University of Virginia Library

“But we, who learned of Him the happy way,
Whom never once again Earth's winds can drive,
What is it if we die? whose eyes have seen
There is no Death! What is it if we live
A little woe-begone, when He hath passed
Patiently all our path, changing its stones
To rubies, and to rose blooms all its thorns,
With bright blood of His vainly-wounded feet?
What lover of Him shall be sad again
Seeing the Father through Him, touching hands
Of that large love which reaches out from Heaven,
In His pierced palms? He told us not one bird
Folds failing wings, and shuts bright eyes to die,
But That which gave their stations to the stars,
And marked the Seas their limits, and the Sun
His shining road, signed soft decree for this,
And did in pity plan kind consequence.
‘Yet you’—lightly He spake—‘are of more worth
Than many sparrows!’ Oh, good Friend! that soul
Hath done with sadness which knows Christ aright;
Not as Fear reads, but as quick Love reveals.
Also I think the woest shall scarcely miss
At end of evil, when Despair will lead
Souls to His feet, which would not come for Love.
Hardly, I hope, shall bloody Herod fail,
Nor Judas, who betrayed Him with the kiss,
Nor Pilate, who, for Cæsar, saw Him slain;
Nor any, at the last; since Grace and Power
Unmeasured, which forbid men's hearts to hate,
Themselves can never hate, nor finally,
See their sweet purpose foiled.