The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-04-13
POE # R Y .
THE PuARISEE.
BY ]. G. WHITTIER.

BY J. G.
- On, gallant spearmen, onward!'-Brazen helms
Bent ferccly forward, and the soldiers tread
Quic}e ned along his pathway. 1t was noon.
Damascus slept in sunshine. The great hills
Gathered about her, like an ancient wall
Hung DER her twining greenness, lifted up
Their cumbIous forests, and the winds came down
Through their long arches, bearing the low wall
OF sycamore and fr-tree, and the deep
Complaining of the cedar The far towers
OF the great city upon the view,
Tall in the dazzling atmosphere Of noon,
And the Barada, like line of gold,
Without murmur cleft the slopng hill
"On, gallant spcarsmcn, onwardn' Spears shone up,
And dark ewes frightened, as that warrior voice
Rang like trumpet summons The mailed form
or the young Pharsee seemed swelling with
The ardor of his purpose, as he strobe
Sternly in 'front.' and bore his spear as one
Sent on an errand of revenge, beneath
The frownng eye of danger.
Was it thus'
Came he with spear and banner to oppose
Nerved arm and planted foot-to trample down
The stormy front of battle; and hew out
Through human hearts pathway to revenge'
Not so, young Pharisee-it is not thine
To wrestle with the valiant, and bear up
Rome's mighty eagle to the perilous shock
OF armed rebellion Thou wilt war with those
Who WELD no earthly weapons with the gray
And Bonded down with years--the innocent child
And the bcseeching mother. Thou wilt mar
The sanctitude of worship, and pluck up
BY his white hairs the hoary worshipper-
Yea-thou wilt mock the supplcating voice,
And mngle basphemy with sacred prayer.
"On, spearmen, onward"' Suddenly from Heaven,
Around the Pharisee, radiance shone
Above the MONDAY brightness. From his hand
The spear fell down, the mailed form grew weak
The braced snew from its tension failed,-
The heImed brow stricken and he fell
As one by thunder smitten, or between
The perilous riffs of battle cloven down.
Shuddercd the troop around him, as his lip
Quivered one moment and strange sounds brake forth
As holding converse with fearful ono
Unseen, yet them. Not to them was given
The flaming vsitaon--not to them
Came the sou-scarchng whisper, which, Of old,
After the earthquake had gone by, and storm
Rolled back with all its thunder--and the Aamo
To its volcanic prison house gone down.
Breahed DER the mount of God, and bowed in prayer
The gray and mantcd worshipper
It was the hour
When the learned Rabbi and the Pharisee
Thronged to the gorgeous synagogue to hold
Communion with the lore of bearded seers--
The wealth Of by-gone ntellect-the old
And faded records of the twilight time
OF Gods peculiar people. There stood up,
Tall in the midst, young and graceful form,
And as he turned the consecrated leaves
OF the prophetic bards of Israel,
Of eloquent Esaas, and of him
Who mourned above Jerusalem, he spato
OF the fulflmcnt and the prophecy
The mediation Of eternal love,
Which the old fathers Of the law foretold:
And the discerning Levites marvelled much
AT his unwonted cloquence-the grave
And schooled Sanhedrim wondered and were mute;
The pale and patient scribe forgot his ;asf,
And leaned upon bis manuscript to hear
Who was that earnest champion! 1t was he
The fierce and warlibc Pharisee--the taught
OF high Gamalie, that had cast aside
The symbol of his earthly power, and knelt
Unto the mandate OF the crucifed!
Yea, leagued himself forever with the scorned
And outcast children of an humble faith.
And thus it is forever Man may raise
His against his brother, and tho axe
Fall heavily and frequent, and the cord
Be prodigal of life-the dungeon stone
Be worn by prayerful knees-the dagger grow
Dark red with midnight murder, in the vain
And idle hope to fetter human thought
And cross the will of Heaven and every blow
In persecution dealt, shall be returned
Back on the giver-every instrument
Of foul oppression change aid
OF that which it had threatened. Woe to those
Who trample down the sacred rights of man,
And DER the godlike mysteries Of mind
Usurp dominion. There will come a time
Of awful retribution. Not groan
Bursts upward from the prosecuted heart
But reaches unto heaven No martyrs blood