Poem by Anna Laetitia Barbauld

Hymn 4 (Behold, where breathing love divine)

BEHOLD, where breathing love divine,
 Our dying Master stands!
His weeping followers gathering round
 Receive his last commands.

From that mild teacher's parting lips
 What tender accents fell!
The gentle precept which he gave
 Became its author well.

"Bless'd is the man, whose soft'ning heart
 "Feels all another's pain;
"To whom the supplicating eye
 "Was never rais'd in vain.

"Whose bread expands with generous warmth
 "A stranger's woes to feel;
"And bleeds in pity o'er the wound
 "He wants the power to heal.

"He spreads his kind supporting arms
 "To every child of grief;
"His secret bounty largely flows,
 "And brings unask'd relief.

"To gentle offices of love
 "His feet are never slow;
"He views thro' mercy's melting eye
 "A brother in a foe.

"Peace from the bosom of his God,
 "My peace to him I give;
"And when he kneels before the throne,
 "His trembling soul shall live.

"To him protection shall be shewn,
 "And mercy from above
"Descend on those who thus fulfil
 "The perfect law of love." 

1. To a Lady, with painted Flowers
2. An Inventory of the Furniture in Dr. Priestley's Study
3. The Invitation, to Miss B—
4. Song 3 (LEAVE me, simple shepherd, leave me)
5. Song 4 (WHEN gentle Celia first I knew)

Print

1484 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version