Goblin Market and Other Poems (1862)/The Three Enemies
THE THREE ENEMIES.
THE FLESH.
"Sweet, thou art pale.""More pale to see,Christ hung upon the cruel treeAnd bore His Father's wrath for me."
"Sweet, thou art sad.""Beneath a rodMore heavy, Christ for my sake trodThe winepress of the wrath of God."
"Sweet, thou art weary.""Not so Christ:Whose mighty love of me sufficedFor Strength, Salvation, Eucharist."
"Sweet, thou art footsore.""If I bleed,His feet have bled: yea, in my needHis Heart once bled for mine indeed."
THE WORLD."Sweet, thou art young.""So He was youngWho for my sake in silence hungUpon the Cross with Passion wrung."
"Look, thou art fair.""He was more fairThan men, Who deigned for me to wearA visage marred beyond compare."
"And thou hast riches.""Daily bread:All else is His; Who living, dead,For me lacked where to lay His Head."
"And life is sweet.""It was not soTo Him, Whose Cup did overflowWith mine unutterable woe."
THE DEVIL."Thou drinkest deep.""When Christ would supHe drained the dregs from out my cup:So how should I be lifted up?"
"Thou shalt win Glory.""In the skies,Lord Jesus, cover up mine eyesLest they should look on vanities."
"Thou shalt have Knowledge.""Helpless dust!In Thee, O Lord, I put my trust:Answer Thou for me, Wise and Just."
"And Might."—"Get thee behind me. Lord,Who hast redeemed and not abhorredMy soul, oh keep it by Thy Word."