THE Roman Consul doomed his sons to die Who had betrayed their country. The stern word Afforded (may it through all time afford) A theme for praise and admiration high. Upon the surface of humanity He rested not; its depths his mind explored; He felt; but his parental bosom's lord Was Duty, -- Duty calmed his agony. And some, we know, when they by wilful act A single human life have wrongly taken, Pass sentence on themselves, confess the fact, And, to atone for it, with soul unshaken Kneel at the feet of Justice, and, for faith Broken with all mankind, solicit death. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE HEART OF THE TREE by HENRY CUYLER BUNNER THE ROLLING ENGLISH ROAD by GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 32 by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN DAFFY-DOWN-DILLY [OR, DAFFYDOWNDILLY] by MOTHER GOOSE MOON AND VENUS by ABUL MUGHIRA |