TAKE up the cross which thou hast got, For love of Christ, and bear it not As Simon of Cyrene did, Compell'd to do as he was bid. "Pray, am not I, who cannot free "Myself, compell'd as much as he? "I cannot shun it, and, of course, "Must bear this heavy cross by force." What dost thou get then by disgust At bearing that, which bear thou must? Nothing abates the force of ill Like a resign'd and patient will. "'Tis true; but how shall I obtain "Such an abatement of my pain? "Compulsion tempts me to repine "At Simon's case becoming mine." Look then at JESUS gone before; Reflect on what thy SAVIOUR bore; Bore, tho' he could have been set free, @3Death@1 on the cross, for @3love@1 of thee. "He did so—Lord! what shall I say? "Do thou enable me to pray,— "If 'tis not possible to shun "This bitter cross—@3Thy will be done!"@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BETTER PART by MATTHEW ARNOLD JABBERWOCKY by CHARLES LUTWIDGE DODGSON THE RUBAIYAT, 1879 EDITION: 23 by OMAR KHAYYAM THE BABIE by JEREMIAH EAMES RANKIN A NEW PILGRIMAGE: 6 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT OBSERVATIONS IN THE ART OF ENGLISH POESY: 25. ELEGIAC VERSE: THE EIGHTH EPIGRAM by THOMAS CAMPION |