Classic Poem

PARABLE XXXIII.

The Good Samaritan

A certain councellor arose,
And, tempting him, did this propose,
What duties, master, must I do,
To gain eternal life with you?
‘What's in the written law decreed?’
The Lord reply'd, ‘how dost thou read?’
He answer'd, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord
‘Thy God with all thy heart's accord,
‘With all thy soul to him inclin'd,
‘And all thy strength, and all thy mind,
‘And as thyself and special end
‘Thy neighbour and his wealth befriend.’
The Lord replies, ‘Thou answer'st well;
‘This do, thou shalt in safety dwell’
But he, desirous to evade,
And justify his practice, said,
‘O Lord, and out of all mankind,
‘Pray, where must I my neighbour find?’
Then Jesus answer'd,—‘On a day
‘A certain trav'ller took his way,
‘Bound from Jerusalem to go
‘A journey far as Jericho,
‘And thieves encount'ring in his course,
‘They stripp'd him of his cloaths by force,
‘And, when with many wounds he bled,
‘Departed, leaving him for dead
‘By chance there came unto the place
‘A priest, who when he saw the case,
‘Pass'd over on the other side:
‘A Levite in likewise espy'd,
‘And pass'd off from the wounded man
‘But, haply, a Samaritan,
‘As he was trav'lling where he lay,
‘With pity did his case survey,
‘And where he maimed was and bruis'd,
‘Bound up, and oil and wine infus'd;
‘Then mounting on his beast he leads,
‘And to an inn with caution speeds:
‘And on the morrow when he went,
‘He took out two pence to content
‘The host, and gave him charge, Take care,
‘Whatever more in this affair
‘Thou spendest, I will thee repay
‘Whene'er I come again this way
‘Which person, therefore, can'st thou tell,
‘Was neighbour unto him that fell
‘Amongst the thieves?’—The man (he cries)
That saw his wounds with pitying eyes.
Then Jesus answer'd, ‘Get thee hence,
‘And imitate benevolence.’