High hath He prized compassion. It shall be
The link uniting Man and Woman. See,
How in the midst of all this obloquy
Turns He to them, acknowledging they be
The only hearts to show Him sympathy.
The Women all are faithful. Fearlessly
Him have they followed, weeping. Therefore He,
Responsive to their pity, pityingly
Would them prepare for that dire destiny
So soon to fall on Judah's progeny.
Turns to them sadly: 'Weep ye not for Me,
But for yourselves and children. Verily,
Cometh the day when, happy they will be
Who barren are and childless. Since ye see
What woe befalls the green and living Tree,
'What for the dry and barren will it be? '
The Mother understands the prophecy:
His sorrows are her sorrows: 'Grieveth He
That for this deed shall Israel scattered be?
Oh, then in vain for Judah dieth He.'
The height is gained at length of Calvary:
It is the hour of sext. The sun is high:
The Sun of Justice lays Him down to die:
Aside the Mother turns: Saint John is nigh,
And Magdalen her hand takes, silently
Weeping for woe. But yet more cruelly
Torn with compassion, stands the Mother by.
The blows fall thick. 'My God, my Father, why,
Oh, why this awful Justice?' Tis the cry
Wrung from her heart, yet uttered mentally.
The Cross is raised: she takes her place hard by
Beneath the quivering Victim. Hear His cry:
'Father, forgive.' O God-like Clemency.
For this, dear Lord, Thou earnest. Thou didst die
To win the right to pardon righteously.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote