Classic Poem

The wind is keen, the frost is dread,
Toward the icy water,
By aunt and mother forth is led
The fisher's lovely daughter.

" Dive in, dive in, my child, with haste!
There's naught whereon to ponder,
The time, dear heart, we must not waste:
The sun has set out yonder.

" God's mercy, child, is great and sure:
Fear not but He will show it!
Leap in, — leap out! and you are pure, —
'Tis over ere you know it! "

The frost and cold with cruel knife
The tender form assail.
Ah, would you be a Jewish wife,
You must not weep and quail!

And in — and out, — she leaps. Once more!
Poor girl, it has not served you.
No purer are you than before:
A Gentile has observed you!

And into th' icy flood again,
In terror wild she leaps!
The white limbs shudder ... all in vain!
The Christian — still he peeps.

The frost and cold, they burn and bite,
The women rub their fingers,
The lovely child grows white — and white,
As on the bank she lingers.

" The Law, my child, we must fulfill,
The scoundrel see depart!
Yet once! 'tis but a moment's chill,
'Tis but a trifling smart! "

The white-faced child the Law has kept,
The covenant unstained,
For in the waters deep she leapt,
And there below remained.