Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BALLADE FOR THE SIXTH HOUR, by THOMAS WALSH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BALLADE FOR THE SIXTH HOUR, by                    
First Line: Good masters of the market-place
Last Line: For such as you my saviour died.
Alternate Author Name(s): Gill, Roderick; Strange, Garrett
Subject(s): Jesus Christ = Suffering & Sacrifice


GOOD masters of the market-place,
I pray you cease your cries, and hear
The pilgrim messages of grace
From holy lands I bring your ear!
Nay, pass not so, fair cavalier,
Nor thou, my lady, in thy pride,—
No alms I ask beyond a tear—
For such as you my Saviour died.

Yea, pause and hear me, woman frail,
Whose jewels have the gleam of shame;
For thee, thou crone in rags, my tale,—
For thee, thou foundling without name,
For you as well, proud priests, the same—
Yea, clown and courtier, ere ye ride,
Draw rein and answer, was it blame
For such as you my Saviour died?

Nay, tears before the minster gate,
Ye blind, ye agéd, and ye sore?—
Up!—'tis your festival of state,
So get ye in the sacred door,
And raise the cry until it roar
By every strand and mountain side,
From turret peak to dungeon's core,—
For such as you my Saviour died!

Prince,—from thy galleries look down
Upon our soiled and ribald tide,
And hear me—spite thy haughty frown—
For such as you my Saviour died.





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