145 THE RABBI'S DAUGHTER "Canst thou say thy God was honest Rabbi Gamliel would have answered, "Thieves into our house have broken, And a pitcher rare and old They have stolen, yet for silver Hath been left a cruse of gold!" "Would that such a great misfortune Happened to me every day!" Said the scorner, but the maiden, "See, the theft is cleared away!" "Mean I not the rib exactly, But the way in which 'twas done! Why could not the man have seen it— Gift and miracle in one?" Then a piece of meat the maiden Washed and salted in his sight, Preparing for a feast to which She the quibbler did invite. 66 GIFTS Peace," said he, "I never relish 66 That which seeing maketh common, 317 THE TALMUD 146 GIFTS "Oh, World-God, give me Wealth!" the Egyptian cried. His prayer was granted. High as Heaven behold Palace and Pyramid; the brimming tide Of lavish Nile washed all his land with gold. Armies of slaves toiled ant-wise at his feet; World-circling traffic roared through mart and street; His priests were gods; his spice-balmed kings, enshrined, Set death at naught in rock-ribbed charnels deep. Seek Pharaoh's race to-day, and ye shall find Rust and the moth, silence and dusty sleep. "Oh, World-God, give me Beauty!" cried the Greek. His prayer was granted. All the earth became Plastic and vocal to his sense; each peak, Each grove, each stream, quick with Promethean flame, Peopled the world with imaged grace and light. Of diamond-pointed thought and golden tongue. Go seek the sunshine-race; ye find to-day A broken column and a lute unstrung. "Oh, World-God, give me Power!" the Roman cried. His prayer was granted. The vast world was chained A captive to the chariot of his pride; The blood of myriad provinces was drained To feed that fierce, insatiable red heart. Invulnerably bulwarked every part With serried legions and with close-meshed Code; Within, the burrowing worm had gnawed its home; A roofless ruin stands where once abode Th'imperial race of everlasting Rome. "Oh, Godhead, give me Truth!" the Hebrew cried. His prayer was granted. He became the slave Of the Idea, a pilgrim far and wide, Cursed, hated, spurned, and scourged with none to save. THE MERCY OF GOD 319 The Pharaohs knew him, and when Greece beheld, EMMA LAZARUS 147 THE MERCY OF GOD They have a saying in the East:- And holds the other in command. He says to him when men do wrong, MATTHEW RICHEY KNIGHT 148 A PRAYER IMITATED FROM THE PERSIAN Lord! who art merciful as well as just, Father Almighty, who has made me man, Four things which are not in Thy treasury, ROBERT SOUTHEY 149 GOD IS GOOD God, Thou art good! each perfumed flower, The insect fluttering for an hour, All things proclaim that God is good. I hear it in each breath of wind; |