And grant that she who, trembling, here
Distrusted all her powers,
May welcome to her holier home
The well-beloved of ours.
1845.
TO RONGE.
This was written after reading the powerful and manly protest of
Johannes Ronge against the "pious fraud" of the Bishop of Treves.
The bold movement of the young Catholic priest of Prussian Silesia
seemed to me full of promise to the cause of political as well as
religious liberty in Europe. That it failed was due partly to the
faults of the reformer, but mainly to the disagreement of the
Liberals of Germany upon a matter of dogma, which prevented them
from unity of action. Rouge was born in Silesia in 1813 and died in
October, 1887. His autobiography was translated into English and
published in London in 1846.
Strike home, strong-hearted man! Down to the root
Of old oppression sink the Saxon steel.
Thy work is to hew down. In God's name then
Put nerve into thy task. Let other men
Plant, as they may, that better tree whose fruit
The wounded bosom of the Church shall heal.
Be thou the image-breaker. Let thy blows
Fall heavy as the Suabian's iron hand,
On crown or crosier, which shall interpose
Between thee and the weal of Fatherland.
Leave creeds to closet idlers.
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