True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-12-03
The Legend Of the Wandering Jew.

A wild and terrible legend is that of the
Middle Ages which personifed the Jew
lsh nation by the traits Of The Wandering
Jew. 1t represents an old man, with
naked feet, uncovered head, and long,
white beard, wandering carelessly over
the earth. His face is pale, mark of
blood upon his forehead, his eyes burn
like sapphires beneath their obique lids.
With an eagle like nose, and blood-like
lips, squaIld and harsh in features, and
clad in coarse woolen gown, he ever
pursues, with staff in hand, his inteGmina-
Bile journey. Speaking all languages,
and tIaversing all lands, knowing not The
purposes of God concerning himself, and
ever driven onward by a secret impulse,
he is transported from place to place !;
and as the long centuries come successive
ly TO a close, his old age rencws itself
with the vigor of youth, in order that he
may complete the weary round of ages.
The people wander as he hastens past.
Once or twice only has he paused to tell
his story. He was of the Jewish nation,
Ahaseurus by name, and shoemaker by
trade. Dwelling in Jerusalem, he perse-
cuted our Saviour, and was one of those
who cried Cruelty him !" The sen.
tence OF death having been pronounced,
he ran to his house, before which Jesus
was to pass on the way to Calvary
Taking his child in his arms, he stood at
the door with all his family to behold the
procession. Our Saviour, weighed down
by the heavy burden of the cross, leaned
for moment against the wall and the
jew, to show his zeal, struck the innocent
one with cruel blows. and pointing to the
place OF execution, Dade INN 90 on
Then Jesus, turning to the unfeeling child
of Israel, said: .av
Thou refuseth rest to the Son of God ....
| go, for it must needs be;
But for thee there shall be no rest
Or repose until return. ..",-. ,.f rig.
Leave thine own; traverse mountain and
seas,
Pausng neither in the cities nor the deserts,
NoWnere-not even tile tomb. Fr. ... ..
As an example to the Universe, and bearing
Everywhere the heavy weight of my curse,
Much shalt thou long for death, thy deliv.
ance, ....i ..l..
But thou shalt not die until the day of
judgement.
He assists at the crucifxion,, and then
goes forth a mysterious stranger, whose
feet shall bscolne familiar with all lands.
How. age after age, he longs for the
sweets of death and the rep0so of the
tomb But in spite Of death he must
must live on; his dust shall not mingle
with that of his ancestors. He drags
himself from gloomy cavern Of Mount
Carmel, shaking the dust from his beard,
grown even TO his knees. Nine grinning
skulls are before him. He seizes and
hurls them from the top of the mountain,
and they go bounding down from rock to
rock. They are the skulls of his parents,
Of his wife and six small children, all of
whom have been able to die but he can
not He rushes into the flames of falling
Jerusalem, and attempts 10 bury himself
beneath the crumbiing ruins Of Rome !;
but in vain. Flying from cities and men,
the wanderer seeks the solitary places of
the earth. He climbs the mountains :;
passing beyond the region of verdure,
and of dashlng torrents his fee. tread the
seas of ameIhist and opal. Above him
are only peaks shrouded in mist, and
eternal SHOWS. The daring eagle scars
not so high. There are no sounds save
the cracking Of the GLACIERS The soul
seems almost 10 touch the heavens above.
There surely The Wandering Jew shall
rest? No! A pursuing angel unsheaths
a sword Of flaming fire, and 10 /! the
wanderer beholds in the heavens the dra.
ma OF the cruci6xion. The way from
earth TO heaven is studded with myriads
OF celestial beings radiant with light Be-
fore him are all the martyrs and saints
and sages who have ever lived and died
For moment he gazes upon The vision,
and then turns away chased by the sword
OF flame. and demons Of frighlful form.
Then he again wanders over the earth,
ever with five pieces Of copper in his
pocket. and ever with the mark of blood
on his forehead. Maddened with the
agony Of life, he throws himself in the
crater Of Etna, but the boiling LIQUID
and ulphurous flames burn not. The
floods of lava vomit him forth, for bis
hour is not yet come. Embarking upon
the sea, the wind raises its surface into
mountain maves--the vessel divides and
all perish save the Wandering Jew. Too
light to sink in the ocean, its waves cast
him upon the hated shore. He plunges
into hundred conflicts, without sword
or shield. All in vain. The leaden balls
rain harInlessly upon him; battle axes
and scime,ers glance from his charmed
body. Where mounted squadrons fight
with the fury Of demons, he casts himself
under the feet Of the horsemen, and is
unharmed, SO rivited are his soul and body
together. He says 70 Nero, "Thou art
drunk with blood y, 10 Christian and
Mussulmen, Drunk art thou with blood,
They invent the, most horrible tortnres
for his punishment, yet injure him not.
Leaving in his vain pursuit. Of death The
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