The American common-place book of poetry with occasional notes |
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Hushed is the Voice of Judah's Mirth. A Sacred Melody.—From the Port-Folio.
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 | The American common-place book of poetry |  |
Hushed is the Voice of Judah's Mirth. A Sacred Melody.—From the Port-Folio.
“In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.”
St. Matt. ii. 18.
Hushed is the voice of Judah's mirth;
And Judah's minstrels, too, are gone;
And harps that told Messiah's birth
Are hung on heaven's eternal throne.
And Judah's minstrels, too, are gone;
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Are hung on heaven's eternal throne.
Fled is the bright and shining throng
That swelled on earth the welcome strain,
And lost in air the choral song
That floated wild on David's plain:—
That swelled on earth the welcome strain,
And lost in air the choral song
That floated wild on David's plain:—
For dark and sad is Bethlehem's fate;
Her valleys gush with human blood;
Despair sits mourning at her gate,
And Murder stalks in frantic mood.
Her valleys gush with human blood;
Despair sits mourning at her gate,
And Murder stalks in frantic mood.
At morn, the mother's heart was light,
Her infant bloomed upon her breast;
At eve, 'twas pale and withered quite,
And gone to its eternal rest.
Her infant bloomed upon her breast;
At eve, 'twas pale and withered quite,
And gone to its eternal rest.
Weep on, ye childless mothers, weep;
Your babes are hushed in one cold grave;
In Jordan's streams their spirits sleep,
Their blood is mingled with the wave.
Your babes are hushed in one cold grave;
In Jordan's streams their spirits sleep,
Their blood is mingled with the wave.
We are not sensible that this piece is inferior, in any respect whatever, to Moore's celebrated and beautiful Sacred Melodies. We lately saw it quoted, and wrongly ascribed to the English poet. It was written in Charleston, South Carolina, and published in the Port-Folio of 1818. While under Mr. Dennie's care, the pages of this journal were enriched with many fine articles, both in poetry and prose.—
Ed. | The American common-place book of poetry | |