| |
| SHE knelt, she bore a bold request, | |
| Though shy to speak it out; | |
| Ambition, even in mother’s breast, | |
| Before him stood in doubt. | |
| |
| “What is it?” “These my sons, allow | 5 |
| To sit on thy right hand | |
| And on thy left, O Lord, when thou | |
| Art ruler in the land.” | |
| |
| “Ye know not what ye ask.” There lay | |
| A baptism and a cup | 10 |
| They understood not, in the way | |
| By which he must go up. | |
| |
| She would have had them lifted high | |
| Above their fellow-men; | |
| Sharing their pride with mother-eye, | 15 |
| Had been blest mother then. | |
| |
| But would she praise for granted quest, | |
| Counting her prayer well heard, | |
| If of the three on Calvary’s crest | |
| They shared the first and third? | 20 |
| |
| She knoweth neither way nor end; | |
| There comes a dark despair, | |
| When she will doubt if this great friend | |
| Can answer any prayer. | |
| |
| Yet higher than her love can dare, | 25 |
| His love her sons will set: | |
| They shall his cup and baptism share, | |
| And share his kingdom yet. | |
| |
| They, entering at his palace-door, | |
| Shall shun the lofty seat; | 30 |
| Shall gird themselves, and water pour, | |
| And wash each other’s feet. | |
| |
| For in thy kingdom, lowly Lord, | |
| Who sit with thee on high | |
| Are those who tenderest help afford | 35 |
| In most humility. | |
| |
