The Poems of Emma Lazarus Volume II Part 16

ANOTHER VOICE.

Woe unto us who sinned!

ANOTHER VOICE.

We're all dead men.

Fly, fly ere dawn as our forefathers fled From out the land of Egypt.

BARUCH.

Are ye mad?

Shall we desert snug homes? forego the sum Sc.r.a.ped through laborious years to smooth life's slope, And die like dogs unkenneled and untombed, At bidding of a sorrow-crazed old man?

A VOICE.

He flouts the Lord's anointed! Cast him forth!

SUSSKIND VON ORB.

Peace, brethren, peace! If I have ever served Israel with purse, arm, brain, or heart--now hear me!

May G.o.d instruct my speech! This wise old man, Whose brow flames with the majesty of truth, May be part-blinded through excess of light, As one who eyes too long the naked sun, Setting in rayless glory, turns and finds Outlines confused, familiar colors changed, All objects branded with one blood-bright spot.

Nor chafe at Baruch's homely sense; truth floats Midway between the stars and the abyss.

We, by G.o.d's grace, have found a special nest I' the dangerous rock, screened against wind and hawk; Free burghers of a free town, blessed moreover With the peculiar favor of the Prince, Frederick the Grave, our patron and protector.

What shall we fear? Rather, where shall we seek Secure asylum, if here be not one?

Fly? Our forefathers had the wilderness, The sea their gateway, and the fire-cored cloud Their divine guide. Us, hedged by ambushed foes, No frank, free, kindly desert shall receive.

Death crouches on all sides, prepared to leap Tiger-like on our throats, when first we step From this safe covert. Everywhere the Plague!

As nigh as Erfurt it has crawled--the towns Reek with miasma, the rank fields of spring, Rain-saturated, are one beautiful--lie, Smiling profuse life, and secreting death.

Strange how, unbidden, a trivial memory Thrusts itself on my mind in this grave hour.

I saw a large white bull urged through the town To slaughter by a stripling with a goad, Whom but one sure stamp of that solid heel, One toss of those mooned horns, one battering blow Of that square marble forehead, would have crushed, As we might crush a worm, yet on he trudged, Patient, in powerful health to death. At once, As though o' the sudden stung, he roared aloud,

Beat with fierce hoofs the air, shook desperately His formidable head, and heifer-swift, Raced through scared, screaming streets. Well, and the end?

He was the promptlier bound and killed and quartered.

The world belongs to man; dreams the poor brute Some nook has been apportioned for brute life?

Where shall a man escape men's cruelty?

Where shall G.o.d's servant cower from his doom?

Let us bide, brethren--we are in His hand.

RABBI CRESSELIN (uttering a piercing shriek).

Ah!

Woe unto Israel! Lo, I see again, As the Ineffable foretold. I see A flood of fire that streams towards the town.

Look, the destroying Angel with the sword, Wherefrom the drops of gall are raining down, Broad-winged, comes flying towards you. Now he draws His lightning-glittering blade! With the keen edge He smiteth Israel--ah!

[He falls back dead. Confusion in the Synagogue.]

CLAIRE (from the gallery).

Father! My father!

Let me go down to him!

LIEBHAID.

Sweet girl, be patient.

This is the House of G.o.d, and He hath entered.

Bow we and pray.

[Meanwhile, some of the men surround and raise from the ground the body of RABBI CRESSELIN. Several voices speaking at once.]

1ST VOICE.

He's doomed.

2D VOICE.

Dead! Dead!

3D VOICE.

A judgment!

4TH VOICE.

Make way there! Air! Carry him forth! He's warm!

3D VOICE.

Nay, his heart's stopped--his breath has ceased--quite dead.

5TH VOICE.

Didst mark a diamond lance flash from the roof, And strike him 'twixt the eyes?

1ST VOICE.

Our days are numbered.

This is the token.

RABBI JACOB.

Lift the corpse and pray.

Shall we neglect G.o.d's due observances, While He is manifest in miracle?

I saw a blaze seven times more bright than fire, Crest, halo-wise, the patriarch's white head.

The dazzle stung my burning lids--they closed, One instant--when they oped, the great blank cloud Had settled on his countenance forever.*

Departed brother, mayest thou find the gates Of heaven open, see the city of peace, And meet the ministering angels, glad, Hastening towards thee! May the High Priest stand To greet and bless thee! Go thou to the end!

Repose in peace and rise again to life.

No more thy sun sets, neither wanes thy moon.

The Lord shall be thy everlasting light, Thy days of mourning shall be at an end.

For you, my flock, fear nothing; it is writ As one his mother comforteth, so I Will comfort you and in Jerusalem Ye shall be comforted. [Scene closes.]

*From this point to the end of the scene is a literal translation of the Hebrew burial service.