Two savings of the Holy Scriptures beat Like pulses in the Church's brow and breast; And by them we find rest in our unrest And, heart deep in salt-tears, do yet entreat God's fellowship as if on heavenly seat. The first is Jesus wept, whereon is prest Full many a sobbing face that drops its best And sweetest waters on the record sweet: And one is where the Christ, denied and scorned Looked upon Peter. Oh, to render plain By help of having loved a little and mourned, That look of sovran love and sovran pain Which He, who could not sin yet suffered, turned On him who could reject but not sustain!
Return to the Elizabeth Barrett Browning library , or . . . Read the next poem; The Weakest Thing