  Israel, my hour is come! Borne on the wings of time Death marks his destin'd prey. Now in the fullness of my age, Ere faint my shrunken limbs wax weak, Ere dim my rayless eye, Of years and honours full, I seek the tomb. Offspring of Abram, Moses' guardian voice No more shall breathe the will Of your protecting God. For not to me is given On Canaan's promis'd land At last to rest in peace: For not to me is given O'er Jordan's barrier flood To reach the abundant clime: On Moab's pathless plains Must Moses rest in peace. When wandering o'er the desert wilds of Zin Faint grew your parched frames, Then Israel sinn'd against the God of Hosts. Have ye forgot the hour When murmuring Anger buzz'd Along the busy tents? Have ye forgot the hour When, bold in secrecy, Sedition's impious feet Stole on from tent to tent? Then Israel sinn'd against the God of Hosts: On me his vengeance fell. Twas there where Miriam died, Where o'er a sister's corse I rear'd in grief the monumental stone. 'Twas then, the prophet's ardour lost, I felt the brother's grief: For Memory's painful gratitude recall'd The succour Miriam gave, The succour Miriam gave When haven'd on the sedgy banks of Nile Repos'd my infant ark. I call'd to mind her care; I call'd to mind her love; How sweetly soft she touch'd the lute, How graceful moved amid the dance. Stole on from tent to tent, Till, boldened by success, Aloud the Fury lifts her daring voice. "Why, Moses, did thy treach'rous art Lead us from Egypt's fertile clime, Amid these pathless wilds To sink, wan Famine's prey? Amid these pathless wilds, Where even nature dies! For here no seeds enrich the earth, No fig-tree spreads its grateful shade, No vine depends its cluster'd boughs, Nor frigid fountain winds Its murmuring course along. Our parch'd frames sink— We die for thirst." 'Twas thus, blaspheming Heaven, ye spake:— Heaven burst in twain by me the rock; The spring rush'd forth. "But never, Moses, shall thy feet Possess the promis'd land:" For Israel sinn'd against the God of Hosts: On me his vengeance fell. I view'd the promis'd land; O'er Palestine's luxuriant soil I cast the eagle ken. Far as the distant ocean's shore, O'er Gilead's fertile soil I gaz'd: The southward plains I saw, And Jericho's rich plain, Where, bower'd in palm trees, rise her lofty towers. Blest are Abram's favour'd race, Blest above the sons of men; For their's are Canaan's fertile lands, For their's the aid of Heav'n. From stern Oppression's tyrant sway, From ignominy, bonds, and death, Heaven led the people forth. Thro' pathless deserts wild and waste, Thro' the wide wilderness of dearth, Where desolation blasted all around, Heaven led the people forth. E'en as the eagle's parent care Hangs o'er the lofty nest; And flutters fondly o'er her young, And spreads her guardian wings, And leads them from the eyry forth, And bids them face the sun. Offspring of Israel! have your thankless hearts Forgot the bounteous gifts of Heaven? When frighted ocean stopt his waves, And rushing seas stood still? Have ye forgot the fires That led your nightly march? Forgot the heavenly food That fell like evening dew, For Israel's chosen race? Oh! write his mercies on your hearts, Treasure his bounties in your soul; Obey the will of Heaven. Sons of my care! to you, from highest heaven, Jeshurun's God has spoke. By me JEHOVAH gave the words of life: Observe his sacred laws, And fly the snares which superstition spreads. Fly Moloch's horrid rites, Astarte's orgies lewd, And Thammuz' annual dirge, And Chemos' wanton wiles. Is Sittim's field forgot? Forgot the fatal hour when thousands fell; And Heaven's avenging arm Hurl'd down the shafts of death? For then in Chemos' wanton rites The sons of Israel join'd; And caught the harlot's melting eye, And gave the soul to love. Then, subdued by syren pleasure, Captive reason bow'd to beauty; Forgot the laws of God! Forgot avenging Heaven:— For woman's mildly-melting eye Thrill'd through the soften'd soul. |
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