| W. Garrett Horder, comp. The Poets’ Bible: New Testament. 1895. | | | | Pilate’s Wife | | George MacDonald (1824–1905) |
| | | WHY came in dreams the low-born man, | |
| Between thee and thy rest; | |
| For vain thy whispered message ran, | |
| Though justice was thy quest? | |
| |
| Did some young ignorant angel dare— | 5 |
| Not knowing what must be, | |
| Or blind with agony of care— | |
| To fly for help to thee? | |
| |
| It may be. Rather I believe, | |
| Thou, nobler than thy spouse, | 10 |
| The rumoured grandeur did’st receive, | |
| And sit with pondering brows, | |
| |
| Until thy maidens’ gathered tale | |
| With possible marvel teems: | |
| Thou sleepest, and the prisoner pale | 15 |
| Returneth in thy dreams. | |
| |
| Well mightst thou suffer things not few | |
| For his sake all the night! | |
| In pale eclipse he suffers, who | |
| Is of the world the light. | 20 |
| |
| Precious it were to know thy dream | |
| Of such a one as he! | |
| Perhaps of him we, waking, deem | |
| As poor a verity. | | | | |
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