Hymns and Odes for Charity Occasions V

Faint, bleeding, of his robes bereft, "Ready to perish" by the way, 'Mid craggy wilds by robbers left, A lonely Jewish traveller lay. A priest of Judah, passing by, The sufferer saw, and help denied. A Levite toward him turned his eye, And "passed by on the other side." A traveller from Samaria came,-- Whose nation's bosom long had burned With hatred of the Jewish name,-- And toward the wounded stranger turned. As nearer, on his beast, he drew, A thrill of pity through him ran;-- He saw not there a hated Jew; He only saw a suffering man. He saw him;--from his own scant store Of oil and wine he filled his cup, From his own robe a bandage tore, And bathed his wounds and bound them up; On his own beast the sufferer laid, And to an hospitable shed Bore him,--for all his nursing paid, And left him on a grateful bed. "Go, do thou likewise!" Thus said He, Who gave the world this touching tale;-- We would do likewise, Lord, till we Tread, each alone, Death's shadowy vale.