The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-02
No. 1916.
No. 1916.
Domino, Quo Vadis ?
a LEGEND OF TIE EARLY CHURCH.
"Lord. whither Goest Thou!'
BY WILLIAM WATSON.

Da rkenne the azure roof of Nero's world.
From sn1ouldering Rome the smoke OF ruin CURED;
And the popuace went clamoring- =.
These Christian dogs It's they have done this thns
So to~the wild wolf Hate sacrificed
The painting, huddled flock whose crime was Christ.
Now Peter lodged in Rome and each morn
Looking be night in sunder torn
BY those blind hands that with inebratet zeal
burned the strong saints or broke them the wheel
Or flung them to the lions to make I,i,t
For danes that ruled the lords that ruled the earth.
And unto him, their towering rocky hold,
Repaired those sheep of the Good Shepherds fold
Bare witness the ravening fangs OF Rome
More light, cheap they cried we hold our i've
Than chaf the fail or dust the whirlwind drives
AS chafr they are wnnowed and dust are blown;
Nay, they nought but priceless is thine own
We counsel, we entreat we charge thee. hy."
Peter answered Nay my place is he here:
Blind is the tempest deaf the roaring tide.
And l. His pilot, at the helm abide
Then one stood forth. the flashing of whose soul
Enrayed his presence like aureole
Eager he spake: his fellows ere they heard
Caught from his eyes the swift and leaptng word.
Let US. HIS vines. be in the wine-press trod
And poured beverage for the lips OF God;
Or ground whea. OF His eternal Held
Bread for His table let bodies yield.
Behold the Church hath other use for thee
Thy safety is her own. and thou must dee.
Ours be the glory at her call to ID, die,
And Peter said: do lords Of spear and shield
And ds from, some mount Of prospect watch afar
The havoc of the hurricane of war?
If He wills It. Nay, my ldsh IS
TO serve and to endure. and to remain.
But weak stand. and beseech you all
Urge more lest at touch rail-,
There knelt noble youth at Peters feet
And like viols strings his voice was sweet.
A suppant angel might have pleaded so.
Crowned with the splendor Of some starry Woe
He said my sire and brethren YESTERDAY
The heather did with ghaatly torments slay.
Pain, like a worm. beneath their feet they trod
An orering richer Yet can Heaven require:
Q live, and be my brethren and my sire sire,
sr7.ko ,ornHa Son here Is
That thou exhort me to the easier deed.
Rather would that thou and these had ,ad lent
Already my resolve is shaken sore
pray thee if thou love me. say no more.
And even as he spake he went apart
%hsrsn 70 sfds 70
That now said "rarry! and anon said Coz!
A And t9Sasy sSt 70 whsper sank died
And as a leaf when summer is oerpast
Haqs rsmn
And lie arose and hurried forth. and fed,
From 'a all that heaven Of love that he'll hate
TO the campania gmms e., g. vide lds ana still stu:
But spectral eyes and mocking tongues pursued
And with vague hands he fought phantom ls
Doubts, like swarm 81 gnats oerhung his flight
Can I not living, avail for Thee
Than whelmed IN yon red storm Of agony
The tempest 1t shall pass. and remain
Not from its fiery sickle saved in vain.
Are there no seeds to SOW no desert lands
Waiting the ttllage OK THESE eager naHuH,
That should beastlike meath the butcher fall
More fruitlessly than oxen from the stall? aa4
Ia earth so easeful, Is mems hate so sweet sS
Are thorns welcome unto sleepless feet,
and Of, feeble lures that
Not mine the dread OF pain, the lust 81 bliss!
Master who iudgest, have done amiss!
Lo. on the darkness brake wandering ray; Il,
A vision dashed along the Appian Way.
Divinely In the pa gan night It sh .1l
a 1nournful Face---a Figure hurrying on
Though haggard and disheyaled. frail and worn,
81 DnVi6' fneaRe
Lord .Wlli ther 2" Peter, wondering cried
ITO Rome" said Christ ITO be re-cruciAed.n
into the night the Vision ebbed like BREATH
And Peter turned and rushed on Rome and DEATH
gh,. series began IN The Times lspsrn oct lllsos