Poems (Hale)/Mary at the Feet of Jesus
MARY AT THE FEET OF JESUS.
Humbly before her Master Mary knelt;
And as upon her cheek, the teardrop fell,
And bathed those feet so often turned to bless
The faithful soul, relying on his love,
She with her clustering hair the moisture wiped;
And kissed with the pure lip of holy love,
His feet, in whose blessed presence low she bowed.
Then o'er them with meek care the perfume poured,
More sweet than gales which blow from Eastern shores,
And breathe around the earth their soothing power.
And as upon her cheek, the teardrop fell,
And bathed those feet so often turned to bless
The faithful soul, relying on his love,
She with her clustering hair the moisture wiped;
And kissed with the pure lip of holy love,
His feet, in whose blessed presence low she bowed.
Then o'er them with meek care the perfume poured,
More sweet than gales which blow from Eastern shores,
And breathe around the earth their soothing power.
Was there a heart that could behold untouched
The holiest deed that woman e'er performed?
Never perchance those hands had held the cup
Of charity, to parched and dying lips,
Or bathed the feet of lone and sorrowing care.
That precious work was spurned, scorned by his heart,
Who never knew the blissful tear which flows,
From the blest consciousness of sins forgiven.
The holiest deed that woman e'er performed?
Never perchance those hands had held the cup
Of charity, to parched and dying lips,
Or bathed the feet of lone and sorrowing care.
That precious work was spurned, scorned by his heart,
Who never knew the blissful tear which flows,
From the blest consciousness of sins forgiven.
But list! what words fell from the lips of Him,
Who spake as never spake a mortal man?
Whose ear was opened to the unspoken thought,
Alike as to the uttered song of praise?
Breathed there resentment from his opening lip?
Sat there the frown of anger on his brow?
There nought was seen but sacred sympathy,
The smile of rapture for a soul redeemed
From earthly thoughts, to hopes of heaven.
Who spake as never spake a mortal man?
Whose ear was opened to the unspoken thought,
Alike as to the uttered song of praise?
Breathed there resentment from his opening lip?
Sat there the frown of anger on his brow?
There nought was seen but sacred sympathy,
The smile of rapture for a soul redeemed
From earthly thoughts, to hopes of heaven.
He spake,
And said to him, whose heart and lip had spurned
The holy deed, which hallows Mary's name;—
"Thine house I entered; but thou gavest me
No water for my feet; but with her tears,
She hath not ceased to wash them, wiping them
E'en with the clustering locks of her bowed head.
Thou gavest me no kiss; but since I came,
She hath not ceased in deep humility
To kiss my feet. Thou with the fragrant oil,
My head didst not anoint; but she hath wrought
A holy work on me, anointing me,
Even for my burial hour. Wherefore I say,
Her sins, though many, are forgiven her.
Much hath she loved, and wheresoe'er is preached
In the whole world, the Gospel of my word,
There also this, the work which she has wrought,
Shall be a sweet memorial of her name."
And said to him, whose heart and lip had spurned
The holy deed, which hallows Mary's name;—
"Thine house I entered; but thou gavest me
No water for my feet; but with her tears,
She hath not ceased to wash them, wiping them
E'en with the clustering locks of her bowed head.
Thou gavest me no kiss; but since I came,
She hath not ceased in deep humility
To kiss my feet. Thou with the fragrant oil,
My head didst not anoint; but she hath wrought
A holy work on me, anointing me,
Even for my burial hour. Wherefore I say,
Her sins, though many, are forgiven her.
Much hath she loved, and wheresoe'er is preached
In the whole world, the Gospel of my word,
There also this, the work which she has wrought,
Shall be a sweet memorial of her name."
Gently he turned him to the kneeling form,
And in the tones of mild encouragement,
He spake the words, thrice precious to her ear,
"Thy sins are pardoned; go in peace. Thy faith,
Humble yet mighty, hath redeemed thy soul."
And in the tones of mild encouragement,
He spake the words, thrice precious to her ear,
"Thy sins are pardoned; go in peace. Thy faith,
Humble yet mighty, hath redeemed thy soul."