Reincarnation

High in the place of outraged Liberty, He ruled the world, an emperor and god: His iron armies swept the land and sea, And conquered nations trembled at his nod.

By him the love that fills man’s soul with light, And makes a heaven of earth, was crucified; Lust-crowned he lived, yea, lived in God’s despite, And old in infamies, a king he died.

Justice begins now.--Many centuries In some vile body must his soul atone As slave, as beggar, loathsome with disease, Less than the dog at which we fling a stone.