Sonnet. About Jesus. IX.

So if Thou hadst been scorned in human eyes, Too bright and near to be a glory then; If as Truth's artist, Thou hadst been to men A setter forth of strange divinities; To after times, Thou, born in midday skies, A sun, high up, out-blazing sudden, when Its light had had its centuries eight and ten To travel through the wretched void that lies 'Twixt souls and truth, hadst been a Love and Fear, Worshipped on high from Magian's mountain-crest, And all night long symbol'd by lamp-flames clear; Thy sign, a star upon thy people's breast, Where now a strange mysterious shape doth lie, That once barred out the sun in noontide sky.