Poems of Felicia Hemans in The Winter's Wreath, 1828/The Penitent's Offering
From The Ladies' Garland, 29th September, 1827
THE PENITENT’S OFFERING.*[1]
(BY MRS, HEMANS.)
Thou, that with pallid cheek,
And eyes in sadness meek,
And faded locks that humbly swept the ground,
From thy long wanderings won,
Before the all-healing Son,
Didst bow thee to the earth, oh lost and found!
When thou would'st bathe his feet,
With odours richly sweet,
And many a shower of woman's burning tears,
And dry them with that hair,
Brought low the dust to wear,
From the crowned beauty of its festal years.
Did He reject thee then,
While the sharp scorn of men
On thy once bright and stately head was cast?
No, from the Saviour’s mein,
A solemn light serene,
Bore to thy soul the peace of God at last!
For thee, their smiles no more
Familiar faces wore;
Voices, once kind, had learned the stranger's tone.
Who raised thee up, and bound
Thy silent spirit’s wound?
He, from all guilt the stainless, He alone!
But which, oh erring child!
From home so long beguiled,
Which of thine offerings won those words of Heaven,
That o'er the bruised reed
Condemned of earth to bleed,
In music passed, "Thy sins are all forgiven!"
Was it that perfume fraught
With balm and incense brought
From the sweet words of Araby the blest?
Or that fast flowing rain
Of tears, which not in vain
To Him who scorned not tears, thy woes confessed?
No, not by these restored
Unto thy Father's board,
Thy peace, that kindled joy in Heaven, was made;
But costlier in his eyes,
By that best sacrifice,
Thy heart, thy full deep heart, before Him laid.
- ↑ * St. Luke, chap. vii. ver, 37 and 38.