 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
211
AFTER READING “THE NEGEB,”
OR, “SOUTH COUNTRY OF SCRIPTURE.”
Patient explorer of that ancient landMade holy by the pressure of His feet
Who came to save, and filled with echoes sweet
Of solemn music waked by David's hand:
With scholarly acuteness thou hast scanned
Each well, and brook, and path worn by the beat
Of camel's foot, ruin, and lone retreat
On hill or plain of wandering Arab band.
Thus from thy quiet study thou hast bidden,
As with the waving of a magic wand,
Cities arise which long in dust lay hidden;
And from the gloom profound of buried ages
Hast summoned them as witnesses to stand
Of Truth infallible in Scripture pages.
| Wood-notes and Church-bells | |