Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Asia: Vols. XXI–XXIII. 1876–79.

Syria: Bethany

Bethany

By John Keble (1792–1866)

(From Advent Sunday)

AND fast beside the olive-bordered way

Stands the blessed home, where Jesus deigned to stay,

The peaceful home, to zeal sincere

And heavenly contemplation dear,

Where Martha loved to wait with reverence meet,

And wiser Mary lingered at Thy sacred feet.

Still through decaying ages as they glide,

Thou lov’st thy chosen remnant to divide;

Sprinkled along the waste of years

Full many a soft green isle appears:

Pause where we may upon the desert road,

Some shelter is in sight, some sacred safe abode.