THE POOL OF BETHESDA. "That there should be one man die ignorant, who had a capacity for knowledge, this I call a tragedy." THOMAS CARLYLE. PALE, weary watcher by Bethesda's pool, Listen! and thou shalt hear the unearthly tread At his approach, once more the troubled wave THE POOL OF BETHESDA. Ah! then his spirit feels a deeper grief, When o'er the rippling surface healing flows; Healing, and strength, and cure for all his woe, No cure for him! No friend is watching there, whose anxious love Others stepped in! Oh ye! who idly pass unheeding by, Knew ye the sickening pang of hope delayed, Your listless steps would eagerly press nigh, And give him aid. Ah! wretched lot, of gnawing want to die, 75 76 THE POOL OF BETHESDA. Yet sadder far, to him who reads aright To see the impervious clouds of prejudice, Then if thy spirit freedom, knowledge drink, Hopeless, and helpless, vainly did He turn Yet found them both in ONE, whose heart did burn 1844. SONNET, TO THE SISTER OF AN OLD SCHOOLFELLOW. "HEAVEN lies about us in our infancy!" As we were wont in hours so fair and fleet, In robes more white than our first innocence! A WORD FOR PEACE. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you."-ST. JOHN xiv. 27. If such the legacy bequeathed By JESUS to his own; If such his meek injunctions, breathed How should his lowly followers fight, His kingdom is not of this world! The banner from his cross unfurled, The Christian's warfare is within! With pride and passion, self and sin! |