IN the land of Brittany, and long ago, Lived one of those Despised and desolate, whose records show Insults and blows, Their old inheritance of wrong, who were Free once as the eyelids of the morn; nor care Knew, nor annoy, In that city of joy, Heaven-chosen child, whom none to harm might dare; Lived one who did as if his God stood near Watching his deed, Slow to give answer, ever swift to hear; Whose brain would breed, Walking alone or watching through the night, No idle thought; but he with ill would fight And day by day Would wax alway Wiser and better and nearer to the light. And in this land a mother lost her child, And charged the Jew With crucifying him, who calmly smiled Denial. "You Have slain," quoth she, "to keep your Passover My son with sorceries." He answered her, "Your wit must fail; An idle tale Is this; what proof thereof can you prefer?" But she went from him raging. Then he fled Out of that land; And those there set a price on his gray head, Who with skilled hand Of craft had fed one daughter fair as day, Now destitute. Soon gold before her lay The bait of shame; But she, aflame With honor, flung such happiness away. And writing, told her father, who came back By night, and bade Her claim his life's reward. "Rather the rack Rend me," she said; "And shall I give him death who life gave me? Sell him and feed on him? Far sooner we Both died! Somewhere Beyond earth's care Hereafter we shall meet it well may be Somewhere hereafter." "Nay, you still shall live," He murmured; then, Went out into the market, crying, "Give This price, ye men, For me to her, my daughter." But these laid False hands on both, nor other duty paid Than death; for they, Gold hair and gray, Were slain hard by in the holy minster's shade. After, in no long time, the little child Returned, a stray Fresh from the sea: it by a ship beguiled, In the hold at play, Had sailed unseen till the land a small speck grew, But still the people prayed in the porch, in view Of the blood-splashed stone, And made no moan; "'Twas only a Jew," the folk said, "only a Jew!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BLACK SHEEP by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON FRIENDS BEYOND by THOMAS HARDY SONNET: 98 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THE CRICKET by FREDERICK GODDARD TUCKERMAN IF I ONLY WAS THE FELLOW by WILL S. ADKIN LYNCHED by FRANK ANKENBRAND JR. FROM AN EXCAVATION ON THE WARRIOR RIVER by ESTHER BARRETT ARGO |