Page:Chapters on Jewish literature (IA chaptersonjewish00abra).pdf/240

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Dismay hath seized upon my soul; how then
Can food be sweet to me?
When, O thou Law! | have beheld base men
Destroying thee?

Ah? sweet ’twould be unto mine eyes alway
Waters of tears to pour,
To sob and drench thy sacred robes, till they
Could hold no more.

Rut lo! my tears are dried, when, fast outpoured,
They down my cheeks are shed,
Scorched by the fire within, because thy Lord
Hath turned and sped.

Yea, I am desolate and sore bereft,
Lo! a forsaken one,
Like a sole beacon on a mountain left,
A tower alone.

I hear the voice of singers now no more,
Silence their song hath bound,
For broken are the strings on harps of yore,
Viols of sweet sound,

I am astonied that the day’s fair light
Yet shineth brilliantly
On all things; but is ever dark as night
To me and thee.

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Even as when thy Rock afflicted thee,
He will assuage thy woe,
And turn again the tribes’ captivity,
And raise the low.