VI 'Great Lazarus, which Empire dost thou crave?' Thus ran the sacred scroll : 'The Empire of the Earth, or Heaven? Save Thy wonder, nor of glory dare to rave. Is Earth thy final goal? Then fall upon the Turks with sword in hand, VII 'But, if the Heavenly Empire be thy choice, At Kossovo upbuild Communion altars; and upraise thy voice In prayer with priests and men. And let the air be filled Long time rejoice With holy supplication: then at last Into the combat rush with ardour vast. VIII 'And thou, with thine, shalt perish there; but Heaven Shall open wide its gates. And thou, from grosser earthly glories riven, Shalt ne'er regret ; and thou shalt help to leaven About the borders of that pearly sea Where all the just and sanctified shall be !' IX Then said the prince, 'The Earth is for a day, But Heaven for evermore ; O great Elijah, to the Virgin say I come to dwell among the saints alway!' The message, and next night the prince and all WAR CONTRASTS. (Bulgaria, 1877.) I BULGARIAN. A STRANGER lingered by Mahala's well, On Russian breasts that feared nor death nor pains. The farmer bowed his head : Tears dimmed his eyes; upon his sun-browned face He gently spurned the money from his palm, II RUSSIAN. The Mussulman before his captor came : Bound up or staunched; while over their own dead But brought him food and water; led him where Above him waved the standard of the Cross. III TURK. One weary night the baleful Crescent shone H |