At the time He also taught him
And revealed in flames of lightning
All the doctrines good and pious,
And the holy Ten Commandments.
Yes, this schalet's pure ambrosia
Of the true and only God:
Paradisal bread of rapture;
And, with such a food compared,
The ambrosia of the pagan,
False divinities of Greece,
Who were devils 'neath disguises,
Is the merest devils' offal.
When the prince enjoys the dainty,
Glow his eyes as if transfigured,
And his waistcoat he unbuttons;
Smiling blissfully he murmurs,
"Are not these the waves of Jordan
That I hear the flowing fountains
In the palmy vale of Beth-el,
Where the camels lie at rest?
"Are not these the sheep-bells ringing
Of the fat and thriving wethers
That the shepherd drives at evening
Down Mount Gilead from the pastures?"
But the lovely day flits onward,
And with long, swift legs of shadow
Comes the evil hour of magic
And the prince begins to sigh;
Seems to feel the icy fingers
Of a witch upon his heart;
Shudders, fearful of the canine
Metamorphosis that waits him.
Then the princess hands her golden
Box of spikenard to her lover,
Who inhales it, fain to revel
Once again in pleasant odours.
And the princess tastes and offers
Next the cup of parting also-
And he drinks in haste, till only
Drops a few are in the goblet.
These he sprinkles on the table,
Then he takes a little wax-light,
And he dips it in the moisture
Till it crackles and is quenched.
(Translated by Margaret Armour.)
(Suggested by a picture painted by S. A. Hart, R.A.)
SHINE, Sabbath Lamp, oh shine with tender ray!
Pierce the soft wavelets of the fading light;
Speed the faint footsteps of the waning day,
And greet the shadows of the coming night.
Cast thy rays upward,-cleave the darkening air,
And lift a stream of brilliant light on high;
Shine on the wings of Faith, and may they bear
The wavering wandering heart from earth to sky!
Fling thy beams forward,-may their radiance meet
The welcome presence of the heaven-sent guest;
Illume the path she treads with glistening feet;
The Sabbath Bride of Israel's panting breast!
Cast thy gleams backward-Six days' toils are told;
Soothe with thy smile the wearied breast and brain;
And may thy glittering lustre change to gold
Each seventh link in life's dull iron chain.
Shed thy rays downward-may their sacred ray
On life's rough road of earthly travel shine;
And strew the crags that fret the rugged way
With sparkling gems which breathe a light divine!
Cast thy beams inward-may they pierce the fold
That each one gathers round his secret breast;
Shew forth the idol in its godless mould,
That we may crush it in our bosom's nest!
Shed thy rays outward,lest at last we grow, Centered in self-and life's best purpose mock; And dwell, unmindful of a brother's woe,
Like callous limpet on the weed-bound rock.
Cast thy beams homeward-may they sweetly bear The smiles of household peace where'er they, shine; Test of an earthly mother's tender care,
Type of the heavenly Father's love divine.
Shine near and far-in every Jewish home-
In every clime-on every distant shore,-
Where in the stranger land the loved ones roam:
Oh! let us greet them in thy gleams once more!
Ah, shine afar! and may thy waves of light
Bring near the absent dear ones far away, Show us our loved ones in our dreams to-night,Our dead who rest in Heaven's bright Sabbath day!
For Faith, like Light, sheds beams on every side;
Faith shares with Light its radiating power,
Then shine, oh Lamp! and greet the Sabbath bride,
And shine, oh Faith! and bless the Sabbath hour.
Shine on the Past and, as the raindrops gleam With rainbow tints where'er the sunbeams rest, So may our tears grow bright beneath thy beam, And every grief be sanctified and blest.
Shine on the Present-may thy beacon-light
Beam on life's sea where mists and tempests reign; And may its radiance guide our course aright, And fling its silvery track across the main.
Shine on the Future-lead these hearts of ours
Far beyond home and clime and native strand,
Light up the East-gleam on yon ruined towers;
And rend the gloom that veils our long-lost land.
Shine Sabbath Lamp, with ray of heavenly birth,
Emblem of Faith and Hope in Mercy given;
Gleam on the rude, dark path we tread on earth,
And light our souls to find the road to Heaven.
GRACE AGUILAR.
Blessing the Lights
SILVER candlesticks that beam,
Holding candles ranged in line,
Stand on snowy tablecloth,
Near the Sabbath bread and wine.
Lovingly my mother lights
Six white candles, one for each
Dear and loving, living child,
When the twilight hours reach
Bringing in the Sabbath bride;
And in festive robes arrayed,
Spreads her palms before her eyes
Moistened by the tears that strayed;
And, like beamings of Shekinah,
Some ethereal beauty plays
Round her lips as, nodding, she
In a plaintive murmur prays,
By the candle's light and flame;
And her face begins to shine,
And her brow with grace is haloed
And transfigured, calm, divine
Looks she, chanting soft and low;
"Lord of life and joy and light,
Man whose flame of life is short
Makes his light all clear and bright.
"May my children, plants of Zion,
Love Thee, doing Thy behest,
Fed on manna of the Bible,
Nourished by the Torah's breast.
"Make us, scions of the prophets,
Happy in a life lived whole;
Lived in honor, labor, love,
Lived in holiness of soul.
"I, Thy handmaid, what am I?
But to all you deign your grace;
Make my children little lights,
Lighting well their little place.
"Make us, seed of Abraham,
Love-flames burning far and free;
Lights of love and lights of virtue,
Shining, beaming, God, for Thee."
Song for Friday Night
THOU beautiful Sabbath, thou sanctified day,
That chasest our cares and our sorrows away,
O come with good fortune, with joy and with peace,
To the homes of thy pious, their bliss to increase!
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