158
L. M.
Led as a lamb to the slaughter.
The morning dawns upon the place
Where Jesus spent the night in prayer;
Through yielding glooms behold his face!
Nor form, nor comeliness is there.
2 Brought forth to judgment, now he stands
Arraigned, condemned, at Pilate’s bar;
Here, spurned by fierce pretorian bands;
There, mocked by Herod’s men of war.
3 He bears their buffeting and scorn—
Mock-homage of the lip, the knee—
The purple robe, the crown of thorn—
The scourge, the nail, the accursed tree.
4 No guile within his mouth is found;
He neither threatens nor complains;
Meek as a lamb for slaughter bound,
Dumb ’mid his murderers he remains.
5 But hark, he prays; ’tis for his foes
And speaks: ’tis comfort to his friends;
Answers: and paradise bestows;
He bows his head: the conflict ends.
Montgomery.