James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902.
June 24Saint John the Baptist
By William Drummond (15851649)June 24, St. John’s Day
T
Girt with rough skins, hies to the deserts wild,
Among that savage brood the woods forth bring,
Which he more harmless found than man, and mild.
With honey that from virgin hives distilled;
Parched body, hollow eyes, some uncouth thing
Made him appear, long since from earth exiled.
On God, with me amid these deserts mourn,
Repent, repent, and from old errors turn!
—Who listened to his voice, obeyed his cry?
Rung from their flinty caves, Repent! Repent!