Page:Wife of Beith (5).pdf/21

21 The forlorn son when he repented.

Obtain'd his father's full remission.

I spar'd my judgment many times,

And sp'rtual pastors did thee send;

But thou renew'd'st thy former crimes,

Aye more and more me to offend.

My Lord, quoth she, I do amend,

Lamenting for my former vice,

The poor thief at the latter end,

For one word went to paradise.

The thief heard never of my teachings,

My heavenly precepts and my laws,

But thou wast daily at my preachings,

Both heard and saw and yet misknows.

Master; quoth she, the scriptures shows,

The Jewish woman who play'd the lown

Conform unto the Hebrew laws,

Was brought to thee to be put down;

But neverthless thou let'st her go,

And made the Pharisee's afraid.

Indeed, says Christ, it was right so,

And that my bidding was obey'd,

Woman, he said, I may not cast,

The children's bread to dogs like thee,

Although my mercies yet do last,

There's mercy here, but none for thee,

But, loving Lord, may I presume,

Poor worm that I may speak again,

The dogs for hunger were undone,

And for the crumbs they were right fain;