Classic Poem

——T HE men of sin prevail!
Once more the prince of this world lifts his horn;
Judah is scattered, as the chaff is borne
——Before the stormy gale.

——Where are our brethren? where
The good and true, the terrible and fleet?
They whom we loved, with whom we sat at meat,
——With whom we kneeled in prayer?

——Mangled and marred they lie
Upon the bloody pillow of their rest;
Stern Dalzell smiles, and Clavers with a jest
——Spurs his fierce charger by.

——So let our foes rejoice;
We to the Lord, who hears their impious boasts,
Will call for comfort; to the God of hosts
——We will lift up our voice.

——Give ear unto our song;
For we are wandering o'er our native land
As sheep that have no shepherd; and the hand
——Of wicked men is strong.

——Only to thee we bow:
Our lips have drained the fury of thy cup;
And the deep murmurs of our hearts go up
——To Heaven for vengeance now.

——Avenge,—oh! not our years
Of pain and wrong, the blood of martyrs shed,
The ashes heaped upon the hoary head,
——The maiden's silent tears,

——The babe's bread torn away,
The harvest blasted by the war steed's hoof,
The red flame wreathing o'er the cottage roof,
——Judge not for these to-day!—

——Is not thine own dread rod
Mocked by the proud, thy holy book disdained,
Thy name blasphemed, thy temple courts profaned?—
——Avenge thyself, O God!

——Break Pharaoh's iron crown;
Bind with new chains their nobles and their kings;
Wash from thine house the blood of unclean things,
——And hurl their Dagon down!

——Come in thine own good time!
We will abide; we have not turned from thee,
Though in a world of grief our portion be,
——Of bitter grief, and crime.

——Be thou our guard and guide!
Forth from the spoiler's synagogue we go,
That we may worship where the torrents flow
——And where the whirlwinds ride.

——From lonely rocks and caves
We will pour forth our sacrifice of prayer.—
On, brethren, to the mountains! Seek we there
——Safe temples, quiet graves!