XC.

THE BANNER OF THE JEWS

(BY EMMA LAZARUS)

WAKE, Israel, Wake! Recall to-day The Glorious Maccabean rage, The sire heroic, hoary-gray, His five-fold lion-lineage, The wise, the elect, the Help-of-God, The burst of Spring, the Avenging Rod.

From Murpeh’s mountain ridge they saw Jerusalem’s empty streets: her shrine Laid waste where Greeks profaned the law With idol and with pagan sign. Mourners in tattered black were there With ashes sprinkled on their hair.

Then from the stony peak there rang A blast to ope the graves: down poured The Maccabean clan, who sang Their battle anthem to the Lord. Five heroes lead, and following, see Ten thousand rush to victory!

Oh for Jerusalem’s trumpet now, To blow a blast of shattering power, To wake the sleepers high and low, And rouse them to the urgent hour! No hand for vengeance, but to save, A million naked swords should wave.

Oh, deem not dead that martial fire, Say not the mystic flame is spent! With Moses’ law and David’s lyre, Your ancient strength remains unbent. Let such an era rise anew, To lift the “Banner of the Jew!”

(_See_ Volume I, p. 243.)