| W. Garrett Horder, comp. The Poets’ Bible: New Testament. 1895. | | | | Christ at Emmaus | | William Cowper (1731–1800) |
| | | IT happen’d on a solemn eventide, | |
| Soon after He that was our surety died, | |
| Two bosom friends, each pensively inclined, | |
| The scene of all those sorrows left behind, | |
| Sought their own village, busied as they went | 5 |
| In musings worthy of the great event: | |
| They spake of Him they loved, of Him whose life, | |
| Though blameless, had incurred perpetual strife, | |
| Whose deeds had left, in spite of hostile acts, | |
| A deep memorial graven on their hearts. | 10 |
| The recollection, like a vein of ore | |
| The farther traced, enrich’d them still the more; | |
| They thought Him, and they justly thought Him, one | |
| Sent to do more than He appear’d to have done; | |
| To exalt a people, and to place them high | 15 |
| Above all else, and wondered He should die. | |
| Ere yet they brought their journey to an end, | |
| A stranger joined them, courteous as a friend, | |
| And asked them, with a kind engaging air, | |
| What their affliction was, and begged a share. | 20 |
| Inform’d, He gathered up the broken thread, | |
| And, truth and wisdom gracing all He said, | |
| Explained, illustrated, and searched so well | |
| The tender theme on which they chose to dwell, | |
| That, reaching home, the night, they said, is near, | 25 |
| We must not now be parted, sojourn here.— | |
| The new acquaintance soon became a guest, | |
| And made so welcome at their simple feast, | |
| He bless’d the bread, but vanished at the word, | |
| And left them both exclaiming, ’Twas the Lord! | 30 |
| Did not our hearts feel all He deign’d to say, | |
| Did not they burn within us by the way? | | | | |
|
|
