W. Garrett Horder, comp. The Poets’ Bible: New Testament. 1895.

St. Stephen

Dante Alighieri (c. 1265–1321)

Purgatorio, XV. 106–114
Translated by Edward Hayes Plumptre

THEN I beheld a crowd, in heat of will,

Slaying a youth with stones, and crying loud,

One to another, shouting “Kill him, kill.”

And I beheld him, on his knees low-bowed,

To earth bent down, as heavy death drew near,

But evermore his eyes, as Heaven’s gates showed.

And in that strife to Heaven’s high God his prayer

He poured, that He his foes would pardon give,

With look that made men gaze with pitying tear.