They brought Jesus a colt, spread their robes on his back,
And the Heliand rode out, so the people could look.
They threw flow’rs in his path, tore the leaves from the trees;
They waved branches and clothes, and sang songs of praise:
“Blest be the Messiah all praise now be giv’n;
Peace be in our city, and glory in heav’n.”
As He came to the hill-fort and saw the high tow’rs,
He wept for the ones who knew not who he was.
“If only you saw past the wall of your eyes!
For soon, you will be slaves of your enemies!
They will build ramparts ‘round you, hem in ev’ry side,
Crush you in to the ground till you are all dead;
But you are still blind to a merciful God,
And you lose the mercy you all might have had.”
-- The Heliand, Canto 45, i
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