Cambridge Poets 1900–1913

Robert Keable . *ST. PETER SPEAKS TO A LAD WHO VISITS HIM ON THE EVE OF MARTYRDOM . A YE , lad ! He crossed the court , and in His eyes n I read the certain knowledge of a man Who looks on death and counts its agonies , Yet garners slow and sure as for a prize . I looked - belike you scarcely can believe ! And saw the bound and blood - stained hands , the Face Part bruised , all shamed by that it did receive , And yet , so fierce was I, forebore to grieve . I did expect a King (I saw a slave !) A kingdom ushered with the trump of God ; And this the thronement that His subjects gave A brutal hustling to a certain grave ! I looked , and looking could have cursed the more , But in a moment , lad , He looked on me ; And I was stricken ; sought half - blind the door ; Sobb 'd that I had not seen the half before . . . Whose curses , think you , had He heard that day ? Whose hands had beaten in upon His Face ? The Romans ? Jews ? Dull , blind , and ignorant they ! He saw no traitor till He looked my way . 98