The Poems of Emma Lazarus Volume II Part 32

We all shall die at sunset! Menachem!

Come forth! Come forth! Mana.s.seh! Daniel! Ezra!

[Jews appear at the windows.]

ONE CALLING FROM ABOVE.

Neighbors, what wild alarm is this?

1ST JEW.

Descend!

Descend! Come with us to the house of prayer.

Save himself whoso can! we all shall burn.

[Men and women appear at the doors of the houses.]

ONE OF THE MEN AT THE DOOR.

Beseech you brethren, calmly. Tell us all!

Mine aged father lies at point of death Gasping within. Ye'll thrust him in his grave With boisterous clamor.

1ST JEW.

Blessed is the man Whom the Lord calls unto Himself in peace!

Susskind von Orb and Rabbi Jacob come From the tribunal where the vote is--Death To all our race.

SEVERAL VOICES.

Woe! woe! G.o.d pity us!

1ST JEW.

Hie ye within, and take a last farewell Of home, love, life--put on your festal robes.

So wills the Rabbi, and come forth at once To pray till sunset in the Synagogue.

AN OLD MAN.

O G.o.d! Is this the portion of mine age?

Were my white hairs, my old bones spared for this?

Oh cruel, cruel!

A YOUNG GIRL.

I am too young to die.

Save me, my father! To-morrow should have been The feast at Rachel's house. I longed for that, Counted the days, dreaded some trivial chance Might cross my pleasure--Lo, this horror comes!

A BRIDE.

Oh love! oh thou just-tasted cup of joy s.n.a.t.c.hed from my lips! Shall we twain lie with death, Dark, silent, cold--whose every sense was tuned To happiness! Life was too beautiful-- That was the dream--how soon we are awake!

Ah, we have that within our hearts defies Their fiercest flames. No end, no end, no end!

JEW.

G.o.d with a mighty hand, a stretched-out arm, And poured-out fury, ruleth over us.

The sword is furbished, sharp i' the slayer's hand.

Cry out and howl, thou son of Israel!

Thou shalt be fuel to the fire; thy blood Shall overflow the land, and thou no more Shalt be remembered--so the Lord hath spoken.

[Exeunt omnes.]

SCENE III.

Within the Synagogue. Above in the gallery, women sumptuously attired; some with children by the hand or infants in their arms.

Below the men and boys with silken scarfs about their shoulders.

RABBI JACOB.

The Lord is nigh unto the broken heart.

Out of the depths we cry to thee, oh G.o.d!

Show us the path of everlasting life; For in thy presence is the plenitude Of joy, and in thy right hand endless bliss.

Enter SUSSKIND, REUBEN, etc.

SEVERAL VOICES.

Woe unto us who peris.h.!.+

A JEW.

Susskind von Orb, Thou hast brought down this doom. Would we had heard The prophet's voice!

SUSSKIND.

Brethren, my cup is full!

Oh let us die as warriors of the Lord.

The Lord is great in Zion. Let our death Bring no reproach to Jacob, no rebuke To Israel. Hark ye! let us crave one boon At our a.s.sa.s.sins' hands; beseech them build Within G.o.d's acre where our fathers sleep, A dancing-floor to hide the f.a.gots stacked.

Then let the minstrels strike the harp and lute, And we will dance and sing above the pile, Fearless of death, until the flames engulf, Even as David danced before the Lord, As Miriam danced and sang beside the sea.

Great is our Lord! His name is glorious In Judah, and extolled in Israel!

In Salem is his tent, his dwelling place In Zion; let us chant the praise of G.o.d!

A JEW.

Susskind, thou speakest well! We will meet death With dance and song. Embrace him as a bride.

So that the Lord receive us in His tent.

SEVERAL VOICES.

Amen! amen! amen! we dance to death!