The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan In Two Volumes. With a Portrait |
 | I. |
 | II. |
|
|
|
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. | XIX. |
| XX. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 | The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan |  |
XIX.
Then, pointing with dark finger thro' the gloom
On Him who stood erect with hoary head,
The Judge gazed down with dreadful eyes, and said:
On Him who stood erect with hoary head,
The Judge gazed down with dreadful eyes, and said:
‘Ere yet I speak thy Doom that must be spoken
Before the World whose great heart thou hast broken,
Hast thou another word to say, O Jew?’
Before the World whose great heart thou hast broken,
Hast thou another word to say, O Jew?’
And the Jew answer'd, while the heavenly blue
Fill'd like an eye with starry crystal tears,
‘Far have I wander'd thro' the sleepless years—
Be pitiful, O Judge, and let me die!’
Fill'd like an eye with starry crystal tears,
‘Far have I wander'd thro' the sleepless years—
Be pitiful, O Judge, and let me die!’
‘Death to him, Death!’ I heard the voices cry
Of that great Multitude. But the Voice said:
Of that great Multitude. But the Voice said:
‘Nay!
Death that brought peace thyself didst seek to slay!
Death that was merciful and very fair,
Sweet dove-eyed Death that hush'd the Earth's despair,
Death that shed balm on tirèd eyes like thine,
Death that was Lord of Life and all Divine,
Thou didst deny us, offering instead
The Soul's fierce famine that can ne'er be fed—
Death shall abide to bless all things that be,
But evermore shall turn aside from thee—
Hear then thy Doom!’
Death that brought peace thyself didst seek to slay!
Death that was merciful and very fair,
Sweet dove-eyed Death that hush'd the Earth's despair,
Death that shed balm on tirèd eyes like thine,
Death that was Lord of Life and all Divine,
Thou didst deny us, offering instead
The Soul's fierce famine that can ne'er be fed—
Death shall abide to bless all things that be,
But evermore shall turn aside from thee—
Hear then thy Doom!’
He paused, while all around
The Sea of Life lay still without a sound,
And on the Man Divine, Death's King and Lord,
The sacrament of heavenly Light was pour'd.
The Sea of Life lay still without a sound,
And on the Man Divine, Death's King and Lord,
The sacrament of heavenly Light was pour'd.
‘Since thou hast quicken'd what thou canst not kill,
Awaken'd famine thou canst never still,
Spoken in madness, prophesied in vain,
And promised what no thing of clay shall gain,
Thou shalt abide while all things ebb and flow,
Wake while the weary sleep, wait while they go,
And treading paths no human feet have trod
Search on still vainly for thy Father, God;
Thy blessing shall pursue thee as a curse
To hunt thee, homeless, thro' the Universe;
No hand shall slay thee, for no hand shall dare
To strike the godhead Death itself must spare!
With all the woes of Earth upon thy head,
Uplift thy Cross, and go. Thy Doom is said.’
Awaken'd famine thou canst never still,
Spoken in madness, prophesied in vain,
And promised what no thing of clay shall gain,
Thou shalt abide while all things ebb and flow,
Wake while the weary sleep, wait while they go,
And treading paths no human feet have trod
Search on still vainly for thy Father, God;
Thy blessing shall pursue thee as a curse
To hunt thee, homeless, thro' the Universe;
No hand shall slay thee, for no hand shall dare
To strike the godhead Death itself must spare!
With all the woes of Earth upon thy head,
Uplift thy Cross, and go. Thy Doom is said.’
| The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan | |