"Neither do I condemn thee"

M. ROSAMOND WATSON

They brought her to the Master—hurried her,
Confused, and all unready with her plea,
Into the presence of the gracious one.
Fearful, she hid herself before the light
Which shone about his face. He stood apart
Within the temple courts; and as the crowd
Drew near, he stooped and wrote upon the ground,
Nor looked on her. With subtle questioning
The Pharisees bespoke him of the law:
Such should be stoned! Master, what sayest thou?
Absorbed, he wrote as though he heard them not.
Again they urged him; and perforce he rose,
And looking through them, spoke his thought aloud:
He without sin amongst you, let him first
Cast a stone at her.
A sudden silence fell—
Those, her accusers, stood abashed, subdued,
Pricked in their conscience, turned upon themselves;
And mid the stillness of those sunlit courts
Once more he stooped and wrote upon the ground.

Strange scene, and pulsing with a mighty power!
For heights and depths lay in those hidden eyes;
Turned steadfastly away from sense and self,
They dwelt within the plenteousness of Love,
God's love, which "covers earth with loveliness."^{Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, page 247.}
The temple must have seemed the gate of heaven
To such rapt, seeing gaze; and in the flood
Of light and glory which came surging through,
No room was found for sin and pride and fear.
These went out one by one—and left love there!

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