Help thou mine
unbelief!
Longfellow
Bring thy son hither.
BYSTANDERS.
How the unclean spirit
Seizes the boy, and tortures him with pain!
He falleth to the ground and wallows, foaming!
He cannot live.
CHRISTUS.
How long is it ago
Since this came unto him?
THE FATHER.
Even of a child.
Oh, have compassion on us, Lord, and help us,
If thou canst help us.
CHRISTUS.
If thou canst believe.
For unto him that verily believeth,
All things are possible.
THE FATHER.
Lord, I believe!
Help thou mine unbelief!
CHRISTUS.
Dumb and deaf spirit,
Come out of him, I charge thee, and no more
Enter thou into him!
The boy utters a loud cry of pain, and then lies still.
BYSTANDERS.
How motionless
He lieth there. No life is left in him.
His eyes are like a blind man's, that see not.
The boy is dead!
OTHERS.
Behold! the Master stoops,
And takes him by the hand, and lifts him up.
He is not dead.
DISCIPLES.
But one word from those lips,
But one touch of that hand, and he is healed!
Ah, why could we not do it?
