Perplexing me with lies; and oft I fall, Maybe for months, in such blind lethargies, Bethink thee, Lord, while thou and all the saints Sit with their wives by fires, eat wholesome food, Bow down one thousand and two hundred times To Christ, the Virgin Mother, and the Saints; I wake the chill stars sparkle; I am wet O Lord, thou knowest what a man I am; 'Tis their own doing; this is none of mine ; Lay it not to me. Am I to blame for this, That here come those that worship me? Ha ha! They think that I am somewhat. What am I? And bring me offerings of fruit and flowers : Good people, you do ill to kneel to me. I am a sinner viler than you all. It may be I have wrought some miracles, And cured some halt and maim'd; but what of that? It may be, no one, even among the saints, May match his pains with mine. But what of that? Yet do not rise for you may look on me, I think you know I have some power with Heaven Yes, I can heal him. Power goes forth from me. They say that they are heal'd. Ah, hark! they shout "St. Simeon Stylites." Why, if so, God reaps a harvest in me. O my soul, God reaps a harvest in thee. If this be, Can I work miracles and not be saved? This is not told of any. They were saints. It cannot be but that I shall be saved; Yea, crown'd a saint. They shout, "Behold a saint!" And lower voices saint me from above. Courage, St. Simeon ! This dull chrysalis Cracks into shining wings, and hope ere death Spreads more and more and more, that God hath now Sponged and made blank of crimeful record all My mortal archives. O my sons, my sons, I, Simeon of the pillar, by surname The watcher on the column till the end; From my high nest of penance here proclaim Abaddon and Asmodeus caught at me. I smote them with the cross; they swarm'd again. In bed like monstrous apes they crush'd my chest. They flapp'd my light out as I read I saw : Their faces grow between me and my book : With colt-like whinny and with hoggish whine They burst my prayer. Yet this way was left, Your flesh, like me, with Scourges and with thorns ; To make me an example to mankind, Which few can reach to. Yet I do not say But that a time may come—yea, even now, Now, now, his footsteps smite the threshold stairs When you may worship me without reproach; And you may carve a shrine about my dust, While I spake then, a sting of shrewdest pain These heavy, horny eyes. The end! the end! That holds a crown? Come, blessed brother, come. I know thy glittering face. I waited long ; My brows are ready. What deny it now? Nay, draw, draw, draw nigh. So I clutch it. Christ! 'Tis gone 'tis here again; the crown! the crown! So now 'tis fitted on and grows to me, And from it melt the dews of Paradise, |