Part 13 (2/2)

The two Chs. VIII and IX are thus a collection both of prose pa.s.sages and poems out of different circ.u.mstances and different moods, with little order or visible connection. Are we to see in them a number of those _many like words_ which Jeremiah, when he dictated his Second Roll to Baruch, added to his Oracles on the First Roll?(370)

The first verses are in curious parallel to Tchekov's remarkable plaint about his own people and ”the Russian disease” as he calls their failing: ”Why do we tire so soon? And when we fall how is it that we never try to rise again?”

And thou shalt say to them,(371) Thus saith the Lord: VIII. 4 ”Does any one fall and not get up, Or turn and not return?”(372) Why then are this people turning 5 Persistently turning(373)?

They take fast hold of deceit, Refuse to return.

I have been heeding, been listening- 6 They speak but untruth!

Not a man repents of his evil, Saying, ”What have I done?”

All of them swerve in their courses Like a plunging horse in the battle.

Even the stork in the heavens 7 Knoweth her seasons, And dove and swift and swallow Keep time of their coming- Only my people, they know not The Rule(374) of the Lord.

How say ye, ”We are the wise, 8 With us is the Law(375) of the Lord.”

But, lo, into falsehood hath wrought it(376) False pen of the scribes.

Put to shame are the wise, 9 Dismayed and taken, The Word of the Lord have they spurned- What wisdom is theirs?

So to others I give their wives, 10 Their fields to who may take them, For all from the least to the greatest On plunder are bent; From the prophet on to the priest Everyone worketh lies.

They would heal the breach of my people 11 As though it were trifling, Saying ”It is well, it is well!”- And well it is not!

Were they shamed of the foulness they wrought? 12 Nay, shamed not at all, Nor knew their dishonour!

So shall they fall with the falling, Reel in the time of their reckoning, Sayeth the Lord.(377)

Would I harvest them?-Rede of the Lord- 13 No grapes on the vine, And never a fig on the fig-tree, Withered the leaves.(378)

For what sit we still? 14 Sweep together And into the fortified cities, To perish.

For the Lord our own G.o.d Hath doomed us to perish, Hath drugged us with waters of bale- To Him(379) have we sinned.

Hoping for peace? 15 'Twas no good, For a season of healing?

Lo, panic.(380)

From Dan the bruit(381) has been heard, 16 Hinnying of his horses, With the noise of the neighing of his steeds The land is aquake.

He(382) comes,(383) he devours the land and her fulness The city and her dwellers.

For behold, I am sending upon you 17 Basilisk-serpents, Against whom availeth no charm, But they shall bite you.(384)

Ah! That my grief is past comfort(385) 18 Faints on me my heart, Lo, hark to the cry of my people Wide o'er the land.(386) ”Is the Lord not in ?ion, 19 Is there no king?(387) [Why have they vexed Me with idols, Foreigners' fancies?](388) ”Harvest is past, summer is ended, 20 And we are not saved!”

For the breaking of the daughter of my people 21 I break, I blacken!

Horror hath fastened upon me Pangs as of her that beareth.(389) Is there no balm in Gilead, 22 Is there no healer?

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