| |
| RABBI BEN HISSAR rode one day | |
| Beyond the city gates. His way | |
| Lay toward a spot where his own hand | |
| Had buried deep within the sand | |
| A treasure vast of gems and gold | 5 |
| He dared not trust to man to hold. | |
| |
| But riding in the falling light, | |
| A pallid figure met his sight— | |
| An awful shape—he knew full well | |
| ’Twas the great Angel Azrael. | 10 |
| The dreadful presence froze his breath; | |
| He waited tremblingly for death. | |
| |
| “Fear not,” the Angel said, “I bear | |
| A message. Rabbi Ben-Hissar, | |
| One thing the Lord hath asked of thee | 15 |
| To prove thy love and loyalty. | |
| Therefore now I am come to bring | |
| Thy rarest jewel to thy King.” | |
| |
| Rabbi Ben-Hissar bowed his head, | |
| “All that I have is his!” he said. | 20 |
| The angel vanished. All that day | |
| He rode upon his lonely way | |
| Wondering much what precious stone | |
| God would have chosen for his own. | |
| But when he reached the spot he found | 25 |
| No other hand had touched the ground. | |
| |
| Rabbi Ben-Hissar looked and sighed | |
| “It was a dream!” he sadly cried. | |
| “I thought that God would deign to take | |
| Of my poor store for his dear sake. | 30 |
| But ’twas a dream! My brightest gem | |
| Would have no luster meet for him!” | |
| |
| Slowly he turned and took his way | |
| Back to the vale where the city lay. | |
| The path was long, but when he came | 35 |
| Unto the street which bore his name | |
| He saw his house stand dark and drear, | |
| No voice of welcome, none of cheer. | |
| |
| He entered and saw what the Lord had done. | |
| Lo! Death had stricken his only son! | 40 |
| Clay he lay, in the darkened hall, | |
| On the stolid bier, with the funeral pall. | |
| The pale death-angel Azrael | |
| Had chosen a jewel that pleased him well. | |
| Rabbi Ben-Hissar bent his head. | 45 |
| “I thank thee, Lord,” was all he said. | |
| |
