THE DAUGHTER, singing. BLIND Bartimeus at the gates | |
| Of Jericho in darkness waits; | |
| He hears the crowd;—he hears a breath | |
| Say, It is Christ of Nazareth! | |
| And calls, in tones of agony, | 5 |
| [Greek]! | |
| |
| The thronging multitudes increase: | |
| Blind Bartimeus, hold thy peace! | |
| But still, above the noisy crowd, | |
| The beggar’s cry is shrill and loud; | 10 |
| Until they say, He calleth thee! | |
| [Greek]! | |
| |
| Then saith the Christ, as silent stands | |
| The crowd, What wilt thou at my hands? | |
| And he replies, Oh, give me light! | 15 |
| Rabbi, restore the blind man’s sight! | |
| And Jesus answers, [Greek] | |
| [Greek]! | |
| |
| Ye that have eyes, yet cannot see, | |
| In darkness and in misery, | 20 |
| Recall those mighty voices three, | |
| [Greek]! | |
| [Greek]! | |
| [Greek]! | |
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THE MOTHER. Thy faith hath saved thee! Ah, how true that is! | 25 |
| For I had faith; and when the Master came | |
| Into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, fleeing | |
| From those who sought to slay Him, I went forth | |
| And cried unto Him, saying: Have mercy on me, | |
| O Lord, thou Son of David! for my daughter | 30 |
| Is grievously tormented with a devil. | |
| But He passed on, and answered not a word. | |
| And his disciples said, beseeching Him: | |
| Send her away! She crieth after us! | |
| And then the Master answered them and said: | 35 |
| I am not sent but unto the lost sheep | |
| Of the House of Israel! Then I worshipped Him, | |
| Saying: Lord, help me! And He answered me, | |
| It is not meet to take the children’s bread | |
| And cast it unto dogs! Truth, Lord, I said; | 40 |
| And yet the dogs may eat the crumbs which fall | |
| From off their master’s table; and He turned, | |
| And answered me; and said to me: O woman, | |
| Great is thy faith; then be it unto thee | |
| Even as thou wilt. And from that very hour | 45 |
| Thou wast made whole, my darling! my delight! | |
| |
THE DAUGHTER. There came upon my dark and troubled mind | |
| A calm, as when the tumult of the city | |
| Suddenly ceases, and I lie and hear | |
| The silver trumpets of the Temple blowing | 50 |
| Their welcome to the Sabbath. Still I wonder, | |
| That one who was so far away from me, | |
| And could not see me, by his thought alone | |
| Had power to heal me. Oh that I could see Him! | |
| |
THE MOTHER. Perhaps thou wilt; for I have brought thee here | 55 |
| To keep the holy Passover, and lay | |
| Thine offering of thanksgiving on the altar. | |
Thou mayst both see and hear Him. Hark!
VOICES afar off. Hosanna! | |
| |
THE DAUGHTER. A crowd comes pouring through the city gate! | |
O mother, look!
VOICE in the street. Hosanna to the Son | 60 |
Of David!
THE DAUGHTER. A great multitude of people | |
| Fills all the street; and riding on an ass | |
| Comes one of noble aspect, like a king! | |
| The people spread their garments in the way, | |
And scatter branches of the palm-trees!
VOICES. Blessed | 65 |
| Is He that cometh in the name of the Lord! | |
Hosanna in the highest!
OTHER VOICES. Who is this? | |
| |
VOICES. Jesus of Nazareth!
THE DAUGHTER. Mother, it is He! | |
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VOICES. He hath called Lazarus of Bethany | |
| Out of his grave, and raised him from the dead! | 70 |
Hosanna in the highest!
PHARISEES. Ye perceive | |
| That nothing we prevail. Behold, the world | |
Is all gone after him!
THE DAUGHTER. What majesty, | |
| What power is in that care-worn countenance! | |
| What sweetness, what compassion! I no longer | 75 |
Wonder that He hath healed me!
VOICES. Peace in heaven, | |
And glory in the highest!
PHARISEES. Rabbi! Rabbi! | |
Rebuke thy followers!
CHRISTUS. Should they hold their peace | |
| The very stones beneath us would cry out! | |
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THE DAUGHTER. All hath passed by me like a dream of wonder! | 80 |
| But I have seen Him, and have heard his voice, | |
| And I am satisfied! I ask no more! | |
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