WHY JESUS WEPT 
5 
He was the bravest soul man ever met 
In court or camp or solitude — then why 
Stands his pale forehead in an icy sweat ? 
He mutters in his beard this rune awry : 
“ There lives no soul undrugged that feareth not to die.” 
 
Lo !  were it otherwise, mere banishment, 
I deem he had feared more !  He had an heir. 
This was a boy of strength with ardour blent, 
High hope embowered in a body fair. 
Him had he watched with eager eye, aware 
Of misery occult in youth, awake 
At the first touch of the diviner air 
Of manhood, that could bane and blessing make, 
The Lord of Life and Death, the secret of the Snake. 
 
The snake of Egypt hath a body twin ; 
It hath bright wings wherewith it well can fly ; 
It is of virtue and of bitter sin ; 
It beareth strength and beauty in its eye ; 
Beneath its tongue are Hate and Misery ; 
Love in its coils is hidden, and its nature 
Is double everyway ; dost wonder why 
The poet worships every scaléd feature, 
And holds him lordliest yet of every kingly creature ? 
 
Sir Percival nor moved nor spoke ; awhile 
There is black silence in the ancient hall. 
Then cometh subtly with well-trainéd smile