| W. Garrett Horder, comp. The Poets’ Bible: New Testament. 1895. | | | | “They know not what They do” | | Thomas Toke Lynch (1818–1871) |
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TO-DAY they “know not what they do;” | |
| To-morrow, when they see | |
| Their deed, how cruel, must they rue | |
| Wrong done half-wittingly? | |
| When trembling they for mercy sue, | 5 |
| Wilt Thou severely say, | |
| “Your hands in blood ye did imbrue; | |
| Die, then:” and turn away? | |
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| No, that be far from Thee, to break | |
| These penitents so bruised, | 10 |
| Whose hearts for that wild error ache, | |
| They did with minds confused: | |
| Their sin, that made the dull earth shake, | |
| The speechless heavens grow black, | |
| Thy Mercy quite away can take, | 15 |
| When Love comes conqueror back,— | |
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| Love, stronger than the grave and hell, | |
| Than fire and frozen death,— | |
| To be Life’s cool, eternal well, | |
| Life’s mild, eternal breath. | 20 |
| Sweet sap within the Cross shall swell, | |
| Green branches round it twine, | |
| That heavenly fruits to earth may tell | |
| This sorrow was divine. | | | | |
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