“Mithras, also a soldier, teach us to die aright!”
The mystery cult of Mithras originated in Persia, flourished throughout the Roman Empire and was for a time the chief rival of Christianity. Mithras was the all-seeing God of Light, represented by the Sun.
In Persian mythology, Mithras created life by killing the Cosmic Bull, from whose blood originated the sky, earth, animals and plants. Thus the worship of Mithras was associated with sacrifice of bulls (the ceremonies, which usually took place at night in caves, are evoked in the last verse of the poem). Mithras was the guardian of justice, laws and contracts. He fought alongside the supreme god Ahura Mazda against Ahriman, the lord of darkness and evil. Mithras was essentially a warrior and a god of soldiers. The Roman Legions, who had become acquainted with Mithras in the East, spread his worship to all corners of the Empire, even to its northernmost boundary – Hadrian’s Wall across northern Britain.
The poem’s subtitle is ‘Hymn of the XXX: circa AD 350’. The choice of date is not accidental. Hadrian’s Wall was first overrun by the barbarians of the north in 367 AD and abandoned after 383 AD. The poem captures this foreboding of doom and the determination to die valiantly. The last line, “Mithras, also a soldier, teach us to die aright!” reflects the line in ‘Hymn before Action’: “Lord, grant us strength to die!” The god’s name may change, but the emotion is the same.
A Song to Mithras
Mithras, God of the Morning, our trumpets waken the Wall! "Rome is above the Nations, but Thou art over all!" Now as the names are answered, and the guards are marched away, Mithras, also a soldier, give us strength for the day! Mithras, God of the Noontide, the heather swims in the heat. Our helmets scorch our foreheads, our sandals burn our feet. Now is the ungirt hour - now lest we blink and drowse, Mithras, also a soldier, keep us true to our vows! Mithras, God of the Sunset, low on the Western main - Thou descending immortal, immortal to rise again! Now when the watch is ended, now when the wine is drawn, Mithras, also a soldier, keep us pure till the dawn! Mithras, God of the Midnight, here where the great Bull dies, Look on Thy children in darkness. Oh, take our sacrifice! Many roads Thou hast fashioned - all of them lead to the Light! Mithras, also a soldier, teach us to die aright!