A Reed by the River/On a Judean House-top
ON A JUDEAN HOUSE-TOP
"The eyes of the child wax dim, my lord; is there none, is there none to save?"
"The doves are slain and the lamb is burned; such as I had I gave."
"Lift up thy face and behold, my lord, how chill and white is his brow!"
"I would blinded be that I may not see the death of my first-born now."
"The doves are slain and the lamb is burned; such as I had I gave."
"Lift up thy face and behold, my lord, how chill and white is his brow!"
"I would blinded be that I may not see the death of my first-born now."
"Nay, beat thy breast, cry aloud, my lord! Perchance thy God may hear!
Hath Judah another grief-torn mother so maddened by pain and fear?
I would that the maiden might return, who fared from our door this day!
Most sweet she smiled on my little child, most weary had been her way.
Hath Judah another grief-torn mother so maddened by pain and fear?
I would that the maiden might return, who fared from our door this day!
Most sweet she smiled on my little child, most weary had been her way.
"Methinks she yearned with a mother's heart and plead with a mother's eyes;
It would ease my woe this night to know that sheltered somewhere she lies.
Behold yon light over Bethlehem's plain,—but the dark, the dark it is mine!
Now raise the child to the east, my lord, and pray thy God for a sign!
It would ease my woe this night to know that sheltered somewhere she lies.
Behold yon light over Bethlehem's plain,—but the dark, the dark it is mine!
Now raise the child to the east, my lord, and pray thy God for a sign!
"If life shall come to the rose of my heart, ere the eyes with death wax dim,
By yonder star, I shall know there are no gods for our prayers save Him!
If life shall come to the blossom-like hands that cling, that cling to my breast,
By the star, will I go to the city below and summon that maid to rest!
········
"Behold, the babe is swathed in its light! T is a sign, 't is a sign of grace!
His limbs are bathed in the beams of white, and he smiles he smiles in my face!
There is wonder abroad in the night, my lord, and strange is the sky afar!
Now God be praised, be praised for my child! He sleeps in the light of the star!"
By yonder star, I shall know there are no gods for our prayers save Him!
If life shall come to the blossom-like hands that cling, that cling to my breast,
By the star, will I go to the city below and summon that maid to rest!
········
"Behold, the babe is swathed in its light! T is a sign, 't is a sign of grace!
His limbs are bathed in the beams of white, and he smiles he smiles in my face!
There is wonder abroad in the night, my lord, and strange is the sky afar!
Now God be praised, be praised for my child! He sleeps in the light of the star!"