"THO' all forsake thee, master, yet not I; "I'll go to prison with thee, or to die," Said Peter—yet how soon did he deny! A striking proof, that, even to good-will, The help of grace is necessary still, To save a soul from falling into ill. His Master told him how the case would be, But Peter could not see himself,—not he; Till grace withdrew, that he might come to see. Peter, so valiant on a selfish plan, Quite frighted by a servant maid, began To curse and swear, and did @3not know the Man.@1 'Twas thus that @3satan sifted him like wheat@1, And made him think his courage was so great; While JESUS pray'd that he might see the cheat. High-minded in himself, he fell—how low, The cock instructed him, foretold to crow: His real self then Peter came to know. He that would @3die@1 with him, tho' all forsook, Dissolv'd in tears, when JESUS gave a look; And learn'd humility by love's rebuke. Lesson for us is plain from Peter's case, That real virtue is the work of @3grace@1, And of its height @3humility@1 the base. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OUR GOOD PRESIDENT by PHOEBE CARY DEAD COW FARM by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES LAST SONNET (REVISED VERSION) by JOHN KEATS FROM THE ANTIQUE (1) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI DEAD MEN, TO A METAPHYSICIAN by WILLIAM HERVEY ALLEN JR. |