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| ONCE, amid the wondrous story of those thirty years and three, | |
| When the Godhead’s veiléd Glory shone through our humanity, | |
| Burst a sunlight transitory o’er that sorrow-darkened sea. | |
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| ’Twas within the holy city, briefest space ere He deceased, | |
| In His world-atoning pity Paschal Sacrifice and Priest, | 5 |
| Chaunting psalm and solemn ditty came the people to the feast. | |
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| Branch of palm before Him flinging, marched the multitude along; | |
| Little children with their singing joined the unpresumptuous throng, | |
| Joyous jubilates ringing filled Jerusalem with song. | |
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| Then it was from those far islands, dear to story and to fame, | 10 |
| From the classic vales and highlands dowered with a deathless name, | |
| Breaking, late, the world’s cold silence, strangers with their question came. | |
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| ‘We would see Him—Him whose finger stills the storm upon the wave; | |
| Him for whom the thousands linger health and benison to crave; | |
| Him the glorious God-like bringer of corruption from the grave.’ | 15 |
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| Oh! then, for that bitter weeping o’er His own dear nation’s doom, | |
| Came a smile of gladness creeping like a sunbeam on the gloom, | |
| Like a radiant angel keeping vigil o’er a dreary tomb. | |
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| For beyond the darkening vision of that lordly temple’s fall, | |
| Of the stern day of decision, and the Roman battle-call, | 20 |
| Rose a gleam of light elysian, of a day that dawned for all. | |
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| When from Sinim and from Thulé, from the islands of the sea, | |
| With their sacrifices duly, with their gold and silver free, | |
| Owning His allegiance truly, princes to his House should flee. | |
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| And His soul through myriad ages, through the travail of the years, | 25 |
| Solved the riddle of the sages, heard the music of the spheres, | |
| In the glad advancing stages of a world that knows no tears. | |
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| He who, with His Sire coeval, looked on earth as first it stood, | |
| Saw return the hours primeval, saw the universe renewed | |
| By the taming of the evil, and the triumph of the good: | 30 |
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| Earth’s great murmur hushed for ever; all the strife, and all the pain, | |
| All the fruitless wild endeavour for unsatisfying gain, | |
| Swallowed up in joy’s broad river, swelling to a boundless main. | |
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| But a shadow dark and fearful ere that light before Him lay, | |
| Of an agony all tearful, and a dark untrodden way | 35 |
| With no friendly voices cheerful, brightened by no heavenly ray. | |
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| And His human soul was troubled, like the troubling of the deep, | |
| When the gale with force redoubled lashes in a sudden sweep | |
| Wisps of foam that danced and bubbled, to a wild and angry leap. | |
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| And, could the Unchanging waver, seemed it as the fiend had power, | 40 |
| Working aye in our disfavour, man’s bright hope to overlour; | |
| Should He say, the world’s sole Saver, “Father, save Me from this hour?” | |
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| But, while listening angels wonder, weeping o’er earth’s sinful frame, | |
| Though His Heart be rent asunder, stands God’s purpose without blame— | |
| Hark! amid the answering thunder, “Father, glorify Thy Name.” | 45 |
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| Be it so! who suffers for us, answer to His prayer be given! | |
| By the universal chorus let the firmament be riven, | |
| While the ages travel o’er us, glorified with Him in heaven. | |
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