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126
THE HOLY LAND.
Through the warm noontide, I have roamed
Where Cæsar's palace-ruins lie,
And in the Forum's lonely waste,
Oft listened to the night-wind's sigh.
Where Cæsar's palace-ruins lie,
And in the Forum's lonely waste,
Oft listened to the night-wind's sigh.
I've traced the moss-lines on the walls
That Venice conjured from the sea,
And seen the Coliseum's dust
Before the breeze of autumn flee.
That Venice conjured from the sea,
And seen the Coliseum's dust
Before the breeze of autumn flee.
Along Pompeii's lava-street,
With curious eye, I've wandered lone,
And marked Segesta's temple-floor
With the rank weeds of ages grown.
With curious eye, I've wandered lone,
And marked Segesta's temple-floor
With the rank weeds of ages grown.
I've clambered Ætna's hoary brow,
And sought the wild Campagna's gloom,
I've hailed Geneva's azure tide,
And snatched a weed from Virgil's tomb.
And sought the wild Campagna's gloom,
I've hailed Geneva's azure tide,
And snatched a weed from Virgil's tomb.
127
Why all unsated yearns my heart
To seek once more a Pilgrim shrine?
One other land I would explore,—
The sacred fields of Palestine.
To seek once more a Pilgrim shrine?
One other land I would explore,—
The sacred fields of Palestine.
Oh, for a glance at those wild hills,
That round Jerusalem arise!
And one sweet evening by the lake
That gleams beneath Judea's skies!
That round Jerusalem arise!
And one sweet evening by the lake
That gleams beneath Judea's skies!
How anthem-like the wind must sound
In meadows of the Holy Land,
How musical the ripples break
Upon the Jordan's moonlit strand!
In meadows of the Holy Land,
How musical the ripples break
Upon the Jordan's moonlit strand!
Behold the dew, like angels' tears,
Upon each thorn is gleaming now,
Blest emblem of the crown of love
There woven for the sufferer's brow.
Upon each thorn is gleaming now,
Blest emblem of the crown of love
There woven for the sufferer's brow.
Who does not sigh to enter Nain,
Or in Capernaum to dwell;
Inhale the breeze from Galilee,
And rest beside Samaria's well?
Or in Capernaum to dwell;
Inhale the breeze from Galilee,
And rest beside Samaria's well?
128
Who would not stand beneath the spot
Where Bethlehem's star its vigil kept?
List to the plash of Siloa's pool,
And kiss the ground where Jesus wept?
Where Bethlehem's star its vigil kept?
List to the plash of Siloa's pool,
And kiss the ground where Jesus wept?
Gethsemane who would not seek,
And pluck a lily by the way?
Through Bethany devoutly walk,
And on the Mount of Olives pray?
And pluck a lily by the way?
Through Bethany devoutly walk,
And on the Mount of Olives pray?
How dear were one repentant night
Where Mary's tears of love were shed!
How blest beside the Saviour's tomb,
One hour's communion with the dead!
Where Mary's tears of love were shed!
How blest beside the Saviour's tomb,
One hour's communion with the dead!
What solemn joy to stand alone
On Calvary's celestial height!
Or kneel upon the mountain-slope,
Once radiant with supernal light!
On Calvary's celestial height!
Or kneel upon the mountain-slope,
Once radiant with supernal light!
I cannot throw my staff aside,
Nor wholly quell the hope divine,
That one delight awaits me yet,—
A pilgrimage to Palestine.
Nor wholly quell the hope divine,
That one delight awaits me yet,—
A pilgrimage to Palestine.
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