II
I answer Thee out of the utmost dust.
I am a worm, I abase myself, I cry
Against myself that I am found unjust
More than all they that dwell beneath the sky.
I do repent, I do lament, o Thou
Who hast watched over us and cared for us,
Beating i' the dust this consecrated brow,
And answer Thee in broken murmur thus,
That I am altogether base and vile,
That Thou art altogether good and great,
That Thou hast given the guerdon grace for guile
Even while I lifted up myself to Fate
And cursed Thee. And from me who scorned to pray
Thou hast rolled the sad sepulchral stone away.
I am a worm, I abase myself, I cry
Against myself that I am found unjust
More than all they that dwell beneath the sky.
I do repent, I do lament, o Thou
Who hast watched over us and cared for us,
Beating i' the dust this consecrated brow,
And answer Thee in broken murmur thus,
That I am altogether base and vile,
That Thou art altogether good and great,
That Thou hast given the guerdon grace for guile
Even while I lifted up myself to Fate
And cursed Thee. And from me who scorned to pray
Thou hast rolled the sad sepulchral stone away.
— 52 —
