Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-08-20
THE TWO RlAEBES.
BY J. G.. WHITTIER.

The Rabbi Nathan, twoscore years and ten,
Walked hlaInciess through this evil world and
then
Just as tho almond bIossomed in his hair
Net temptation all too strong to bear,
And miserably sinned, So. adding not
Falsehood to guilt. he left his seat. and Taught
No more among the elders, but went out
With sackcloth; and with aches on his head,
Making his gray locks ;sraycr. Long be pray
Shifting his breast then as the Book he laid
Open before him for the Bath Co.'s choice,
Pausing to hear that Daughter of Voice.
Behold the royal preachers words: "a friend
Loveth at all times. yea unto the end;
And for the evil day thy brother lives"
Msrveling. he said "1t is the Lord who gives
Connse! in need. At Ecbatana dwells
Rabbi Ben Isaac, who all men eXccls
In righ eopsncss and aisGom, as the trees
OF Lebanon the small weeds that the bees
Bow with their weight. l will arise, and lay
My sins before him."
And he went his way
Barefooted, fasting long, with many prayers
But even one who, followed unawares,
Suddenly in the darirnes s5fS hant
Thrift with its touch his own, ana his cheek
famed
By odors subtiy sweet, end whispers near
OF words he loathes, yet cannot choose bnt
hear.
So, while the Habbi iourneyed, chanting low
The wall Of navid's penitenttai woe,
Before him still the cid temptation came.
And Knocked him with the motion and the
shame
Of such desires that. shuddering, be abhorred
Himself and crying mi .htily to the Lord
To free his sgul and east the demon out,
Smoto with the stan the biankness round about.
. 0on ,t1,. Il,
The towers OF Ecbatana far AVA,
Rose on the desert rim and Nathan, faint
And footso e, pausing where, for some dead
saint,
Tho faith OF fam reared domea t NIB,
Saw some one hnce'irg in thc shadow. whom
He greeted kindly: "Muy ;ho Holy One
Answer thy prayer, Q stranger!" Whereapon
The shape stood up with loud cry, and then
Clasped in each others arms, the two gray men
Wept, praisiug Him wacse gracious prorid sn ce
Made their paths one. But rtraightway, as
the sense
OF his transgression smote him, Nathan tore
Himself away: 80 friend beloved, no more
Worthy am l to touch thee, for | came,
Foul from the sins, to tell thee all my shame.
HAPPY thy prayers. since nsught avaieth mine
May purge my soul, and make it white like
thine.
Pity me, Pen Isaac, have snned"
Awcstruck Ben Isaac stood. The desert wind
B'ew his long mantle ackward, laying bare
The mournful sscrct OF his shir OF hair:
II too. o friend II not in art, he sad
"1n thought have verify sinDcd. Has thou not
read
Better the eye should see than that desire
Should wander Baruing with hidden fire
That tears ami prayers qacnch not l come to
thee
For pity and for help, ss thou 10 ne
Pray for me. my friend = But Nathan cried,
pray thou for re, Ben Isaac"
Side by side
In the low sunshine BY the turban Stone
They knelt; utoh made the brothers woe his
own,
Forgetting. in the agony and stress
Of plying love hs claim ot se!iishness:
Peace, for his friend besougay, his own hecamo;
His prayers were answered IN auother's name;
And, when ut last they rose up to embrace
Each saw Gud's pardon in his nrotlor's face
Long after, when his headstonc gathered moss
Traced on the targuln- mage Of 9nkeioS
In Rabbi Natnap's Asnd tu, - words were read
Hope not tho cure of SIN iii Self is dead
Forget it in love S service, anu the debt
Thou canst not pay. tho angels saah forgot:
Heavens gate is shut to him who comes alone
Save thou soul, and it shall save thine owni