The Widow of Nain.
She bent in anguish o'er the dead, with tears embalmed his brow,
Grief had been hers in other days, yet oh! not such as now:
Tears had been hers, for she had seen her fondest hopes decay,
Beheld the husband of her youth borne to the tomb away.
Grief had been hers in other days, yet oh! not such as now:
Tears had been hers, for she had seen her fondest hopes decay,
Beheld the husband of her youth borne to the tomb away.
Yet in that sorrow's dismal hour she felt not quite bereft,
The solace of her widowed heart, her orphan child, was left;
And be had cheered her lonely life, had been her bosom's pride,
And fondly she beheld the boy up into manhood glide.
The solace of her widowed heart, her orphan child, was left;
And be had cheered her lonely life, had been her bosom's pride,
And fondly she beheld the boy up into manhood glide.
She joyous hailed her coming years, with their bliss-laden hours—
Alas! how short is human sight? how soon the woe-cloud lowers?
The darling of her heart is not, her eye's delight lies low,
His raven locks no longer dance upon his manly brow.
Alas! how short is human sight? how soon the woe-cloud lowers?
The darling of her heart is not, her eye's delight lies low,
His raven locks no longer dance upon his manly brow.
Ah,no! All now is motionless—the jetty curls at rest—
His young cheek paler than the shroud which wraps his pulseless breast;
Up to his mother's face no more his clear dark eye is raised;
She sees it 'neath the half-closed lid, but ah! 'tis dim and glazed.
His young cheek paler than the shroud which wraps his pulseless breast;
Up to his mother's face no more his clear dark eye is raised;
She sees it 'neath the half-closed lid, but ah! 'tis dim and glazed.
One kiss upon his marble brow, and cheek bereft of bloom,
And 'tis the last, for they await to bear him to the tomb;
Alas! how vain were human words a solace to impart!
None try to soothe the agony which rends her bleeding heart.
And 'tis the last, for they await to bear him to the tomb;
Alas! how vain were human words a solace to impart!
None try to soothe the agony which rends her bleeding heart.
She follows weeping to the grave her loved, her early dead,
And many a tear of sympathy by that sad group is shed,
For there the village youths are seen with whom he used to roam,
And mingle with the vintagers from toil returning home.
And many a tear of sympathy by that sad group is shed,
For there the village youths are seen with whom he used to roam,
And mingle with the vintagers from toil returning home.
A pause is made: a gentle voice falls on the mourner's ear;
Obedient to that mild command, they have laid down the bier;
Struck with astonishment, they bare the dead before His eyes,
As, bending o'er the shrouded one, He says, "Young man, arise."
Obedient to that mild command, they have laid down the bier;
Struck with astonishment, they bare the dead before His eyes,
As, bending o'er the shrouded one, He says, "Young man, arise."
A sudden glow darts through each vein, the ice of death is loosed,
His marble cheek is with a tinge of health and life suffused;
With adoration in its gaze, his re-illumined eye
Rests full upon the Saviour's face, which beams benignity.
His marble cheek is with a tinge of health and life suffused;
With adoration in its gaze, his re-illumined eye
Rests full upon the Saviour's face, which beams benignity.