| Nicholson & Lee, eds. The Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse. 1917. |
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| 243. The Veteran of Heaven |
| By Francis Thompson (1859–1907) |
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| O CAPTAIN of the wars, whence won Ye so great scars? | |
| In what fight did Ye smite, and what manner was the foe? | |
| Was it on a day of rout they compassed Thee about, | |
| Or gat Ye these adornings when Ye wrought their overthrow? | |
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| ‘’Twas on a day of rout they girded Me about, | 5 |
| They wounded all My brow, and they smote Me through the side: | |
| My hand held no sword when I met their armèd horde, | |
| And the conqueror fell down, and the Conquered bruised his pride.’ | |
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| What is this, unheard before, that the Unarmed make war, | |
| And the Slain hath the gain, and the Victor hath the rout? | 10 |
| What wars, then, are these, and what the enemies, | |
| Strange Chief, with the scars of Thy conquest trenched about? | |
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| ‘The Prince I drave forth held the Mount of the North, | |
| Girt with the guards of flame that roll round the pole. | |
| I drave him with My wars from all his fortress-stars, | 15 |
| And the sea of death divided that My march might strike its goal. | |
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| ‘In the keep of Northern Guard, many a great daemonian sword | |
| Burns as it turns round the Mount occult, apart: | |
| There is given him power and place still for some certain days, | |
| And his name would turn the Sun’s blood back upon its heart.’ | 20 |
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| What is Thy Name? Oh, show!—‘My Name ye may not know; | |
| ’Tis a going forth with banners, and a baring of much swords: | |
| But My titles that are high, are they not upon My thigh? | |
| “King of Kings!” are the words, “Lord of Lords!” | |
| It is written “King of Kings, Lord of Lords”.’ | 25 |
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