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A Tale from the Talmud
THE RABBI viewed on Zion’s hill | |
| A fox the holy ruins treading, | |
| Expanding griefs their bosoms fill, | |
| Who suppliant hands to heaven are spreading. | |
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| With dancing eyes and ringing laugh, | 5 |
| Akiba marks the fox descending; | |
| Exulting, waves aloft his staff; | |
| His ill-timed mirth his friends offending. | |
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| How canst thou smile? See God’s own house, | |
| His holy place wild beasts infesting. | 10 |
| Such would indignant pity rouse, | |
| If grace be still within thee resting. | |
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| Why weep? quoth he, when near fulfilled: | |
| Her doom of trouble we’re beholding. | |
| Join you with what another skilled | 15 |
| In heavenly purpose, is unfolding. | |
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| Comes next, the later, happier seer | |
| Who Salem’s glory sees in vision, | |
| Of men and dames whose hundredth year | |
| Abounds in peace and rich provision. | 20 |
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| Jeshurun toils through grief to joy. | |
| Whom God would choose, He first must chasten, | |
| Let Israel faith and hope employ | |
| His higher destiny to hasten. | |
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