So he made rebellion 'gainst the King his liege,
Camped before his citadel and summoned it to siege.
"Nay!", said the cannoneer on the castle wall,
"But Iron--Cold Iron--shall be master of you all!"
Woe for the Baron and his knights so strong,
When the cruel cannon-balls laid 'em all along;
He was taken prisoner, he was cast in thrall,
And Iron--Cold Iron--was master of it all!
Yet his King spake kindly (ah, how kind a Lord!)
"What if I release thee now and give thee back thy sword?"
"Nay!", said the Baron, "mock not at my fall,
For Iron--Cold Iron--is master of men all."
"Tears are for the foolish, prayers are for the clown--
Halters for the silly neck that cannot keep a crown."
"As my loss is grevious, so my hope is small,
For Iron--Cold Iron--must be master of men all!"
Yet his King made answer (few such Kings there be!)
"Here is Bread and here is Wine--sit and sup with me.
Eat and drink in Mary's Name, the whiles I do recall
How Iron--Cold Iron--can be master of men all!"
He took the Wine and blessed it. He blessed and brake the Bread.
With His own Hands he served Them, and presently He said:
"See! These Hands they pierced with nails, outside My city wall,
Show Iron--Cold Iron--to be master of men all.
"Wounds are for the desperate, blows are for the strong.
Balm and oil for weary hearts all cut and bruised with wrong.
I forgive thy treason--I redeem thy fall--
For Iron--Cold Iron--must be master of men all!"
"Crowns are for the valiant--sceptres for the bold!
Thrones and powers for mighty men who dare to take and hold!"
"Nay!" said the Baron, kneeling in his hall,
"But Iron--Cold Iron--is master of men all!
Iron out of Calvary is master of men all!"
