The graves of the martyrs

The kings of old have shrine and tomb

Author: Felicia D. B. Hemans
Published in 9 hymnals

Representative Text

The kings of old have shrine and tomb
In many a minster’s haughty gloom;
And green, along the ocean-side,
The mounds arise where heroes died;
But show me on thy flowery breast,
Earth! where thy nameless martyrs rest!

The thousands that, uncheered by praise,
Have made one offering of their days;
For truth, for heaven, for freedom’s sake,
Resigned the bitter cup to take;
And silently, in fearless faith,
Have bowed their noble souls to death.

O, haply all around lie strewed
The ashes of that multitude!
It may be that each day we tread
Where thus devoted hearts have bled,
And the sweet flowers the children sow
Take root in holy dust below.

What though no stone the record bears
Of their deep thoughts and lonely prayers,
May not our inmost hearts be stilled,
With knowledge of their presence filled,
And by their lives be taught to prize
The meekness of self-sacrifice?



Source: A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion (15th ed.) #427

Author: Felicia D. B. Hemans

Hemans, Felicia Dorothea, née Browne, was born in Liverpool, Sep. 25, 1793. In 1800, her father having suffered severe losses in business, removed with his family near to Abergele, N. Wales, where he died sometime after. In 1812 she was married to Captain Hemans, who, on retiring from the army sometime after, removed to Bronnylfa, near St. Asaph. Some years after he left his wife and children and proceeded to Italy, where he died. In 1828 Mrs. Hemans removed to Wavertree, near Liverpool, and in 1831 to Dublin, where she died May 16, 1835, and was buried in St. Ann's Church, Dawson Street, in that city. From 1808, when at 15 she published Poems, to 1834, when her Scenes & Hymns of Life appeared, she produced a great number of poems and othe… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: The kings of old have shrine and tomb
Title: The graves of the martyrs
Author: Felicia D. B. Hemans
Copyright: Public Domain

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Instances

Instances (1 - 9 of 9)
Text

A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion (15th ed.) #427

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A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion. (10th ed.) #427

Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home and Services for Congregational Worship. Rev. ed. #d675

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Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home. (Rev. ed.) #845

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Hymns for the Church of Christ (3rd thousand) #799

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Hymns for the Church of Christ. (6th thousand) #799

Songs of the Free, and Hymns of Christian Freedom #d111

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The Disciples' Hymn Book #353

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The Psalms of Life #59

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