THE JEWISH PILGRIM.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 47, 25 April 1846, Page 4

THE JEWISH PILGRIM.

Beneath a blasted sycamore An aged Jewish pilgrim stood, And gazed on Jordan’s sacred shore, And Galilee’s time-honoured flood. long had he roamed in Gentile lands, And oft his burning heart was torn By base reproach from Paynim hands, Who treated Israel’s race with scorn. With patience firm and soul resign’d, Ho bore the heathen’s insults keen, While still he hoped with ardent mind To stray on Judah’s mountains green. He longed to view those beauteous bowers, .Where bloomed the pomegranate and vine, And gaze upon the tombs, the towers, And hallowed scenes of Palestine. Oh 1 what emotions fired his breast, When lie beheld that famous land, Which Abram’s God with bounty blest, And honoured high by wonders grand. But when he thought with patriot pride, On David’s harp and David’s spear, And saw the desolation wide, Unconscious fell the trickling tear. For ah 1 that fair-and fertile clime Lay blighted with a curse malign; While distant seemed the promised time To raise up Zion’s ruined shrine. There loud he mourned in deep dismay, His country’s shame and sad disgrace; For God had Salem left a prey To those who scoffed at Jacob’s race. Thus while he looked on hill and vale, On towns and towers of honoured name, A robber marked the pilgrim pale, _ And struck him with unerring aim. Beneath the sycamore he fell, His blood bedewed the sabred sod; When wilt thou proud oppression quell, And Israel’s bondage break, 0 God!