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Home  »  The Poets’ Bible  »  St. Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

W. Garrett Horder, comp. The Poets’ Bible: New Testament. 1895.

St. Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

John Keble (1792–1866)

*****
’TWAS silent all and dead

Beside the barren sea,

Where Philip’s steps were led,

Led by a voice from Thee—

He rose and went, nor ask’d Thee why,

Nor stay’d to heave one faithless sigh:

Upon his lonely way

The high-born traveller came,

Reading a mournful lay

Of “One who bore our shame,

Silent Himself, His name untold,

And yet His glories were of old.”

To muse what Heaven might mean

His wandering brow he rais’d,

And met an eye serene

That on him watchful gaz’d.

No hermit e’er so welcome cross’d

A child’s lone path in woodland lost.

Now wonder turns to love;

The scrolls of sacred lore

No darksome mazes prove;

The desert tires no more:

They bathe where holy waters flow,

Then on their way rejoicing go.

They part to meet in heaven;

But of the joy they share,

Absolving and forgiven,

The sweet remembrance bear.

Yes—mark him well, ye cold and proud,

Bewilder’d in a heartless crowd,

Starting and turning pale

At Rumour’s angry din—

No storm can now assail

The charm he wears within,

Rejoicing still, and doing good,

And with the thought of God imbu’d.

No glare of high estate,

No gloom of woe or want,

The radiance can abate

Where Heaven delights to haunt.

Sin only hides the genial ray,

And, round the Cross, makes night of day.

Then weep it from thy heart;

So may’st thou duly learn

The intercessor’s part,

Thy prayers and tears may earn

For fallen souls some healing breath,

Ere they have died th’ Apostate’s death.