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 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE 
 
 OF 
 
 LOS 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 CALIFORNIA 
 ANGELES
 
 A. SKvO^^i-Cf- Stw^'-vj- 
 
 I'v'l A-tr "■ erf. t 
 
 a
 
 SONGS OF THE 
 
 HOLY LAND.
 
 NOT PUBLISHED 
 
 ONLY FORTY COPIES PRINTED. 
 
 i 
 'I
 
 SOSGS OF THE 
 
 HOLY LAND. 
 
 ,1 
 
 EDINBURGH. 
 
 M.DCCC.XLVJ.
 
 EDINBURGH : PRl.NTKD BY T. CONSTABLE, 
 PRIMER TO HER MAJESTY.
 
 
 T I^ the revival, and amongst the many skilful imitations of 
 our old Minstrelsy, it seems strange that the themes and 
 inspiration of so few modern lays should have been drawn from 
 the Hebrew Scriptures. Yet the learned agree that the 
 narrative of Moses is not excelled by those of Herodotus or 
 Livy ; that neither the Seneschal of Champagne, nor the 
 Canon of Chimay, have surpassed the pictured pAges of 
 Samuel and the Chroniclers of Israel ; and that the lofty 
 strains of David and the Prophets, disdain comparison with 
 the early poetry of any ancient or modern language. 
 
 These humble versions of several familiar passages of sacred 
 song and story, were chiefly written in the lands to which
 
 they relate. They are memorials of the pleasant months in 
 1842, when the writer " took to himself his curtains, his 
 vessels, and his camels," and became " a dweller in tents" by 
 the Red Sea, and in the deserts of Sinai and Seir — when he 
 rode over the plains of Jericho, and climbed to cedars of 
 Solomon — " the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Leba- 
 non" — and spent many a tranquil evening in the cloisters of 
 the Holy Land, especially with those worthy friars whose 
 hospitable palace crowns the brow, and is the chief " excel- 
 lency," of Carmel. To two of the following pieces he has 
 ventured to add a few verses, descriptive of the scene or in- 
 cident which suggested their subjects to his mind ; and in 
 all he has endeavoured to use, as far as possible, the language 
 of the English Bible. 
 
 Christmas, 1(54.").
 
 CONTENTS- 
 
 
 _( 
 
 PAG IS 
 
 I. THE WIVING OF ISAAC, 
 
 . ' . 7 
 
 II. JAEL, 
 
 20 
 
 III. JEPIITIIAH'S VOW, . 
 
 25 
 
 IV. RIZPAH THE CONCUBINE, 
 
 29 
 
 V. THE LAMENT OF SOLOMON, 
 
 32 
 
 VI. THE BURDEN OF TYRE, 
 
 34 
 
 VII. SHALLUM, 
 
 44 
 
 VIII. THE ASSYRIAN, 
 
 46 
 
 IX. THE VALLEY OF BONES, 
 
 50 
 
 X. JUDITH, 
 
 ; 54
 
 
 THE WIVING OF ISAAC, 
 
 GENESIS, Chap. xxn. 
 
 N 
 
 OW Abraliiini the Hebrew 
 Is stricken well in age, 
 And the Lord his God hath prospered him 
 In all his pilgrimage ; 
 I Yet to his kindred far away, 
 
 The old man's heart doth yearn. 
 And to that good and pleasant land 
 Where he may not return ;
 
 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 His father"'s tent and pasturing flock, 
 
 In nightly dreams he sees, 
 On tlie plain amidst the rivers, 
 
 In Ur of the Chaldees ; 
 And for his son, his Sarah's son. 
 
 The liope his heart within, 
 Is, ere he die, to wive him 
 
 With a maiden of his kin. 
 
 II. 
 
 It is the ancient steward, 
 
 To him his lord doth say : 
 " Now by the God of earth and heaven, 
 
 Swear me an oath I pray — 
 A righteous oath that thou wilt take 
 
 For wife unto my son, 
 No Canaanitish damsel 
 
 Of the land wherein we won ; 
 
 i
 
 THE WIVING OP ISAAC. 
 
 " Nor lure him to my fatlierland, 
 From out the portion given 
 Unto our seed for evermore, 
 
 By the Lord God of heaven ; 
 But a daughter of my people 
 ^ Thou shalt bring unto his bed." 
 
 That servant true hath sworn to do, 
 The thini": his Lord hath said. 
 
 III. 
 
 Ere dawn rose Eliezer, 
 
 Ere the crowing of the cock, — 
 And camels ten he chose him then, 
 
 The fairest of the flock — 
 And o'er the orient mountain, 
 
 His journey he hath ta'en, 
 And met the rosy morning 
 
 On Gomorrah's blasted plain ;
 
 10 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 And o''er the fruitful land of palms, 
 
 Where milk-white Jordan flovv''d 
 Through sunny glades, mid' oaken shades, 
 
 Where kine of Bashan low'd ; 
 Through peopled vales and desert dales. 
 
 Where man nor beast abode. 
 For many a day still onward 
 
 To the ffolden east he rode. 
 
 IV, 
 
 At last the weary way is sped ; 
 
 The ray of morning quivers 
 Athwart a plain, with cities spread, 
 
 And girt with glorious rivers. 
 And in the cool of evening, 
 
 He stays him by the well 
 Of reverend Nahor's city, 
 
 Where Abraham's people dwell ;
 
 THE WIVING OF ISAAC. 11 
 
 About the time that maidens use 
 
 To come for water there ; — 
 Then, his camels kneeling near him, 
 
 The pilgrim prays a pray'r. 
 That she who first should quench his thirst, 
 
 A damsel kind and fair, 
 The same should be the chosen she, 
 
 Must wed his master's heir. 
 
 Lo ! while he yet was speaking, 
 
 Did glide the pathway down. 
 With pitcher on her comely head, 
 
 A daughter of the town, 
 In whose clear brow and winning eyes 
 
 Dark-glancing, ye might see 
 The light of guileless maidenhood. 
 
 Serene and fancy-free.
 
 12 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 So Eliezer craved a draught, 
 
 Beside the fountain's brink, 
 Whereat her pitcher to his lip 
 
 She held, and pray'd him drink : 
 And water for his camels 
 
 She drew, ere he besought her ; 
 For kind as fair Rebekah was, 
 
 Bethuers irentle dauiihter. 
 
 VI, 
 
 So when his beasts had drunk their fill, 
 
 A golden jewel brave, 
 And bracelets of the weiirhtv "'old. 
 
 To her the pilgrim gave : 
 And ask^l her of her parentage, 
 
 And if an old man miirht 
 Within the dwelling of hei- sire, 
 
 Find lodgino- for the ni"ht.
 
 
 THE WIVING OF ISAAC. 13 
 
 But, when he knew her Nahor's seed, 
 
 And of his master''s kin. 
 And heard that he and his nii<rht bide 
 
 Her father's house within — 
 Thankful, he bow\l his hoary head, 
 
 And blessM and prais'd the Lord, 
 Who o'er his servant's wanderings 
 
 Kept g-racious watch and ward. 
 
 Vll. 
 
 Swiftly the damsel hied her home. 
 
 The tidings there to tell, 
 And swift her brother Laban 
 
 Ran down unto the well. 
 And to the aged stranger 
 
 Kind words of greeting spake, 
 And brought him home, right welcome, 
 
 For the God of Abrali'm's sake ;
 
 14 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 Gave for his camels provender, 
 
 Gave water for his feet, 
 And serv'd him with fair courtesy, 
 
 And set before him meat. 
 But the leal earnest messenger, 
 
 Of needful cheer would none. 
 Till his errand he had spoken, 
 
 And his master's bidding done. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 So of Abraham, their brother, 
 
 And his hopeful heir he told, 
 And how his God had plenishM him 
 
 With flocks, and herds, and gold ; 
 And that with no strange daugliter 
 
 Of the land he sojourned in. 
 The sire vvould wed the son, but with 
 
 A maiden of his kin ;
 
 
 THE WIVING OF ISAAC. 
 
 How from the west, on this behest, 
 
 Came ho to Nahor's well ; 
 And of his prayer and musings there, 
 
 And all that there befel ; — 
 " Now, if ye will deal kindly 
 
 With my good lord and me, 
 Give me,'" he said, " this courteous maid, 
 
 Her kinsman\s bride to be." 
 
 IX. 
 
 Rebekah's sire and brother bold. 
 
 They bow'd them to the token ; 
 " Take ye the maid," they answered, 
 
 " For 'tis the Lord liath spoken." 
 Glad heart had Eliezer 
 
 When he heard the welcome word. 
 And bowM him on the earth alow, 
 
 In Iiomage to the Lord ;
 
 IG SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 And owches of the silver fair, 
 
 And many a golden jewel, 
 And gorgeous raiment, gave he 
 
 To the dauohter of Bethuel — - 
 And precious gifts to all her house ; 
 
 Then free from care and cumber, 
 Eight joyously he feasted well, 
 
 And peacefully did slumber. 
 
 X. 
 
 He made him bowne at morning prime. 
 
 For he would not be stayM, 
 Though Laban long entreated. 
 
 And sore the mother pray'd ; 
 So they blessed their young Eebekah, 
 
 And the fruit her womb should bear, 
 And to the stranger's land she rode, 
 
 Beneath the strans^er's care
 
 THE WIVING OF ISAAC. 17 
 
 (One ancient woman with her, 
 
 Had nursM her at the breast,) 
 On a fair and stately camel, 
 
 Wending ever to the west, 
 And the level sun of evening 
 
 On her snowy brow did glow, 
 When wreaths of rosy light he flung 
 
 O'er Hermon's crest of snow. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Went Isaac forth to meditate 
 
 At balmy eventide, 
 ^^^hen lo ! that hour the camels came, 
 
 Were bearing home his bride, 
 Came onward from the wilderness. 
 
 Between the opening fells, 
 With soft and solemn motion, 
 
 And music low of bells ; 
 
 ^I'l lllwailMPIlW^— W
 
 18 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 A wliite-veiFd maiden after, 
 
 Came bashfully and slow, 
 And the bridegi*oom"'s heart was comforted 
 
 Her comeliness to know ; 
 And soon within his mother"'s bowV, 
 
 His gentle fluttering- dove 
 Unveird the glory of her eyes, 
 
 And yielded to his love. 
 
 Beside the city Hebron, 
 
 Beneath an olive-tree, 
 In sweet May-eve, a pilgrim sate, 
 
 Had come from ©""er the sea. 
 His camels all ungirded grazM, 
 
 Or rested on the green, 
 Hard by a turbanM company 
 
 Of wild-eved Bedouin ; —
 
 THE WIVING OF ISAAC. 1!) 
 
 And looking on the holy walls 
 
 And towers, so grim and grey, 
 Where Abraham and Sarah sleep — 
 
 As Moslem sages say — 
 To wile the time, in simple rhyme 
 
 Of ancient northern lay, 
 He tun'd this sweet and simple tale 
 
 Of the old pastoral day.
 
 20 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 JAEL. 
 
 JUDGES, Chap. iv. and v. 
 
 IVr W was there rest in Ramah, in holy Bethel cahn, 
 -^^ And Barak sate with Deborah, beneath her peaceful 
 
 palm ; 
 And o^er that goodly canopy, their choral song arose 
 To the Lord, who gave them victory, and Israel's land repose. 
 Who smote the might of Amalek in Kishon's pleasant dale, 
 And bowVl tho neck of Sisera beneath the foot of Jael.
 
 JAEL. 21 
 
 ir. 
 
 " Blessed above womeu shall the spouse of Hcber be — 
 Of all the Kenite ftiinilies the noblest matron she ; 
 For vain had Barak's valour been, his people to deliver, 
 An^l Kishon redly flowing, that ancient angry river ; 
 Had womanly compassion made weak the hand of Jael, 
 Who wielded Avell the hammer — who drove the deadly nail. 
 
 III. 
 
 " By the waters of Megiddo, where the battle-cry was loud, 
 And their horses' hoofs were broken by the prancings of the 
 
 proud — 
 Though Reuben with his flocks abode, and Dan beside his 
 
 galleys. 
 Nor succour came from Asher's shore, nor Gilead's flowVy 
 
 valleys — 
 The righteous cause o'er Canaan's kings did mightily prevail ; 
 But woman's arm the glory won — the stedfast arm of Jael.
 
 22 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 IV. 
 
 "Stout Zebukm aud Naphtali, they came with spear and sword, 
 And to the death fought valiantly the battle of the Lord ; 
 And the great captain Sisera, with clouds of horsemen came, 
 Nine hundred iron chariots, and chiefs of roval name ; 
 But horse, nor iron chariot, nor host could aught avail 
 Against the frowning stars of heaven — against the might of 
 Jael. 
 
 V. 
 
 "From that field of shame and slaughter — at the going down 
 
 of day — 
 Of all his host proud Sisera alone had fled away : 
 Escaping through the wilderness, afoot the warrior came 
 Unto the land of Kedesh, and the plain of Zaanaim ; 
 With travel worn and weary, and with fear and fasting 
 
 pale, 
 He stood in suppliant fashion by the lonely tent of Jael.
 
 JAEL. 23 
 
 VI. 
 
 " She hail'd him, like a conqueror, with reverence bowing low; 
 And courteously entreated him within her tent to go, 
 Ajid all her desert dainties she spread before him there, 
 And butter brought in lordly dish, and milk in flagon fair. 
 So peacefully he made his cheer, and soon, in dinted mail, 
 He laid him down to slumber on a couch was deck'd by Jael. 
 
 VII. 
 
 " But when his eyes were heavy, then soft arose the dame, 
 With hammer and with tent-pin strong, unto his side she 
 
 came ; 
 And through his dreaming temples she smote the iron cold, 
 And quench'd the fiery life within his bosom fierce and bold. 
 So he, was vauntful Canaan's boast, and widow'd Israel's bale, 
 Did bow him in his blood, and fall before the feet of Jael.
 
 24 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 VTIT. 
 
 " His mother at her lattice doth watch and list'iiing wait — 
 ' Why tarry now his chariot-wheels — oh ! why so long and 
 
 late r 
 ' The spoil they are dividing, and all in order share 
 The comely captive damsels, and embroider'd garments rare' — 
 Made answer her wise ladies, with fond and flattering tale, 
 Nor weenM that cold their hero lay within the bow''r of Jael. 
 
 IX. 
 
 " Blessed above women shall the wife of Heber be, 
 Of all that ancient lineage, the noblest mother she ; 
 For vain had Barak's valour been, his people to deliver — 
 Though Kishon old to ocean rolFd a red and roaring river — 
 Had womanly relentings made weak the hand of Jael, 
 Who plied tlie workman hammer well — who drove the deadly 
 nail.
 
 lEPHTIIAH'S VOW. 25 
 
 JEPHTHAH'S VOW. 
 
 JUDGES, Chap. xi. 
 
 " P LOR 
 
 LORY now to Judah's Lion, 
 
 emosli he hath quellM in war, 
 Broken is the pride of Sihon, 
 
 QuenchM the light of Ammon''s star ; 
 Moab's towns and vines are burnino-, 
 
 Gilead sleeps in sunny calm ; 
 For our hero home returning. 
 
 Strike the timbrel, strew the palm.""'
 
 26 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 II. 
 Sweetl}' swell those virgin voices, 
 
 Sweet the silver timbrels aid, 
 In the blooming van rejoices, 
 
 Carols clear one fair-hairM maid : 
 On before them all she dances, 
 
 As the warrior band comes niglier. 
 For her blue bewitchinij olances 
 
 Starlike fall upon her sire. 
 
 III. 
 Now her loving arms have found him ; 
 
 But the chieftain weepeth sore. 
 Mute the mail-clad men around him 
 
 Stand with eves all running o''er. 
 To his bosom, anguish-laden, 
 
 He enfolds her piteously, 
 Inly groaning ; each soft maiden 
 
 Wonders, weeps, and trembles by.
 
 JEPUTHAH'S VOW. 27 
 
 IV. 
 
 Sadly slow did Jephthali falter, 
 
 " Daughter mine, alas for thee ! 
 Vow'd have I unto the altar 
 
 First whatever should welcome me." 
 To his bursting sorrow list''ning, 
 
 Lily-like the maiden grew, 
 Wet with tears her blue eyes glist''ning, 
 
 LookM for help to heaven as blue. 
 
 V, 
 
 Said she, with sweet voice unshaken, 
 
 " Do according to thy vow, 
 Forasmuch as God hath taken 
 
 Vengeance upon Amnion now. 
 Only o*'er the mountains yonder, 
 
 Two moons in their solitude, 
 Let me with my fellows wander, 
 
 And bewail mv maidenhood."
 
 28 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Groau'd amen I tlie chief embracing 
 
 Her, his lost, his only child. 
 Up and down the mountain pacing 
 
 Her young train Avent weeping wild, 
 Till the months of moan were over. 
 
 Then returned they wailing loud ; 
 And the sire, who so did love her, 
 
 Did with her as he had vowM. 
 
 vii. 
 Ne*'er warm lover wooM or wore her, 
 
 Meek she died in maiden bloom ; 
 Gentle virgins all deplore her. 
 
 Deck with flow'rs her virgin tomb. 
 Her remembrance Gilead dearly 
 
 Cherishes since long ago ; 
 Still the maids of Israel yeai'ly 
 
 For her sake lamenting go. 
 
 L_
 
 RIZPAII THE CONCUBINE. 29 
 
 RIZPAH THE CONCUBINE, 
 
 •\ 
 
 2 SAMUEL, Chap. xxi. 
 I. 
 
 T O ! the mighty corses on the rock of Jabcsh hoary, 
 -*-* Mighty corses seven, of warriors strong and tall, 
 Erst they went in purple, and dwelt in ease and glory, 
 For they were seven princes of the royal blood of Saul. 
 
 II. 
 They died not like the mighty, where deadly strife was keenest. 
 
 In the forefront of the battle, in the leaguer'd city's flame, 
 But on th' accursed gallows, they pewsli'd like the meanest. 
 
 And SauFs belovM Gibeah beheld his children's shame.
 
 30 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 III. 
 
 For the pincliing years of famine, said the seers, were sent by 
 heaven, 
 
 Because that Saul had smitten in his zeal the Gibeonite, 
 Who crav'd as equal ransom of his wrong, these lordlings seven, 
 
 And hangM them in Gibeah, when barley fields grew white. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Now side by side the victims, in the sleep that hath no dreaming, 
 Naked beneath the heaven in storm and sunshine lie ; 
 
 Morn and even vultures sail around them screaminsr. 
 
 And prowlers from the wilderness at night around them cry. 
 
 V. 
 
 But vulture's beak, nor famisliM fang of wolf invades them 
 sleeping, 
 Only the worm doth riot, unseen, upon their clay ; 
 For kneeling near her slaughterM sons, a mother watches 
 weeping, 
 And scares the flocking fowls of noon and nightly beasts away.
 
 RIZPAH THE CONCUBINE. 31 
 
 VI. 
 
 These fallen ones had brethren, and friends they lov'd as 
 brothers, 
 And followers very many in their day of honour fled, 
 And the witching love of women, but none was like their 
 niother's. 
 Whose heart did most remember when all foro;at them dead. 
 
 VII. 
 
 In the palace Millo, seemM it a marvel and a wonder 
 
 To the mighty men of valour, and the courtiers every one, 
 
 That Rizpah from her children nor shame nor death could 
 sunder. 
 So it was told King David what the concubine had done.
 
 ?yl SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 THE LAMENT OF SOLOMON. 
 
 ECCLESIASTES, Chap. i. 
 
 VANITY of vanities ! thus mourn'd the Hebrew King, 
 Vexation is and vanit}^ the sum of every thing ; 
 And all is full of labour, and void of profit here, 
 Seeing not satisfies the eye, nor hearing fills the ear ; 
 Nor is there hope or memory, or change beneath the sun. 
 We are but as our fathers were, and do as they have done. 
 My heart I gave to wisdom, and garnerM all her lore, 
 But as my store of knowledge grew, so grew my sorrows' store.
 
 THE LAMENT OF SOLOMON, 33 
 
 I maddenM me with foolish mirth, I made me drunk with wine, 
 
 I builded stately palaces, I planted many a vine, 
 
 And wide and fair my gardens were, with all their pleasant trees. 
 
 And clear and cool each plenteous pool, I diggM to water these; 
 
 The thing was surely never, I did from me withhold, 
 
 Servants I gat me, flocks and herds, the silver and the gold, 
 
 All instruments of music, all kind of tuneful voices, 
 
 All that delights the eye and ear, or sense and soul rejoices ; 
 
 Some joy was in the gathering, but when I look'd upon 
 
 The perfect fruit of all my toil, behold, the joy was gone ! 
 
 So I abhorrM my labour, for 1 knew not who should rule 
 
 Cer all my glory after me, a wise man or a fool ; 
 
 And life itself I hated, for our universal doom. 
 
 That wisdom shall, like folly, lie forgotten in the tomb ; 
 
 And for that all our days are care, and all our travail grief. 
 
 And night hath no tranquillity, no solace or relief; 
 
 For vanity and sorrow, is the sum of every thing — 
 
 Vanity of vanities, said Solomon the King.
 
 34 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 THE BURDEN OF TYRE. 
 
 ISAIAH, Chap, xxiii., xxiv. ; EZEKIEL, Cn.4P. xxvi., xxtii., xxvni. 
 
 I. 
 
 CRY ye and howl ! thus saith the Lord, 
 Make bitter lamentations 
 For Tyre, the glory of the isles, 
 
 The mart of all the nations, 
 The crowning; city, throned 
 
 Like a queen at ocean's gate, 
 Of old renown in ancient davs, 
 The beautiful, the great I
 
 < 
 
 •* 
 
 THE BURDEN OF TYRE. 
 
 Who reapM the harvest of the seas, 
 And spoil'd the mighty deep, 
 
 The fair and joyous city — 
 Oh wail ye now and weep ! 
 
 II. 
 
 On dark Senir the pines were fell'd 
 
 To build her lofty galleys, 
 For sweeping oars the oaks of eld 
 
 In Bashan's forest valleys ; 
 Her rowers sat on sumptuous banks 
 
 Of ivory richly wrought, 
 By Assur\s roving compan}^ 
 
 From isles of Chittim brought ; 
 And gave for masts green Lebanon 
 
 Each goodliest cedar tree, 
 To bend beneath a gorgeous sail 
 
 Of Memphian broidery.
 
 36 SONGS OP THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 in. 
 Oh city ! glorious were thy walls, 
 
 Thy crown of royal towers, 
 Where shield and spear of Arvad shone 
 
 Of Persia"'s vassal powers ; 
 Thy streets that stream-like ever flowM 
 
 With life, and song, and mirth ; 
 Thy famous marts, whose traffickers 
 
 Were princes of the earth ; 
 Thy haven wide, where thronging came 
 
 The sails of all the sea, 
 Wafting the treasure and the toil 
 
 Of every land to thee. 
 
 IV. 
 
 The splendid south her spices gave, 
 Her blazing gems and gold ; 
 
 Thine were the flocks of Araby, 
 And steeds renown'd of old ;
 
 I 
 
 THE BURDEN OF TYRE. 37 
 
 The cunning thine of Syria^s hand. 
 
 In works of rare device, 
 Purple of kings in cedar stor'd 
 
 And broidery of price ; 
 Bright vintages and comely slaves, 
 
 And ore from TubaPs mine. 
 And the milk and honey flowing 
 
 Through pleasant Palestine. 
 
 V. 
 
 Wealth, wisdom, beauty ! thine were all 
 
 The gifts that men desire, 
 But pride of these, it wrought thy fall. 
 
 Oh high and haughty Tyre ! 
 " Lo, I am God, and gloriously 
 
 I reign amidst the seas ;" 
 Thou saidest in an evil hour 
 
 Of wantonness and ease ;
 
 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 Then, by the Lord in fiery wrath, 
 Thy doom of woe was spoken, 
 
 Thy perfect beauty all despoil'd. 
 Thy strength and valour broken. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Behold, the embattled nations come 
 
 In teri'il)le array ! 
 Thee shall their alien hands defile, 
 
 Their cruel steel shall slay — 
 Leaving no mark nor monument 
 
 Of thy imperial state, 
 But destruction in the city, 
 
 Desolation at the gate, 
 And fire and wasting pestilence, 
 
 Thy shattered walls within ; 
 So shall the Lord abase thy pride. 
 
 And pui'ge thy people's sin.
 
 t 
 
 THE BURDEN OF TYRE. 3U 
 
 VII. 
 
 Thy mirth of music and of wine 
 
 Hath ceased for evermore, 
 No sound, save voice of wailing, wakes 
 
 Thy solitary shore, 
 Of merchant, pilot, mariner. 
 
 The princes of the sea, 
 .GatherM from isles and kingdoms far, 
 
 All weeping sore for thee ; 
 In sackcloth and in ashes, 
 
 Making lamentation dire, 
 " Ah, for our golden city, 
 
 Alas, alas for Tyre !" 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Like the shakings of an olive. 
 
 Like the gleanings of a vine. 
 The remnants of thy lordly race. 
 
 Amidst thy ruins pine ;
 
 40 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 Like harlot in her wanins: hour. 
 
 Have men forgotten thee ; 
 Thy harp hath lost its ancient pow'r 
 
 Of mao;ic melody. 
 But by the earth and sounding sea, 
 
 Shall ever be ador'd, 
 And magnified the majesty 
 
 And glory of the Lord.
 
 THE BURDEN OF TYRE. 41 
 
 So sang the aiici'^nt bards divine ; 
 
 A pilgrim musM their lay, 
 Breathing his weary steed at noon 
 
 Of Syrian summer day ; 
 A pilgrim from the Holy Land, 
 
 Where the blessed feet had trod, 
 Full eighteen hundred years ago, 
 
 Of the meek Son of God ; 
 Who had felt the breeze on Tabor, 
 
 The sun on Zion hill, 
 And batliM in milky Jordan's flow, 
 
 And drunk of Siloa's rill. 
 
 And now in silken Syria, 
 
 He halts the strand upon. 
 Where Si don's daughter Assur bravM, 
 
 And him of Macedon. 
 Beneath the mountains many a league 
 
 Of melancholy plain
 
 1 
 
 42 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 Stretch their wild solitudes, beside 
 The lone and desert niaiu ; 
 
 And by that main, like stranded wreck 
 Cast forth in ocean"'s ire, 
 
 The lowly fishing hamlet lies, 
 That once was mighty Tyre. 
 
 Crowning a rough and grassy knoll, 
 
 A fortress desolate, 
 (No banner on the battlement, 
 
 No warder at the gate,) 
 Some shatterd columns lying 
 
 'Midst sun-burnt weeds of June, 
 (Erst in Syene's rosy rock. 
 
 Or marble Atlas hewn ;) 
 And here and there a fragment huge 
 
 Of ancient wall between, — 
 Scarce mark the grandly storied spot, 
 
 AVhere pride and pow'r have been.
 
 I 
 
 THE BURDEN OF TYRE. 
 
 No cottage breaks yon weary flats, 
 
 No bark von windinfj shore — 
 Where sparkl'd marble palaces, 
 
 Where navies rode, of vore : 
 Beside this moss-orown fountain. 
 
 Beneath the fig-tree's shade. 
 There are no children sporting. 
 
 Nor any ling''ring maid ; 
 And sign of life the voiceless town 
 
 Hath other none at all, 
 Save yellow plague-flags drooping 
 
 Cer crumbling port and wall.
 
 44 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 SHALLUIJ 
 
 JEREMIAH, Chap. xxii. v. 10-12. 
 
 /~\H waste not thy woe on the dead, nor bemoan him 
 ^^ Who finds with his fathers the grave of his rest ; 
 Sweet slumber is his, who at night-fall hath thrown him 
 Near bosoms that waking, did love him the best. 
 
 II. 
 But sorely bewail him, the weary world-ranger, 
 
 Shall ne'er to the land of his people return ; 
 His weeping-worn eyes shall be closM by the stranger, 
 
 No dew-drop of sorrow shall hallow his urn.
 
 SHALLUM. 45 
 
 III. 
 
 And mourn for the monarch that went out of Zion, 
 
 King Shallum, the son of Josiah the just ; 
 
 For he the cokl bed of the captive shall die on, 
 
 Afar from his reahn, nor return to its dust. 
 I
 
 4G SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 THE ASSYRIAN. 
 
 EZEKIEL, Chap. xxxi. 
 
 LIKE a cedar on the mouDtaiu, 
 I Stood the Assyrian proud, 
 Full long and fair his branches were, 
 
 Far-shadowing was his shroud ; 
 And tow^rino; o'er the forest, 
 And its o;iants every one. 
 From fort 1 1 thick boughs his stately head 
 Shot upwards to the sun.
 
 THE ASSYRIAN. 47 
 
 For of the deep he drank his fill, 
 
 And many a bounteous river 
 RefresliM his roots, with rivulets 
 
 Of pleasant murmur, ever. 
 Came birds at eve in clouds from heaven, 
 
 To nest his boughs among, 
 Secure the wild beast whelp'd beneath. 
 
 And rearM its savage young. 
 So great and fair he flourish''d there, 
 
 No comely cedar tree 
 In all the garden of the Lord, 
 
 Was beautiful as he ; 
 Not the rich chestnut in the dale. 
 
 Nor pine upon the height, 
 Could match the arms he wav'd abroad, 
 
 In majesty and might ; 
 He stood the envy and the pride 
 
 Of Eden's greenwood glade. 
 And mighty nations dwelt within 
 
 The covert of his shade.
 
 48 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 But God look'd down from heaven, and spake ; 
 
 Hear ye the words he said : 
 " Because he hath exalted so 
 
 The glory of his head, 
 And for his heart uplifted, 
 
 And the wrongs that he hath done, 
 I give him to the heathen, 
 
 Unto their mighty one — 
 To the terrible of nations, 
 
 And the alien is he given ; 
 Feird shall his waving honours be. 
 
 His beauty wrecked and riven, 
 His arms of pride, that spread so wide, 
 
 And battled with the gale. 
 All scattered on the mountain's side. 
 
 And strew'd along the vale ; 
 The rivers erst that slakM his thirst. 
 
 Shall sweep his spoils away, 
 And all that boasted in his strength. 
 
 Shall flee at his dismay.
 
 THE ASSYRIAN. 49 
 
 The beasts that lovM his shadow 
 
 On his haughty crest shall browzo, 
 The birds around his ruin wheel 
 
 That nestled in his boughs. 
 On the mountain shall be mourning, 
 
 And drooping sorrow seize 
 The choice and best of Lebanon, 
 
 Fair Eden's goodly trees ; 
 And the nations shall be shaken, 
 
 And shall tremble at the fall 
 Of him that was the greatest, 
 
 And the proudest of them all.
 
 50 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 THE VALLEY OF BONES. 
 
 EZEKIEL, Chap, xxxviii. 
 
 "In the spirit of the Highest, and guided by His hand, 
 
 -*" I came into a valley in a visionary land ; 
 Not like that pleasant valley where gentle Siloa flows, 
 That sings for joy and gladness, and blossoms like the rose, 
 But a dreary mountain hollow, where the earth was overspread 
 With skulls and ghastly skeletons, and ruins of the dead ; 
 Like some great den of lions old, or ancient field of fight, 
 But thicklier strewM with bleached bones, all sere and snowy 
 white.
 
 THE VALLEY OF BONES. 51 
 
 II. 
 
 There o-enial show''rs and stars of heaven could no sweet in- 
 
 fluence bring, 
 There no awakening was at morn, no stirring in the spring ; 
 Ther* stoopM no sailing eagle, nor forest-prowler found 
 A morsel for her hungry brood, in all the host around ; 
 And as the spirit led me o'er the bone-encuraber''d soil, 
 Strong limbs w'ere crusli'd beneath my heel, like autumn's 
 
 leafy spoil ; 
 Then spake the Lord, " Oh ! son of man, can these forgotten 
 
 dead 
 Live, and these bones arise again V " Thou knowest, Lord," 
 
 I said. 
 
 III. 
 
 Straight the Spirit came upon me, I was filled with the word — 
 " Oh, hear ye now, dry bones r I cried, " the bidding of 
 the Lord : 
 
 \
 
 52 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 Behold, 3'our breath shall come again, and sinews as of yore, 
 And flesh and skin shall cover you, and ye shall live once 
 
 more." 
 And, lo ! there was a shaking, and I heard a murmuring 
 
 tone. 
 As stirrM and came together each bone unto his bone ; 
 And crept o"'er every skeleton the sinews and the flesh, 
 Till all lay pale, in that dreary dale, like corses warm and 
 
 fresh. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Again the pow'r was on me, aloud I cried again, 
 
 " Come from the winds of heaven, oh, breath ! and breathe 
 
 upon the slain !" 
 So life awoke in all the host, they rose up where they lay, 
 And stood and gaz'd upon me, an exceeding great array ; 
 Then said the Lord, " Oh, son of man ! my people now be- 
 hold. 
 Who sadly cry our bones are dry, our ancient hope is cold.
 
 THE VALLEY OF BONES. 
 
 53 
 
 A nd know that sure my promise is, and strong mine arm to 
 
 save 
 From the bondage of the heathen, from the fetters of the 
 
 grave. 
 
 o-J
 
 54 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 JUDITH. 
 
 JUDITH, Chap. vii. to xvi. 
 
 I. 
 
 nn HE mountain of thy miglit, 
 
 And the ramparts on its height, 
 And thy slieen of serried lances, 
 Bcthulia ! are vain: 
 Think ye our feeble band 
 May the iron host withstand 
 That smote the Median monarch 
 Tn lofty Ecbatayne."
 
 JUDITH. 5.5 
 
 II. 
 
 The Assyrian and his powers, 
 From Geba's hoary towers 
 To tlie sea-beat rock of Carmel, 
 
 Waste the valleys and enthral ; 
 Around our fountains clear 
 Camps the traitor brood of Seir, 
 And the death of thirst, terrific 
 Doth slay within our wall. 
 
 III. 
 " Why should our women die. 
 With sweet lips black and dry i 
 What pang of sharper anguish, 
 
 Shall the sword of foeman bring ? 
 Vain buckler is and bow. 
 Each tower an idle show, 
 Yield we to Holofernes 
 
 And serve the Assyrian king !'
 
 56 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 IV. 
 
 So fiercely swells aud high 
 The maddenM city's cry ; 
 Then Ozias, woeful chieftain, 
 And his councillors debate ; 
 In morns and ev''nin2:s five, 
 If hope nor help arrive. 
 To the host of the Assyrian 
 
 They swear to yield the gate. 
 
 V. 
 
 Within Bethulia there, 
 WonnM a widow rich and fair, 
 In good report of all men, 
 
 In fasting much and prayV ; 
 Since her lord to death was done 
 By the fierce stroke of the sun, 
 A tent had been her dwelling 
 
 And sackcloth weed her wear. 
 
 i
 
 JUDITH. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Unto tliat tender dame, 
 At her urgent bidding, came 
 Ozias and the ancients, 
 
 And she to them did say — 
 " To-night, beside the gate, 
 My going forth await. 
 For I a deed will venture 
 
 Shall be had in mind alway. 
 
 VII. 
 
 "The thing that I will dare 
 I may not now declare ; 
 But to his chosen people, 
 
 By this weak hand of mine, 
 The Lord shall show His grace, 
 Within the appointed space." 
 So the elders prayM Jehovah 
 To prosper her design.
 
 58 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Through Salem's fane of gold 
 The evening incense roll'd ; 
 And the crv of the lone woman, 
 
 To the God whom she did serve, 
 Within her shaded bow'r 
 Rose fervently that hour, 
 That he would steel her bosom, 
 Her arm with valour nerve. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Putting ashes off and sadness. 
 Like a bride in garb of gladness 
 To the gate she pass'd at even. 
 
 With a faithful waitina-maid ; 
 A tire of jewels rare 
 Deck'd her dark and braided hair, 
 And her form, all eyes alluring, 
 Was gorgeously array \1.
 
 JUDITH. .59 
 
 X. 
 
 The multitude stood dumb 
 To see fair Judith come ; 
 On her bravery and beauty 
 The ancients gaz^l intent, 
 As lessening down the mountain 
 Towards the leaguer'd fountain, 
 With fearless step and queenly, 
 So beautiful she went. 
 
 XI. 
 
 The fierce and ribald guard 
 Around the wells kept ward, 
 Her sweet face made them gentle 
 Tho' passage they debarrM ; 
 Their lord she crav'd to see, 
 And they led her courteously, 
 Whilst thickening throngs around her. 
 Their going did retard.
 
 CO SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 XII. 
 
 Grew Israel much in honour 
 With the aliens gazing on her ; 
 Said the soldiery of Assur, 
 
 " Who this people would despise ? 
 "^Tis a noble stock we wiss, 
 Breeds women like to this, 
 That might hold the world in bondage 
 By the prowess of their eyes." 
 
 XIII. 
 
 From his couch with purple hung, 
 Where gold and emeralds flung 
 A starry radiance o'er him. 
 Great Holofernes rose ; 
 And lamps of silver bright 
 Diffuse a pearly light, 
 As forth of his pavilion 
 
 To meet the dame he goes. 
 
 
 iwnriT^lM'^
 
 JUDITH. 61 
 
 XIV. 
 
 His heart was captive ta'eu, 
 And her beauty fir'd his brain, 
 As in reverence before him 
 
 To the earth slie bent her brow ; 
 And in soft accents pray'd he 
 The lone and lovely lady 
 To chase all apprehension 
 
 From her gentle bosom now. 
 
 XV. 
 
 Her fair form he did raise, 
 And through the silver blaze 
 Like a crowned queen he led her 
 To his pavilion fair ; 
 And fondly leanM his ear 
 To her voice so low and clear, 
 As her purpose she unfolded 
 
 And featly spread her snare.
 
 62 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 " From yonder weeping town," 
 She said, " I am come down, 
 For well I wot destruction 
 To her is drawing nigh ; 
 In the day of Israel's sin 
 His sorrow doth begin — 
 When his children leave obeying 
 The law of the Most High. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 " Tho' Assures banner brave 
 On Ecbatayne did wave. 
 No mortal might or valour 
 
 May win Bethulia's wall ; 
 
 But priests have dar'd to palter 
 
 With the offerings of the altar 
 
 In the hour of need, and vengeance 
 
 On all the land must fall.
 
 JUDITH. 63 
 
 xvin, 
 " And now my lord shall ride, 
 His hfindmaid for a guide, 
 To holiest Jerusalem, 
 
 And there victorious reign." 
 At the tidings of the dame 
 Great joy and marvel came. 
 For her wisdom and her beauty, 
 To the chieftain and his train, 
 
 XIX. 
 
 If sooth she said, he swore 
 Jehovah to adore, 
 And in his master's palace 
 
 Should be her dwelling-place. 
 Meanwhile the tented field 
 Did goodly lodging yield, 
 So the widow with the foeman 
 Abode a three days' space.
 
 64 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 XX. 
 
 Like airy vision bright 
 She glided forth at night, 
 Of all the guard unchalleng-'d, 
 For prayV and adoration ; 
 And bath'd her in the pool 
 Of Bethulia's fountain, full 
 Of stars as was her bosom 
 Of holy meditation. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 When the fourth ev'ning came, 
 Holofernes did proclaim 
 A feast to all his servants 
 
 That were of Assures line ; 
 And purposing that eve 
 Sweet Judith to deceive, 
 He bade her to the banquet 
 
 To brio;hten more the wine. 
 
 J
 
 JUDITH. 
 
 xxu. 
 
 To his pavilion wide, 
 In all her beauty's pride, 
 In all her pomp of raiment, 
 Consentingly she came. 
 Then burning to enjoy her, 
 The false and fell destroyer 
 With many a ruby goblet 
 
 His lust did more enflame. 
 
 XXIII, 
 
 So when the feast was done 
 And guests and menials gone, 
 Beneath his purple canopy 
 
 Opprest with wine he lay ; 
 Then earnest rose the pray'r 
 Of lonely Judith there, 
 " Oh God of Israel, strengthen 
 This arm of mine to-day !"
 
 66 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 From the pillar of the bed 
 Anigh the sleepor*'s head, 
 She took his gleaming faulchioii 
 And grasp'd him by the hair ; 
 And twice into his throat 
 The cold keen blade she smote, 
 And the bleeding head uplifted 
 With eyes of glassy glare= 
 
 XXV. 
 
 And the body welling o'er 
 With hot and bubbling gore, 
 Disdainfully she pluck'd it 
 
 From off the broiderM bed ; 
 And the jeweird pall hung o'er it, 
 Adown in scorn she tore it, 
 And with her grisly burden 
 
 Went forth with stately tread.
 
 JUDITH. 67 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 Her maid, without did wait, 
 ReceivVl the head, elate, 
 And through the sleeping army 
 
 They pass'd beneath the moon, 
 Beside the guarded rill, 
 And clomb the silent hill, 
 And at Bethulia''s portal 
 
 Stood safe and joyful soon. 
 
 xxvii. 
 At Judith's cheering voice 
 The warders did rejoice. 
 And forth amain to meet her 
 
 The priest and elders sped ; 
 And lo, in the red glare 
 Of fire was kindled there. 
 The dame's white hand upholding 
 The grim Assyrian's head !
 
 68 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 On that trophy of emprize, 
 And its pale and sunken eyes, 
 Fix'd on the city's rampart, 
 
 The smiles of morning play ; 
 The troubled host below 
 Wails loud in mickle woe, 
 Amaze fills all tlie valley, 
 And dread and disarray. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Down on the broken leaguer 
 Betliulia rushes eager, 
 And Judah's spear is crimson 
 
 With Assur"'s bravest blood ; 
 The glaive of Galilee 
 Empurples all her sea, 
 And proud Damascus trembles 
 I>v red Abana's flood.
 
 JUDITH. 69 
 
 •* 
 
 XXX. 
 
 For sorrow and affright, 
 Great joyance and delight, 
 For ashes, flowVy garlands 
 Hath glad Bethulia now ; 
 I With timbrel, dance, and song, 
 
 Her maids and matrons throng- 
 To bind a wreath of olive 
 On Judith's noble brow. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 " The Assyrian came forth 
 From his mountains in the north"- 
 'Twas thus the women chanted 
 
 And clashed their cymbals evor,- 
 " And great was his array 
 That came to spoil and slay, 
 And none there was, he vaunted, 
 Should shield us or deliver."
 
 70 SONGS OF THE HOLY LAND. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 " But by the hand of woman 
 
 Our God hath foilM the foeman, { 
 
 It was no mighty champion 
 
 That wrought his captain's shame ; 
 Our gentle Judith smote 
 The faulchion through his throat, 
 And Israel aye shall glory 
 
 In the glory of her name." 
 
 THE END.
 
 X 
 
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