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Article THE LEVITE. ← Page 4 of 7 →
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The Levite.
GOD of Israel , in our anguish , Where our fathers once were free ; Though in heathen bonds we languish , Still our hope is fixed on Thee . Unveil thy brow , incline thine ear , To thy suffering peoples' prayer ; Be Thou their shieldthy strength their
, spear , In their peril be Thou there . GOD of the battle , stretch thy hand . Defend Thou Salem ' s sacred wall ; Strike for thy shrine , thy chosen land , Lest heathens triumph in their fall .
Vain hope , vain enthusiasm , sighed Claudius , as the last strain fell , upon his ear , such corn-age , such constancy might have availed ye , most unhappy nation , had ye contended with aught less than Rome . The centurion , for the first time perceiving the presence of the favourite officer of Titus , lowered his spear in token of respect— " Where , " demanded the unhappy lover , " are the two captives , father and daughter , whom the general had doomed to death , confined ? " the soldier pointed to the tower
, and replied— " there , in a separate vault . " " 'Tis well , " returned his questioner , speaking as one invested with authority , " saddle three steeds , and let a guard attend me at the entrance , while I parley with the slaves within . " The unsuspecting subaltern , not doubting the authority of his superior , unhesitatingly prepared to obey his commands . Stretched upon the damp floor of the dungeon , her head pillowed upon her father ' s knees , Claudius beheld the object of his tenderest wishes , serene as when surrounded by all the luxury of Jerusalem ,
receiving the unsought homage of mankind . " Rebecca , arise ! exclaimed the Roman , " each moment is of import . " " How ! " said the wretched girl , starting from her slumber , " hath morning dawned so soon ! and—Claudius to lead me to my fate—my worst dream then is accomplished ! " " The gods forgive thee , maiden , for that thought ! not for the empire would the rejected Claudius add to thy sorrows . I come to save thee . " " Save me I" repeated the maiden" hear I ariht ?
, g wilt thou , indeed , leave me a few hours to die unshamed by the ignominious cruelty fierce Titus hath decreed ? Father , " she continued , " rouse thee—there yet is hope for Israel ! " " Hope , and a Roman !" said the priest , rising with difficulty , and fixing his eyes incredulously upon Claudius , " child thou but dreamest . " " Old man , " replied the
soldier , "judge not from prejudice—hast thou forgot the wounded Roman whom thy daughter tended—saved—to consign , " he added , in a low voice , " to yet greater suffering ; I now repay the deed , the means of flight are ready ; when beyond the precincts of the camp I will And means to dismiss our guard , the desert lies before us ; once free , Rebecca , thou wilt regain thy strength and beauty , while I— " "Roman , " interrupted his hearer , mournfully , " nor health or beauty ere again will visit this faminestricken form
- , the slow but certain hand of death is on me ; yet , couldst thou recall all that I have lost , yea , proffer the world ' s wide empire , there could be nought between us , my God forbids it . " " Speak not of him ! " passionately exclaimed the young soldier , " he hath deserted Israel , delivered thee and thy father to a fearful death . " " And , therefore , " said the Levite , " should wc offend him more ? my voi ,. in . v
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Levite.
GOD of Israel , in our anguish , Where our fathers once were free ; Though in heathen bonds we languish , Still our hope is fixed on Thee . Unveil thy brow , incline thine ear , To thy suffering peoples' prayer ; Be Thou their shieldthy strength their
, spear , In their peril be Thou there . GOD of the battle , stretch thy hand . Defend Thou Salem ' s sacred wall ; Strike for thy shrine , thy chosen land , Lest heathens triumph in their fall .
Vain hope , vain enthusiasm , sighed Claudius , as the last strain fell , upon his ear , such corn-age , such constancy might have availed ye , most unhappy nation , had ye contended with aught less than Rome . The centurion , for the first time perceiving the presence of the favourite officer of Titus , lowered his spear in token of respect— " Where , " demanded the unhappy lover , " are the two captives , father and daughter , whom the general had doomed to death , confined ? " the soldier pointed to the tower
, and replied— " there , in a separate vault . " " 'Tis well , " returned his questioner , speaking as one invested with authority , " saddle three steeds , and let a guard attend me at the entrance , while I parley with the slaves within . " The unsuspecting subaltern , not doubting the authority of his superior , unhesitatingly prepared to obey his commands . Stretched upon the damp floor of the dungeon , her head pillowed upon her father ' s knees , Claudius beheld the object of his tenderest wishes , serene as when surrounded by all the luxury of Jerusalem ,
receiving the unsought homage of mankind . " Rebecca , arise ! exclaimed the Roman , " each moment is of import . " " How ! " said the wretched girl , starting from her slumber , " hath morning dawned so soon ! and—Claudius to lead me to my fate—my worst dream then is accomplished ! " " The gods forgive thee , maiden , for that thought ! not for the empire would the rejected Claudius add to thy sorrows . I come to save thee . " " Save me I" repeated the maiden" hear I ariht ?
, g wilt thou , indeed , leave me a few hours to die unshamed by the ignominious cruelty fierce Titus hath decreed ? Father , " she continued , " rouse thee—there yet is hope for Israel ! " " Hope , and a Roman !" said the priest , rising with difficulty , and fixing his eyes incredulously upon Claudius , " child thou but dreamest . " " Old man , " replied the
soldier , "judge not from prejudice—hast thou forgot the wounded Roman whom thy daughter tended—saved—to consign , " he added , in a low voice , " to yet greater suffering ; I now repay the deed , the means of flight are ready ; when beyond the precincts of the camp I will And means to dismiss our guard , the desert lies before us ; once free , Rebecca , thou wilt regain thy strength and beauty , while I— " "Roman , " interrupted his hearer , mournfully , " nor health or beauty ere again will visit this faminestricken form
- , the slow but certain hand of death is on me ; yet , couldst thou recall all that I have lost , yea , proffer the world ' s wide empire , there could be nought between us , my God forbids it . " " Speak not of him ! " passionately exclaimed the young soldier , " he hath deserted Israel , delivered thee and thy father to a fearful death . " " And , therefore , " said the Levite , " should wc offend him more ? my voi ,. in . v