The Poems of Emma Lazarus Volume II Part 6

Where are the lion-warriors of the Lord?

Clash, Israel, the cymbals, touch the lyre, Sound the bra.s.s trumpet and the harsh-tongued horn, Chant hymns of victory till the heart take fire, The Maccabean spirit leap new-born!

GIFTS.

"O World-G.o.d, give me Wealth!" the Egyptian cried.

His prayer was granted. High as heaven, behold Palace and Pyramid; the br.i.m.m.i.n.g tide Of lavish Nile washed all his land with gold.

Armies of slaves toiled ant-wise at his feet, World-circling traffic roared through mart and street, His priests were G.o.ds, his spice-balmed kings enshrined, Set death at naught in rock-ribbed charnels deep.

Seek Pharaoh's race to-day and ye shall find Rust and the moth, silence and dusty sleep.

"O World-G.o.d, give me beauty!" cried the Greek.

His prayer was granted. All the earth became Plastic and vocal to his sense; each peak, Each grove, each stream, quick with Promethean flame, Peopled the world with imaged grace and light.

The lyre was his, and his the breathing might Of the immortal marble, his the play Of diamond-pointed thought and golden tongue.

Go seek the sun-s.h.i.+ne race, ye find to-day A broken column and a lute unstrung.

"O World-G.o.d, give me Power!" the Roman cried.

His prayer was granted. The vast world was chained A captive to the chariot of his pride.

The blood of myriad provinces was drained To feed that fierce, insatiable red heart.

Invulnerably bulwarked every part With serried legions and with close-meshed Code, Within, the burrowing worm had gnawed its home, A roofless ruin stands where once abode The imperial race of everlasting Rome.

"O G.o.dhead, give me Truth!" the Hebrew cried.

His prayer was granted; he became the slave Of the Idea, a pilgrim far and wide, Cursed, hated, spurned, and scourged with none to save.

The Pharaohs knew him, and when Greece beheld, His wisdom wore the h.o.a.ry crown of Eld.

Beauty he hath forsworn, and wealth and power.

Seek him to-day, and find in every land.

No fire consumes him, neither floods devour; Immortal through the lamp within his hand.

BAR KOCHBA.

Weep, Israel! your tardy meed outpour Of grateful homage on his fallen head, That never coronal of triumph wore, Untombed, dishonored, and unchapleted.

If Victory makes the hero, raw Success The stamp of virtue, unremembered Be then the desperate strife, the storm and stress Of the last Warrior Jew. But if the man Who dies for freedom, loving all things less, Against world-legions, mustering his poor clan; The weak, the wronged, the miserable, to send Their death-cry's protest through the ages' span-- If such an one be worthy, ye shall lend Eternal thanks to him, eternal praise.

n.o.bler the conquered than the conqueror's end!

1492.

Thou two-faced year, Mother of Change and Fate, Didst weep when Spain cast forth with flaming sword, The children of the prophets of the Lord, Prince, priest, and people, spurned by zealot hate.

Hounded from sea to sea, from state to state, The West refused them, and the East abhorred.

No anchorage the known world could afford, Close-locked was every port, barred every gate.

Then smiling, thou unveil'dst, O two-faced year, A virgin world where doors of sunset part, Saying, "Ho, all who weary, enter here!

There falls each ancient barrier that the art Of race or creed or rank devised, to rear Grim bulwarked hatred between heart and heart!"

1883.

THE BIRTH OF MAN.

A Legend of the Talmud.

I.

When angels visit earth, the messengers Of G.o.d's decree, they come as lightning, wind: Before the throne, they all are living fire.

There stand four rows of angels--to the right The hosts of Michael, Gabriel's to the left, Before, the troop of Ariel, and behind, The ranks of Raphael; all, with one accord, Chanting the glory of the Everlasting.

Upon the high and holy throne there rests, Invisible, the Majesty of G.o.d.

About his brows the crown of mystery Whereon the sacred letters are engraved Of the unutterable Name. He grasps A sceptre of keen fire; the universe Is compa.s.sed in His glance; at His right hand Life stands, and at His left hand standeth Death.

II.

Lo, the divine idea of making man Had spread abroad among the heavenly hosts; And all at once before the immortal throne Pressed troops of angels and of seraphim, With minds opposed, and contradicting cries: "Fulfill, great Father, thine exalted thought!

Create and give unto the earth her king!"

"Cease, cease, Almighty G.o.d! create no more!"

And suddenly upon the heavenly sphere Deep silence fell; before the immortal throne The angel Mercy knelt, and thus he spoke: "Fulfill, great Father, thine exalted thought!

Create the likeness of thyself on earth.

In this new creature I will breathe the spirit Of a divine compa.s.sion; he shall be Thy fairest image in the universe."

But to his words the angel Peace replied, With heavy sobs: "My spirit was outspread, Oh G.o.d, on thy creation, and all things Were sweetly bound in gracious harmony.

But man, this strange new being, everywhere Shall bring confusion, trouble, discord, war."

"Avenger of injustice and of crime,"

Exclaimed the angel Justice, "he shall be Subject to me, and peace shall bloom again.

Create, oh Lord, create!" "Father of truth,"

Implored with tears the angel Truth, "Thou bring'st Upon the earth the father of all lies!"

And over the celestial faces gloomed A cloud of grief, and stillness deep prevailed.

Then from the midst of that abyss of light Whence sprang the eternal throne, these words rang forth: "Be comforted, my daughter! Thee I send To be companion unto man on earth."

And all the angels cried, lamenting loud: "Thou robbest heaven of her fairest gem.

Truth! seal of all thy thoughts, Almighty G.o.d, The richest jewel that adorns thy crown."

From the abyss of glory rang the voice: "From heaven to earth, from earth once more to heaven, Shall Truth, with constant interchange, alight And soar again, an everlasting link Between the world and sky."

And man was born.