He Who Was Crucified

Thou who wert hanged upon the tree,
And wert crucified by the condemnation of the people,
Now that I am grown old and grey.
Take to my confession-prayer, O God ! pity.
No wonder to me great is my wickedness,
I am a poor clattering cymbal,
In my youth I was profane.
In my age I am forlorn.
A time ere came the Son of God,
The earth was a black morass,
Without star, without sun, without moon,
Without body, without heart, without form.
Illumined plains, illumined hills,
Illumined the great green sea,
Illumined the whole globe together.
When the Son of God came to earth.
Then it was that spoke the Mary of grace,
The Virgin always most kindly and wise.
When Joseph gave to her his love.
He desired to be often in her presence.
A compact there was between Joseph and Virgin,
In order well-becoming and just,
That the compact might be confirmed
By the seal of the Great King of laws
They went with him to the Temple of God,
Where the clerics sat within :
As ordained of the Great High King,
They married ere they came out.
An angel came afterwards : —
' Joseph, why excited thou ? '
' I got a woman from the clerics,
It is not natural for me to be calm.'
' Joseph, abide thou by thy reason.
Not enlightened of thee to find fault,
What thou hast gotten is a virgin pure,
On whom man never put hand.'
' How can I believe that from thee ?
I myself, my grief! have knowledge —
When I laid me down by her shoulder
A living child beneath her girdle throbbed.'