Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Asia: Vols. XXI–XXIII. 1876–79.
Bethlehem and Golgotha
By Friedrich Rückert (1788–1866)I
From whom we draw our true life’s breath;
And Golgotha at last he chose,
Where his cross broke the power of death.
I wandered from the Western strand,
Through strange scenes of the Morning Land;
But naught so great did I survey
As Bethlehem and Golgotha.
Here rose aloft,—the mighty Seven;
How was their transient glory hurled
To earth before the might of Heaven!
In passing, I could see and tell
How all their pride to ruin fell;
There stood in quiet Gloria
But Bethlehem and Golgotha.
The toil that built you never gave
The faintest thought of Death’s great peace,—
’T was but the darkness of a grave.
Ye Sphinxes, in colossal stone!
The riddle Life an unread one
Ye left;—the answer found its way
Through Bethlehem and Golgotha.
Of all Shiraz the sweetest flower!
Ye Indian sea-coasts, breathing spice,
Where groves of palm in beauty tower;—
I see o’er all your sunny plains
The step of Death leave sable stains.
Look up! There comes a deathless ray
From Bethlehem and Golgotha.
ba! black stone of the waste,
At which the feet of half our line
Yet stumble. Stand, now, proudly braced
Beneath thy crescent’s waning shine!
The moon before the sun grows dim;
Thou art shattered by the sign of Him,
The conquering Prince. “Victoria!”
Shout Bethlehem and Golgotha.
An infant willingly hast lain,
And through the cross’s pain wert able
To give the victory over pain!
To pride the manger seems disgrace;
The cross a vile, unworthy place;
But what shall bring this pride down? Say!
’T is Bethlehem and Golgotha.
The Shepherd Stock, the Paschal Lamb;
And to the cross on Calvary
The pilgrimage of nations came.
Amidst the battle’s stormy toss,
All flew to splinters,—but the Cross;
As East and West encamping lay
Round Bethlehem and Golgotha.
But with the Spirit’s flag unfurled!
Let us subdue the Holy Land
As Christ himself subdued the world.
Let beams of light on every side
Fly, like Apostles, far and wide,
Till all men catch the beams that play
O’er Bethlehem and Golgotha.
Through Eastern climes I sought to roam;
This counsel have I found to tell,
Brought from my travels to my home:—
With staff and scallop do not crave
To see Christ’s cradle and his grave.
Turn inward! there in clearest day
View Bethlehem and Golgotha.
Upon his natal spot is bended?
What helps it, reverently to see
The grave from which he soon ascended?
Let him within thee find his birth;
And do thou die to things of earth,
And live him;—let this be for aye
Thy Bethlehem and Golgotha.