The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-10-08
portru.
THE TwO RApBIs.

The Rabbi Nathan, two score years aud ten,
walked biameless through the evil world, and then,
Just as the almond blossomed in his hair,
Meta temptation all too strong 20 bear,
And miserably slnned. so, adding not
Falsehood TO guilt, he left his seat, an taught
No more among the Elders, but went ont
From the great congregation, girt about
with sackcloth, and with ashes on his head
Making bis gray locks grayer. long he prayed,
Shifting his breast then. as the Book helaid
Open before him for the Bath-Col's choice,
PausinR to hear that Daughter Of A Voice.
Behold the royal preachers words, "a friend
Loveth at all time, yea unto the end,
And for the evil day thy brother lives"
Marveling, he said ut IL the Lord who gives
Counsel in need. AZ Eobatana dwells
Rabbi Ben Isaao, who all men excels
In righteousness and wisdom, az the trees
OF Lebanon the mail weeds that the bees
Bow with their weight l will arise, and lay
Ny sins before him.
And he went his way
Parefooted, fasting long, with many prayers;
But even o. one who, followed unawaros
Suddenly In the darkness feols shand
Thrill with It's touch HIS own, aud HIS cheek famed
BY odors subtly sweet, and whispers near
OF words he loathos. yet cannot choose but hear;
So. while the Rabbi journeyed, chanting low
The wall Of Davidis penitential woe,
Before him still the old temptation came.
And Knocked him With the motion and the shame
OF such desires that shuddering. he abhorred
Himself; and, crying nightly to tho Lord
To free bis soul and cast the demon out,
smote with his staf the blackness round about.
At length in the low light Of a spcnt day,
The town Of Ecbatana far away
Rose on the deserts RIM; aud Nathan, faint
And ~footsore, pausing where for some dead saint
The faith Of Islam reared a domed tomb,
Saw some one kueeling in the shadow, whom
He greeted kindly. MAY the Holy one
Answer thy prayers, o. strangeri' wheroupon
The shape stood up with a loud cry, and then,
Clasped I'm each others arms, the two gray men
Wept, prsising Him whose gracious Providence
Made their paths one. But straightway, az the sense
OF his transgressions smote him, Nathan tore
Himself away: 20, friend beloved, no more
Worthy am I 20 touch thee, for Icame,
Foul from my sins n tell thee all my shame,
Haply thy prayers, since naught availeth mine.
MAY purge my soul, and make u white like thine.
Pity me, Q, Ben Isaac, I have sinuedi"
Awc.struck Ben Isaac stood. The desert wind
Blew his long mantle backward, laying bare
The mournrul secret Of his shirt Of hair.
II, too, old friend, Il not I'm act, he said,
"In thought have verify sinned. Hast thou not read,
Better the eye should see than that desire
Should wundorpf Burning with a hidden are
That tears and prayers quench not, leone to thee
For pity and for help, as thou 70 me.
Pray for me. o. my iriondl' But Nathan cried,
pray thou for me, Ben Isaacl'
Side By side
In the low sunshine by tho turbnn stone
They knelt; each made his brothers woe his own;
Forgetting. in the agony and stress
or plying love, his claim Of selashuess;
Peace for his friend besought, his own became;
His prayers were answered In another's name;
And when At astthey rose up 10 embrace,
Each saw Gods pardon in hs brothers faceI
Long after, when hts headstone gathered moss,
Traced on the ~targum-inarRe Of Onkclos
In Rabbi Nathan's hand these words were read:
Hope not the cure Of sin tll Self f. dead;
Forget It In loves service, and the debt
Thou canst not pay the angels shall forget;
Heavens gate 4 shut TO him who comes alone;
Save thou a soul, and Il shall save thy owul"
-AaaHhe Ak'nly