University of Virginia Library

When Alexander once was come
To overthrow Jerusalem,
The holy priests and Levites came
To greet him in Jehovah's name.
The High-priest was in scarlet clad
And wore his mitre on his head,
And on his golden breast-plate stood
The reverend name of Israel's God;
The minor priests fine linen wore
And dressed as Levites did of yore:
The Jews were also clothed in white,
Pure and immaculate as light.
These gave a simultaneous shout,
Encompassing the king about;
And this, together with the sight
Of the procession clothed in white,
So took the conqueror by surprise
That he declined the royal prize.
When he beheld the name of God
Most reverently the conqueror bowed,
And, when desired, did not refuse
To spare the city of the Jews.
Thus finding favor in his eyes,
They made with him a Compromise,
And, ere the conqueror retired,
He granted all their hearts desired.
Nor did his majesty abuse
These priests of God; or once accused
The same of disrespectful tricks,
Or meddling with his politics.
But Alexander, not the Great,
But one of a more recent date,
A noted giant of the day
And conqueror in a certain way,
Would not consider in the least
Remonstrances from any priest,
Nor from three thousand clothed in black,
But sent his impious slander back.
Nor could the name of the most High
This restless champion satisfy;
The name of God in that petition
With him consigned it to perdition.
No Compromise would Douglass make,
But sought a Compromise to break:
Nor did his stubbornness relent,
Nor did he heartily repent,
But under all this moral power,
His heart grew hard, his mind grew sour.
His conscience, too, was greatly seared,
While he mysteriously careered.
His vision though was clear and bright;
He gazed aloft both day and night,
Not to behold the cheerful sun,
Or view the pale and silv'ry moon,
Or watch the stars which twinkle there;
But ah! that Presidential Chair.