Classic Poem

" Ah then, O man, from no chagrin exempted,
Blind by my passion, scourged by passion's rod,
I, by the Lord, omnipotent was tempted,
Ay, by the living God!

" He came unto me in my sad prostration
And cried: " Iscariot, hearken and obey!
If thou aspirest to thy soul's salvation,
Jesus thou must betray!

" " Here will thou suffer in the hopes thou leadest,
Here wilt thy life be piteous to foretell,
But if my most supreme command thou heedest,
In heaven thy soul shall dwell!"

" And then with this omniscient will superior
I struggled while I walked and while I slept,
Growing by doubts and passion each day wearier,
Ay, wearier, as I wept!

" " Surely!" I cried, bewildered, " oh! most surely
God hath ordained to try my soul undone;
He will protect my Christ who slumbers purely,
Jesus, who is His son!

" " I can obey Him, gaining sweet salvation,
And fly with radiant Mary unalarmed,
While God will strengthen Him in His probation,
And leave His soul unharmed!"

" This I resolved that day of dire disaster,
When walking with my brethren, side by side,
I went to sup with my beloved Master,
And sat me by His side.

" And he spake to us, when we were assembled:
" One of you present will betray me here!"
And then I murmured gladly, though I trembled:
" He knows and hath no fear!

" " He has divined my thought, and knows Jehovah
Has chosen me now His wishes to obey;
He knows His father's mandate, and moreover
That I am to betray!

" " And, when the deed is done, He, on the foemen,
Who dread His holihead with nameless dread,
Ay, on the cohorts and the rabble Roman,
Will nameless terror spread!"