| W. Garrett Horder, comp. The Poets’ Bible: New Testament. 1895. | | | | “How didst thou start, Thou Holy Baptist” | | John Henry Newman (1801–1890) |
| | ‘I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me.’—M ATT. III. 14. |
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HOW didst thou start, Thou Holy Baptist, bid | |
| To pour repentance on the Sinless Brow! | |
| Then all thy meekness, from thy hearers hid, | |
| Beneath the Ascetic’s port, and Preacher’s fire; | |
| Flow’d forth, and with a pang thou didst desire, | 5 |
| He might be chief, not thou. | |
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| And so on us at whiles it falls, to claim | |
| Powers that we dread, or dare some forward part; | |
| Nor must we shrink as cravens from the blame | |
| Of pride, in common eyes, or purpose deep; | 10 |
| But with pure thoughts look up to God, and keep | |
| Our secret in our heart. | | | |
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