| Francis T. Palgrave, ed. (1824–1897). The Golden Treasury. 1875. |
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| W. Drummond |
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| LXI. Saint John Baptist |
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| THE last and greatest herald of Heaven's King, | |
| Girt with rough skins, hies to the deserts wild, | |
| Among that savage brood the woods forth bring, | |
| Which he more harmless found than man, and mild. | |
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| His food was locusts, and what there doth spring, | 5 |
| With honey that from virgin hives distill'd; | |
| Parch'd body, hollow eyes, some uncouth thing | |
| Made him appear, long since from earth exiled. | |
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| There burst he forth: All ye whose hopes rely | |
| On God, with me amidst these deserts mourn, | 10 |
| Repent, repent, and from old errors turn! | |
| —Who listen'd to his voice, obey'd his cry? | |
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| Only the echoes, which he made relent, | |
| Rung from their flinty caves, Repent! Repent! | |
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