Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Asia: Vols. XXI–XXIII. 1876–79. | | | | Syria: Capernaum | | Mary Magdalen | | Bartolomé Leonardo de Argensola (1562–1631) |
| | Translated by W. C. Bryant
BLESSED, yet sinful one, and broken-hearted! | |
| The crowd are pointing at the thing forlorn, | |
| In wonder and in scorn! | |
| Thou weepest days of innocence departed; | |
| Thou weepest, and thy tears have power to move | 5 |
| The Lord to pity and love. | |
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| The greatest of thy follies is forgiven, | |
| Even for the least of all the tears that shine | |
| On that pale cheek of thine. | |
| Thou didst kneel down, to Him who came from heaven, | 10 |
| Evil and ignorant, and thou shalt rise | |
| Holy and pure and wise. | |
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| It is not much that to the fragrant blossom | |
| The ragged brier should change, the bitter fir | |
| Distil Arabian myrrh! | 15 |
| Nor that, upon the wintry desert’s bosom | |
| The harvest should rise plenteous, and the swain | |
| Bear home the abundant grain. | |
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| But come and see the bleak and barren mountains | |
| Thick to their tops with roses; come and see | 20 |
| Leaves on the dry dead tree: | |
| The perished plant, set out by living fountains, | |
| Grows fruitful, and its beauteous branches rise, | |
| Forever, towards the skies. | | | | |
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