Classic Poem

The Samaritan woman (such good fortune befell)
She found Jesus sitting one day at the well.
O bride of Heaven!
Desired and beloved!

Jesus said to her: “Woman,
Give me drink of this water.”
“Oh, no indeed, Señor,
'T is too hard work to draw it.”
“Thou wilt give me to drink,
I am sure, of this water,
If I tell thee thy fortune,
All thy life as I saw it.”

“I will give you the water,
Divine if you 're able.”
“Three lovers thou hast
Who sit at thy table;
The first is called James,
The second is Peter,
The third is called Saviour,
For the world he is saving.”
“Oh, drink again, Señor;
No water is sweeter.”
“No water I crave,
Who for thy soul am craving.”

She filled all her jars,
To her own house returning;
There she found the three lovers,
The house they were keeping.
The first of the lovers,
The floor he was sweeping;
The second was busy
To keep the fire burning;
But the third lover stood
In the roadway and waited.
He called out, the youngest:
“Why are you belated?”

“Go away, O my lovers!
Depart from my dwelling!
I have found a strange youth,
My whole life he 's been telling.”
“'T is most likely a devil,
To tempt you to sinning!”
“There was never a devil
So angelic and winning.”

Once more to the fountain
The jars she has taken;
But no one she finds there,
The place is forsaken.
She lifts up the jars,
And homeward is bound, then.
About half-way along,
A stone cross she found, then.

She falls down on her knees,
Her clasped hands upholding;
With both arms the cross
To her heart she is folding.
As she beats with a stone
On her breast sad and burdened,
She hears a voice crying:
“Behold! thou art pardoned!”