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60
THE ECCE HOMO OF MONTE PINCIO.
There's a picture of the Saviour, of the Master crucified,
Very pale and marred and bleeding for the bitter scourges plied,
With the five wounds deeply wounded, in the hands and feet and side.
Very pale and marred and bleeding for the bitter scourges plied,
With the five wounds deeply wounded, in the hands and feet and side.
With the monks of Monte Pincio bides that wonder, and they tell
How 'twas wrought in deadly cunning by the king of death and hell,
As he shewed the sight that met him on the day his empire fell.
How 'twas wrought in deadly cunning by the king of death and hell,
As he shewed the sight that met him on the day his empire fell.
Oh, he wrought it and he made it for the damning of a soul;
But God took it and God used it so the damner should have dole,
So the lost one should be found again, the sick to death be whole.
But God took it and God used it so the damner should have dole,
So the lost one should be found again, the sick to death be whole.
'Twas a young man, as they tell us, turned his back on God and grace,
Spent his body and soul and substance, stood in very evil case;
And he would not turn him homeward, would not seek his Father's face.
Spent his body and soul and substance, stood in very evil case;
And he would not turn him homeward, would not seek his Father's face.
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Nay but, heart-hard, sought the face of him who was his Father's foe;
Promised him his soul immortal, if that ill one would bestow
For his mortal life the purchase of all lust and pomp and show.
Promised him his soul immortal, if that ill one would bestow
For his mortal life the purchase of all lust and pomp and show.
And the deed drawn up was waiting, with his blood it must be signed,
Yet he paused a moment, seeing how a thought rushed through his mind—
Praise to God for that His goodness, and His mercy ever kind.
Yet he paused a moment, seeing how a thought rushed through his mind—
Praise to God for that His goodness, and His mercy ever kind.
‘Now before I sign it, prithee, tell me did it so betide
Thou wert witness when the God-man hung upon a cross and died?’
‘Yea, for I was there and saw it,’ so the evil one replied.
Thou wert witness when the God-man hung upon a cross and died?’
‘Yea, for I was there and saw it,’ so the evil one replied.
‘Canst thou shew the sight?’ he asked him; ‘canst thou paint the picture trrue?’
‘Better mine than any other hand that ever picture drew.’
‘Paint it then, and let me see it, ere I give thee all thy due.’
‘Better mine than any other hand that ever picture drew.’
‘Paint it then, and let me see it, ere I give thee all thy due.’
Then the picture was before him, and he saw the Crucified;
And the strong repentance smote him who had strayed so far and wide,—
Broken, bruised, in utter anguish, he bemoaned himself and cried.
And the strong repentance smote him who had strayed so far and wide,—
Broken, bruised, in utter anguish, he bemoaned himself and cried.
Then THE NAME OF NAMES he uttered in his passion and his pain,
And the evil one was stricken and he might not strike again,
Swift into the vasty darkness of the air he fled amain.
And the evil one was stricken and he might not strike again,
Swift into the vasty darkness of the air he fled amain.
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So the young man childly meekened in his heart, and longing sore
To be only God's and serve the Crucified for evermore,
Sought the monks of Monte Pincio, prayed them open him their door.
To be only God's and serve the Crucified for evermore,
Sought the monks of Monte Pincio, prayed them open him their door.
Of the fervent ones most fervent, of the lowly lowliest,
With the Capucins abode he till God called him to his rest,
And he saw the Glorious Vision with his eyes and so was blest.
With the Capucins abode he till God called him to his rest,
And he saw the Glorious Vision with his eyes and so was blest.
And the very wondrous picture, his salvation which had been,
It was borne to Monte Pincio by the hand of Mary Queen,
And, they say, at Monte Pincio still that picture may be seen.
It was borne to Monte Pincio by the hand of Mary Queen,
And, they say, at Monte Pincio still that picture may be seen.
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