While unto the foe abandoned They left their rich and plenteous store, And into the regions unfathomed Yet in to-day's pageant procession Rejoice then, O Israel! Thy praise No more the Torah bids thee die; To live for it, and to cherish Which time has woven in a crown Let revelry hold its sway, then, And lest the mocker, derisive, Avow you delight to be through, Lovingly wind it from end to start; Begin to read it anew. C. DAVID MATT. Judas Maccabeus VICTOR of God! O thou whose lamp of Fame Doth swing, triumphant, 'cross the glooming sea And quivers o'er his fathers' ancient tombs, HENRY SNOWMAN. The Maccabean WHETHER of Fate, or by the hand of man, His hallowed soul glows still the ages through; Their flux the body changes, hue on hue, But, brooding Ivanese or quick American, His heart must answer to the Yaweh-clan When thrills its call the earth or cracks the blue, His spirit leaps onto the fray anew, As when he shamed Olympus with his ban. Not his is it to lag in the world-war Nor to question whether he live or die, And though his soul and sense red strife abhor, Behold the standard that of old he bore Flash like the sun into the clouded sky. HORACE M. KALLEN. OUT The Maccabean Call UT of dense darkness, stress of the ages, Visions of seers, path guide of sages, Portent of dawn's purpled glad light. Names one all heroes men would remember Hammer of prophet, despot defying, Slingshot and bowstring, buckler and lances Judah's last lion, David's sole better, Judah, thou hero, song still inspiring, Wilt thou not rout this weak day's doubt? Israel, martyr, newly aspiring, Raise thou again Maccabee's shout. What if barbed arrows black hatred hurling, Choir not the ages, boldly defying Up Thou and shine forth, thy light unhidden The Maccabees WHEN you tell of Israel's heroes, those who lived in days of old, Sing aloud the well-earned praises of the Maccabees so bold; Men who never shrank from danger, fought right nobly for their God, Though a handful 'gainst a myriad, though their lifeblood stained the sod. Though so great the odds against them, never feared they mortal foe, Fiercely fighting and subduing those who worked their brethren woe; Inspired with holy zeal were they, nought could quell their spirits brave, No mercy e'er their foemen knew and no quarter Judas Excited all to courage great, animated them with joy; "Who is like unto Thee, O Lord," they sang with reverent love, With their lips attuned to praises for the God who dwells above. Oh, heart-inspiring shibboleth, that nerved to deeds of glory The tender youth, maturer men, as well as sages hoary! No wonder heathen, senseless gods Israel's worship could not gain, While they sang in joyful harmony that glorious refrain! Not for love of savage-warfare fought brave Judas and his band But religion true and holy, those they loved, their homes, their land, With that liberty of conscience man should ever yield to man These the Maccabees desired-these that placed them under ban. Surely, hist'ry ne'er recorded, nor has poet ever sung, More gallant deeds, I trow, than these, that have down the ages rung; Not for self they fought so bravely, not for pelf or sordid gold, But for love of God Almighty, was their banner e'er unrolled. Of their battles and their vict'ries, it were bootless to relate All have heard their wondrous triumphs, of their great and glorious fate; How they vanquished foes tyrannic, how they won their cause at length, How they kept their war-cry ever as their watchword and their strength. To that noble band all honor for their gallant acts of yore, For their high-born, peerless courage, for the woes they bravely bore! When you tell of Israel's heroes, those who lived in days of old, Sing aloud the well-earned praises of the Maccabees MIRIAM MYERS. so bold. |