Why came in dreams the low-born man <br />Between thee and thy rest? <br />In vain thy whispered message ran, <br />Though justice was its quest! <br /> <br />Did some young ignorant angel dare- <br />Not knowing what must be, <br />Or blind with agony of care- <br />To fly for help to thee? <br /> <br />I know not. Rather I believe, <br />Thou, nobler than thy spouse, <br />His rumoured grandeur didst receive, <br />And sit with pondering brows, <br /> <br />Until thy maidens' gathered tale <br />With possible marvel teems: <br />Thou sleepest, and the prisoner pale <br />Returneth in thy dreams. <br /> <br />Well mightst thou suffer things not few <br />For his sake all the night! <br />In pale eclipse he suffers, who <br />Is of the world the light. <br /> <br />Precious it were to know thy dream <br />Of such a one as he! <br />Perhaps of him we, waking, deem <br />As poor a verity.<br /><br />George MacDonald<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/pilate-s-wife/
