My face they cover, though it be divine. Lest on their double-dark souls either shine: Servants and abjects flout me, they are wittie: Was ever grief like mine? And now I am deliver d unto death, Which each one cals for so with utmost breath, That he before me well-nigh suffereth : Was ever grief like mine? Weep not, deare friends, since I for both have wept The souldiers lead me to the common hall; Then with a scarlet robe they me aray; Which shews my bloud to be the onely way, Was ever grief like mine? Then on my head a crown of thorns I wear; So sits the earths great curse in Adams fall Upon my head; so I remove it all From th' earth unto my brows, and bear the thrall: Was ever grief like mine? Then with the reed they gave to me before, They strike my head, the rock from whence all store Of heav'nly blessings issue evermore: Was ever grief like mine? They bow their knees to me, and cry, Hail king! Yet since mans sceptres are as frail as reeds, Was ever grief like mine? The souldiers also spit upon that face Thus trimmed forth they bring me to the rout, They leade me in once more, and putting then Was ever grief like mine? And now wearie of sport, glad to ingrosse Was ever grief like mine? My crosse I bear my self, untill I faint: Was ever grief like mine? O all ye who passe by, behold and see: Man stole the fruit, but I must climbe the tree; The tree of life to all, but onely me: Was ever grief like mine? Lo, here I hang, charg'd with a world of sinne, Was ever grief like mine? Such sorrow, as if sinful man could feel, But, O my God, my God! why leav'st thou me, Never was grief like mine? Shame tears my soul, my bodie many a wound; Sharp nails pierce this, but sharper that confound; Reproches, which are free, while I am bound: Was ever grief like mine? G Now heal thyself, Physician; now come down. And fathers smile for you, to feel his frown: In healing not myself, there doth consist Was ever grief like mine? Betwixt two theeves I spend my utmost breath, Alas! what have I stollen from you? death: Was ever grief like mine? A king my title is, prefixt on high; Yet by my subjects am condemn'd to die A servile death in servile companie : Was ever grief like mine? They gave me vinegar mingled with gall, Was ever grief like mine? They part my garments, and by lot dispose Was ever grief like mine? But now I die; now all is finished. My wo, man's weal: and now I bow my head: Onely let others say, when I am dead, Never was grief like mine. GEORGE HERBERT. 53 THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST. As for Him (The blessed Jesus), He was a worm and no man, a very scorn of men, and the outcast of the people. (Ps. xxii. 6.) And they that did see Him, did laugh Him to scorn; they did shoot out their lips, and shake their heads, saying, (Ps. xxii. 7.) He trusted in God that He would deliver Him; let Him deliver Him, if He will have Him. (xxii. 8.) But Thou (O God) wert He that took Him out of His mother's womb; Thou wast His hope when He hanged yet upon his mother's breasts. (Ps. xxii. 9.) He was left unto Thee, ever since He was born; Thou wert His God, even from His mother's womb. (xxii. 10.) Thou didst not go far from Him when trouble was hard at hand, and there was none to help Him. (xxii. 11.) Many oxen came about Him, fat bulls of Basan closed Him in on every side. (xxii. 12.) They gaped upon Him with their mouths, as it were a ramping, and a roaring lion. (xxii. 13.) He was poured out like water, all His bones |