Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE FOUR MISFORTUNES; A HEBREW TALE, by JOHN GODFREY SAXE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE FOUR MISFORTUNES; A HEBREW TALE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A pious rabbi, forced by heathen hate
Last Line: "that god is good, and all is for the best!"
Subject(s): Jews; Judaism


I.

A PIOUS Rabbi, forced by heathen hate
To quite the boundaries of his native land,
Wandered abroad, submissive to his fate,
Through pathless woods and wastes of burning sand.

II.

A patient ass, to bear him in his flight,
A dog, to guard him from the robber's stealth,
A lamp, by which to read the law at night, --
Was all the pilgrim's store of worldly wealth.

III.

At set of sun he reached a little town,
And asked for shelter and a crumb of food;
But every face repelled him with a frown,
And so he sought a lodging in the wood.

IV.

"'T is very hard," the weary traveler said,
"And most inhospitable, I protest,
To send me fasting to this forest bed;
But God is good, and means it for the best!"

V.

He lit his lamp to read the sacred law,
Before he spread his mantle for the night;
But the wind rising with a sudden flaw,
He read no more, -- the gust put out the light.

VI.

"'T is strange," he said, "'t is very strange, indeed,
That ere I lay me down to take my rest,
A chapter of the law I may not read, --
But God is good, and all is for the best."

VII.

With these consoling words the Rabbi tries
To sleep, his head reposing on a log,
But, ere he fairly shut his drowsy eyes,
A wolf came up and killed his faithful dog.

VIII.

"What new calamity is this?" he cried;
"My honest dog -- a friend who stood the test
When others failed -- lies murdered at my side!
Well, -- God is good, and means it for the best!"

IX.

Scarce had the Rabbi spoken, when, alas!
As if, at once, to crown his wretched lot,
A hungry lion pounced upon the ass,
And killed the faithful donkey on the spot.

X.

"Alas! alas!" the weeping Rabbi said,
"Misfortune haunts me like a hateful guest;
My dog is gone, and now my ass is dead.
Well, -- God is good, and all is for the best!"

XI.

At dawn of day, imploring heavenly grace,
Once more he sought the town; but all in vain;
A band of robbers had despoiled the place,
And all the churlish citizens were slain!

XII.

"Now God be praised!" the grateful Rabbi cried,
"If I had tarried in the town to rest,
I too, with these poor villagers, had died.
Sure, God is good, and all is for the best!

XIII.

"Had not the wanton wind put out my lamp,
By which the sacred law I would have read,
The light had shown the robbers to my camp,
And here the villains would have left me dead.

XIV.

"Had not my faithful animals been slain,
Their noise, no doubt, had drawn the robbers near,
And so their master, it is very plain,
Instead of them, had fallen murdered here.

XV.

"Full well I see that this hath happened so
To put my faith and patience to the test.
Thanks to His name! for now I surely know
That God is good, and all is for the best!"





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