James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902.
June 19Maximilian
By John Godfrey Saxe (18161887)
N
Submitted to the harsh decree
That bade him die before his time,
Cut off in manhood’s golden prime,—
Poor Maximilian!
His dauntless heart, his soul serene,
Have deemed they saw a martyr die,
And chorused forth the solemn cry,
“Great Maximilian!”
He staked his life a throne to win;
Counted amiss the fearful cost
(As chiefs have done before),—and lost!
Rash Maximilian!
Nor calm endurance makes him great;
Mere lust of empire and renown
Can never claim the martyr’s crown,
Brave Maximilian!
To win a sovereign’s power and fame,
Thy better nature lost its force,
And royal crimes disgraced thy course,
King Maximilian!
In his behalf, whose fell decree
Gave soldiers unto felons’ graves,
And freemen to the doom of slaves,—
Fierce Maximilian?
That slew thee in thy vent’rous path;
But “they who take,” thus saith the Lord,
“Shall also perish by the sword,”
Doomed Maximilian!
Thy fearful fate, thy wretched queen,—
And mark how bravely thou didst die,
I breathe again the pitying sigh,
“Poor Maximilian!”