On the proud bankes of great Euphrates flood, There we sate, and there we wept: Our Harpes that now no Musicke understood, Nodding on the Willowes slept, While unhappy captiv'd wee Lovely Sion thought on thee. They, they that snatcht us from our Countries brest Would have a Song carv'd to their Eares In Hebrew numbers, then (o cruell jest!) When Harpes and hearts were drown'd in Teares: Come, they cry'd, come sing and play One of Sions songs to day. Sing? play? to whom (ah) shall we sing or play, If not Jerusalem to thee? Ah thee Jerusalem! ah sooner may This hand forget the mastery Of Musicks dainty touch, then I The Musicke of thy memory. Which when I lose, o may at once my Tongue Lose this same busie speaking art Unpearcht, her vocall Arteries unstrung, No more acquainted with my Heart, On my dry pallats roofe to rest A wither'd Leafe, an idle Guest. No, no, thy good, Sion, alone must crowne The head of all my hope-nurst joyes. But Edom cruell thou! thou cryd'st downe, downe Sinke Sion, downe and never rise, Her falling thou did'st urge and thrust, And haste to dash her into dust. Dost laugh? proud Babels Daughter! do, laugh on, Till thy ruine teach thee Teares, Even such as these, laugh, till a venging throng Of woes, to late doe rouze thy feares. Laugh, till thy childrens bleeding bones Weepe pretious Teares upon the stones. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...READING LESSON by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD LILIES: 4. BLOSSOMS ABOVE A TOMB by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) ALONG SHORE by HERBERT BASHFORD PSALM 150 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE ENGLAND'S PRAYER by WILLIAM BLUNDELL THE PURSUIT by GAMALIEL BRADFORD |