 | Duganne's Poetical Works |  |
331
THE PRAYER OF JESUS.
PRAYED the Christ, when, pale and dying,
On the cruel cross he hung—
When the Temple-veil was rended,
And the night o'er day was flung;
When the hireling soldier's spear-point
Pierced his anguished bosom through,—
“Father! forgive my murderers!
“For they know not what they do!”
On the cruel cross he hung—
When the Temple-veil was rended,
And the night o'er day was flung;
When the hireling soldier's spear-point
Pierced his anguished bosom through,—
“Father! forgive my murderers!
“For they know not what they do!”
Mocking lips his woes derided—
Heads were bowed in scornful pride;
Judas had betrayed his Master—
Peter thrice his Lord denied;
Yet still prayed the Christ, unfaltering,
While his gasping breath he drew,
“Father! forgive my murderers!
“For they know not what they do.”
Heads were bowed in scornful pride;
Judas had betrayed his Master—
Peter thrice his Lord denied;
Yet still prayed the Christ, unfaltering,
While his gasping breath he drew,
“Father! forgive my murderers!
“For they know not what they do.”
Oh! my brother! thou who hangest
On the cross of earthly wo—
Thou, who bearest whip and fetter,
Angry word and cruel blow,—
Be the Christ thy soul's example!
Pray, with heart sincere and true,
“Father! forgive my murderers!
“For they know not what they do.”
On the cross of earthly wo—
Thou, who bearest whip and fetter,
Angry word and cruel blow,—
332
Pray, with heart sincere and true,
“Father! forgive my murderers!
“For they know not what they do.”
Thou, whose bruised and broken spirit
Groaneth with continual strife—
Thou, who sinkest, faint with suffering,
By the weary way of life,—
Pray, thou still, with foemen round thee—
Pray, when friends are weak and few,
“Father! forgive my murderers!
“For they know not what they do.”
Groaneth with continual strife—
Thou, who sinkest, faint with suffering,
By the weary way of life,—
Pray, thou still, with foemen round thee—
Pray, when friends are weak and few,
“Father! forgive my murderers!
“For they know not what they do.”
Pray, my brother! Lo! thy suffering
Shall redeem thy cruel foes!
For each prayer, in anguish rising,
Back to earth in mercy flows:
Like the Christ, O pray, my brother!
Pray, with soul serene and true,—
“Father! forgive my murderers!
“For they know not what they do!”
Shall redeem thy cruel foes!
For each prayer, in anguish rising,
Back to earth in mercy flows:
Like the Christ, O pray, my brother!
Pray, with soul serene and true,—
“Father! forgive my murderers!
“For they know not what they do!”
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