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First Line: I saw a saint - how canst thou tell that he
Last Line: Lo, I, with the child god hath given to me!'
Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina


I SAW a Saint. -- How canst thou tell that he
Thou sawest was a Saint? --
I saw one like to Christ so luminously
By patient deeds of love, his mortal taint
Seemed made his groundwork for humility.

And when he marked me downcast utterly
Where foul I sat and faint,
Then more than ever Christ-like kindled he;
And welcomed me as I had been a saint,
Tenderly stooping low to comfort me.

Christ bade him, 'Do thou likewise.' Wherefore he
Waxed zealous to acquaint
His soul with sin and sorrow, if so be
He might retrieve some latent saint: --
'Lo, I, with the child God hath given to me!'





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