| |
Translated by N. L. Frothingham
IN Bethlehem He first arose, | |
| 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, | 5 |
| Through strange scenes of the Morning Land; | |
| But naught so great did I survey | |
| As Bethlehem and Golgotha. | |
| |
| The ancient wonders of the world | |
| Here rose aloft,—the mighty Seven; | 10 |
| 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 | 15 |
| But Bethlehem and Golgotha. | |
| |
| Cease, Pyramids of Egypt, cease! | |
| The toil that built you never gave | |
| The faintest thought of Death’s great peace,— | |
| ’T was but the darkness of a grave. | 20 |
| Ye Sphinxes, in colossal stone! | |
| The riddle Life an unread one | |
| Ye left;—the answer found its way | |
| Through Bethlehem and Golgotha. | |
| |
| O Rocknabad, earth’s Paradise, | 25 |
| 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. | 30 |
| Look up! There comes a deathless ray | |
| From Bethlehem and Golgotha. | |
| |
Thou C ba! black stone of the waste, | |
| At which the feet of half our line | |
| Yet stumble. Stand, now, proudly braced | 35 |
| 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. | 40 |
| |
| O Thou, who in a shepherd-stable | |
| 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; | 45 |
| The cross a vile, unworthy place; | |
| But what shall bring this pride down? Say! | |
| ’T is Bethlehem and Golgotha. | |
| |
| The Magi kings went forth to see | |
| The Shepherd Stock, the Paschal Lamb; | 50 |
| 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 | 55 |
| Round Bethlehem and Golgotha. | |
| |
| O, march we not in martial band, | |
| But with the Spirit’s flag unfurled! | |
| Let us subdue the Holy Land | |
| As Christ himself subdued the world. | 60 |
| 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. | |
| |
| With pilgrim staff and scallop-shell | 65 |
| 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. | 70 |
| Turn inward! there in clearest day | |
| View Bethlehem and Golgotha. | |
| |
| O heart! what helps it, that the knee | |
| Upon his natal spot is bended? | |
| What helps it, reverently to see | 75 |
| 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. | 80 |
| |
