Jeremiah Part 69

Harness the horses, Make ready the litters, Tenderly lift him, Israel's guardian, King over Zion.

[The king is lifted with all signs of respect, and is placed in a litter. A trumpet sounds in the distance. There is a red glow upon the walls as the day dawns. The sky has cleared. A tremor runs through the crowd at the sound of the trumpet]

VOICES

The signal!--The first signal!--G.o.d summons us.--The day of our trial has dawned.--Soon the sun will shine over Jerusalem.--The exodus.--The exodus.--Exodus and return.--Jerusalem.--Jerusalem.

JEREMIAH

[With confident mien, strides up the steps once more. The crowd has drawn back, and he stands alone at the top, looking taller than ever in his isolation]

Up, ye rejected, Up, all ye vanquished, Brisk for the journey!

Wanderers, Chosen of G.o.d and the world, Lift up your hearts!

[A surge of activity pa.s.ses through the crowd. JEREMIAH gazes out over the city]

On Jerusalem's pinnacles Now for the last time Look through your tears.

Carry with you the image Of the home you so love.

Drink your fill of the towers, Drink your fill of the walls, Drink your fill of Jerusalem.

VOICES

Yea, yea, ere we go Let us drink our fill of Jerusalem.

JEREMIAH

Bend down a last time, Piously caressing Your native earth.

[He apostrophizes the earth]

Earth drenched with blood and tears, Lo, I touch you With loving hand.

The memory of this touch Shall go with me, Shall be an undying hunger.

[He addresses the people once more]

Unceasingly, Wherever we wander, Shall we be anhungered, Shall we be athirst, For Zion!

VOICES

Unceasingly, Wherever we wander, Shall we be anhungered, Shall we be athirst, For Zion!

JEREMIAH

Wanderers, chosen of G.o.d, Filled with your hunger, your thirst, Having now said your farewells, Manfully turn to the journey.

Look forward, not backward.

Stay-at-homes Have home; Wanderers Have the world!

G.o.d's are the ways On which ye shall walk.

Made wise through suffering, Wanderers, chosen of G.o.d, On, through the world!

THE PEOPLE

Shall we ever see Jerusalem again?

JEREMIAH

He who believes, looks always on Jerusalem.

THE PEOPLE

Who shall rebuild the city?

JEREMIAH

The ardor of desire, the night of prison, and the suffering which brings counsel.

THE PEOPLE

Will it endure?

JEREMIAH

Yea. Stones fall, but that which the soul builds in suffering, endureth for ever.

[There is a bustle among the crowd as all make ready for the start. The trumpet sounds again. It is now quite light. The crowd, eager to begin the exodus, greets the second blast of the trumpet with a shout of impatience]

[Raising his voice to dominate the tumult]

Wanderers, sufferers, march in the name Of your forefather Jacob, who erstwhile with G.o.d, Having wrestled the livelong night, Strove till dawn for a blessing.

March on in the morning light By a path like that which your forefathers trod, When from Mizraim forth by Moses led Toward the land of promise their way they sped.

Scatter your seeds, scatter your seeds, In unknown lands, Through numberless years.

Wander your wanderings, watered with tears.

On, people of G.o.d; for, wherever ye roam, Your road leads through the world to eternity, home.

[The march begins in silence. At the head of the procession, the king is borne in a litter. In due order, tribe by tribe, the wanderers fall into line and move towards the gate. They gaze heavenward, singing as they march, so that the exodus has the solemnity of a religious procession.

There is neither haste nor lagging, but a rhythmic movement forward. The files succeed one another in an endless train. An infinite on the march]

FIRST CHORUS OF WANDERERS

In strangers' houses now must we dwell, Eating bread salted with tears.

By an enemy's hearth, with souls full of dread, Must we sit upon stools of shame.

The weight of the years will lie heavy upon us When, captives and bondmen, we must serve men of might.

But from exile escaping, from bondage redeemed, To Jerusalem homing, to Zion returning, Our spirits shall ever be free and at rest.

SECOND CHORUS OF WANDERERS

Our drink must be drawn from distant waters; Evil their taste, bitter in the mouth.

We must shelter from the sun beneath strange trees, Their leaves breathing fear as they rustle in the wind.

But we shall win solace from the starry skies; Dreams of home will comfort our nights; Our souls will find continual refreshment In the thought of Jerusalem.