I
THERE came one day a leper to my door: | |
| I shrank from him in loathing and in dread, | |
| But yet, remembering how old legends said | |
| That Jesus Christ so often heretofore | |
| Came in such guise to try His saints of yore, | 5 |
| I brought him in, and clothed, and warmed, and fed; | |
| Yea, brake my box of precious nard, to pour | |
| Its costly fragrancy upon his feet. | |
| And when the house was filled with odour sweet, | |
| I looked to see the loveliest face,—but o’er | 10 |
| The leper came no change divine to greet | |
| My eager soul, which did such change entreat. | |
| And then I bowed my head, and wept full sore— | |
| Ah! the times change; such visions come no more! | |
| |
II
With tear-dimmed eyes I went upon my way, | 15 |
| Passed from the city to the April wood, | |
| Where the young trees in trembling gladness stood; | |
| And once again my grievèd heart grew gay. | |
| Then did I see a little child at play; | |
| All the sweet April fountain of his blood | 20 |
| Tossed out in joy, that brake in laughter-spray; | |
| And all my heart it loved him; so I bent | |
| To kiss his sunny mouth. Then through me went | |
| That which I may not tell, nor can, to-day. | |
| When was such healing with such wounding blent? | 25 |
| Such pain supreme with such supreme content? | |
| The fires of God comfort as well as slay, | |
| Else had I surely died, who am but clay. | |
