Song XXV. HALLAMSHIRE HAMAN.
When Ahasuerus o'er Persia did reign,
Vile Haman by plots did much treasure obtain,
By fradulent stratagems rose to be great,
And caused himself to sit at the King's gate.
The offspring of Belial raised so high,
Great homage demanded of all who pass'd by;
But Mordecai, one of the seed of the Jews,
To honour proud Haman did ever refuse.
CHORUS.
Then Haman he vowed that all Israel should die;
And Mordecai hang 'twixt the earth and the sky;
But though he on plunder and rapine was bent,
He never took discount at fifty per cent.
Then Haman sent forth that it was the king's word
For each tribe of Israel to die by the sword;
His breast that no mercy or clemency knew,
Thought he by their death all the Jews to subdue.
But “Hallamshire Haman,” proud infernal elf,
For cruelty equalling Nero himself,
Who knew he must fall, should we rot in our graves,
He makes us pay discount for being his slaves.
This “Hallamshire Haman” keeps blacks at command,
To spread his dire mandates throughout the whole land,
Together they meet and their malice combine
To form a most hellish, infernal design.
On malice, on mischief, and tyranny bent,
Five poor honest grinders to prison they sent;
Though nothing they had of these men to complain,
But not paying discount for wearing a chain.
He took a poor man to where justice is sold,
And mercy polluted for lucre and gold;
To ruin his family he was fully bent,
And fain he to Wakefield this man would have sent.
But while for revenge he thus cruelly sought,
In a snare of his own this proud Haman was caught;
He dare not face justice, lest she should ordain
That he should pay back all his discount again.
This “Hallamshire Haman,” proud infernal thing,
Expects the next year to be Hallamshire's King,
But proverbs assure us that those who would sip,
Shall find that much falls “'twixt the cup and the lip.”
So if his great master should send in the year,
And cite him at his dreadful court to appear,
In torments and flames he must certainly dwell,
And discount resound from the corners of hell.
