| W. Garrett Horder, comp. The Poets’ Bible: New Testament. 1895. | | | | The Woman Who Came Behind Him in the Crowd | | George MacDonald (1824–1905) |
| | | NEAR him she stole, rank after rank; | |
| She feared approach too loud; | |
| She touched his garment’s hem, and shrank, | |
| Back in the sheltering crowd. | |
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| A shame-faced gladness thrills her frame: | 5 |
| Her twelve years’ fainting prayer | |
| Is heard at last; she is the same | |
| As other women there. | |
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| She hears his voice. He looks about, | |
| Ah! is it kind or good | 10 |
| To drag her secret sorrow out | |
| Before that multitude? | |
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| The eyes of men she dares not meet— | |
| On her they straight must fall: | |
| Forward she sped, and at his feet | 15 |
| Fell down, and told him all. | |
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| His presence makes a holy place; | |
| No alien eyes are there; | |
| Her shrinking shame finds god-like grace | |
| The covert of its care. | 20 |
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| “Daughter,” he said, “be of good cheer; | |
| Thy faith hath made thee whole,” | |
| With plenteous love, not healing mere, | |
| He would content her soul. | | | | |
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