Some tell the Pharisees

Raising of Lazarus.

(The Gospel History, Section 83)

But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things which Jesus had done.

Some tell the Pharisees

(The Saviour of the World, Vol VI Book I Poem I)

Should one rise from the dead,—
The Lord Himself hath said,—
It were of no avail,
Men’s doubts would still prevail:
So, men saw Lazarus rise
Nor yet believed their eyes!

As when a morn of light is drowned in gloom,
The wind veers west towards the bitter north,
The rain is edged with ice, the snow falls thick,
And men’s hearts fail them for the lack of cheer,—
So was it with those mourners round the tomb
Whence Lazarus came forth. They’d seen the whole;
They saw that cloud of Death whose heavy shade
Weighs down the lives of men lift up and roll
From the face of heaven, letting forth the light:
Hope was revealed; they thought they surely knew
What ’twas to hope; longing for this or that,
How many times they’d feared, yet hoped for good:
But, now, Hope rose transcendent as a god,
Compelling and fulfilling. But what art
Could show that radiant form or who portray;
Or shape in words the Resurrection joy?
A-tiptoe as for flight, the group stood round,
Each face illumined with the light of Hope,
A new conception, not yet brought to birth.

Then fell that sudden pall: a blast of doubt

From hearts a-cold blew chilling on all souls:
Those, unbelieving, told the Pharisees:
What was’t to them, Shadow of Death withdrawn?

St. John xi. 46.