Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893.
Christus: A MysteryPart I. The Divine Tragedy. The Second Passover. X. Born Blind
Is it not he who used to sit and beg
By the Gate Beautiful?
Was blind from birth. It cannot be the same.
And put it on mine eyes, and said to me:
Go to Siloam’s Pool and wash thyself.
I went and washed, and I received my sight.
Gathered about a beggar? What has happened?
And now he sees. He says a man called Jesus
Hath healed him.
How was this done?
Upon mine eyes; I washed, and now I see.
Because he keepeth not the Sabbath day!
Such miracles?
That hath restored thy sight?
A beggar’s fiction. He was not born blind,
And never has been blind!
Ask them.
We know this is our son.
It was the Christ, we shall be driven forth
Out of the Synagogue! We know, Rabboni,
This is our son, and that he was born blind;
But by what means he seeth, we know not,
Or who his eyes hath opened, we know not.
He is of age; ask him; we cannot say;
He shall speak for himself.
We know the man that healed thee is a sinner!
One thing I know; that whereas I was blind,
I now do see.
What did he do?
Ye did not hear: why would ye hear again?
Will ye be his disciples?
Are we demoniacs, are we halt or blind,
Or palsy-stricken, or lepers, or the like,
That we should join the Synagogue of Satan,
And follow jugglers? Thou art his disciple,
But we are disciples of Moses; and we know
That God spake unto Moses; but this fellow,
We know not whence he is!
A marvellous thing! Ye know not whence He is,
Yet He hath opened mine eyes! We know that God
Heareth not sinners; but if any man
Doeth God’s will, and is his worshipper,
Him doth He hear. Oh, since the world began
It was not heard that any man hath opened
The eyes of one that was born blind. If He
Were not of God, surely He could do nothing!
And in iniquities, dost thou teach us?
Away with thee out of the holy places,
Thou reprobate, thou beggar, thou blasphemer!