Raschi In Prague Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST UVWXLYZA2B2C2D2E2F2G 2H2I2J2H2K2VK2GL2SM2 N2O2AP2K2Q2R2S2H2ST2 U2V2W2K2X2Y2GZ2A3PK2 B3C3GD3E3SF3G3H3I3SJ 3K3SL3NI2J2M3GN3SO3K 2P3Q3R3S3T3HU3SAV3GW 3N2O3SSSQX3Y3SZ3T2SA 4SB4C4T3NB4K2B4D4T3B 4B4B4K2 T3B4E4O3T3T3T3B4B4T3 F4ST3T3T3G4T3T3T3H4T 3SST3T3T3T3T3P3T3T3T 3O3T3E2B4T3T3T3I4O3B 4B4SP2T3 J4SG4T3G4G4T3B4SB4T3 G4K4T3T3L4B4M2T3B4K2 GSAB4B4T3SB4K2M4T3SB 4G4B4T3B4SK2B4SK2GSB 4N4T3T3NB4M2T3O4K2T3 T3P4T3SB4Q4R4T3Q2T3S 4P2SB4K2B4O3B4T3B4O3 T3T3G4M4T4Q4GK2T3T3T 3B4T3T3G4ST4B4T3T3SB 4B4LNT3T3T3K2P3B4B4U 4B4B4T3SB4T3V4W4K2B4 X4Y4SZ4GB4G4Q4M4T3SZ 4T3B4O3T3U4T3B4T3O3T 3B4SB4T3T3B4T3T3B4ST 3T3B4E2T3G4B4B4B4K2S T3E2B4T3T3B4Q4SB4T3B 4G4B4T3J4AASB4I4O3AS B4B4E2AT3B4

Raschi of Troyes the Moon of Israel	A
The authoritative Talmudist returned	B
From his wide wanderings under many skies	C
To all the synagogues of the Orient	D
Through Spain and Italy the isles of Greece	E
Beautiful dolorous sacred Palestine	F
Dead obelisked Egypt floral musk breathed Persia	G
Laughing with bloom across the Caucasus	H
The interminable sameness of bare steppes	I
Through dark luxuriance of Bohemian woods	J
And issuing on the broad bright Moldau vale	K
Entered the gates of Prague Here too his fame	L
Being winged preceded him His people swarmed	M
Like bees to gather the rich honey dew	N
Of learning from his lips Amazement filled	O
All eyes beholding him No hoary sage	P
He who had sat in Egypt at the feet	Q
Of Moses ben Maimuni called him friend	R
Raschi the scholiast poet and physician	S
Who bore the ponderous Bible's storied wisdom	T
The Mischna's tangled lore at tip of tongue	U
Light as a garland on a lance appeared	V
In the just ripened glory of a man	W
From his clear eye youth flamed magnificent	X
Force masked by grace moved in his balanced frame	L
An intellectual virile beauty reigned	Y
Dominant on domed brow on fine firm lips	Z
An eagle profile cut in gilded bronze	A2
Strong delicate as a head upon a coin	B2
While as an aureole crowns a burning lamp	C2
Above all beauty of the body and brain	D2
Shone beauty of a soul benign with love	E2
Even as a tawny flock of huddled sheep	F2
Grazing each other's heels urged by one will	G2
With bleat and baa following the wether's lead	H2
Or the wise shepherd so o'er the Moldau bridge	I2
Trotted the throng of yellow caftaned Jews	J2
Chattering hustling shuffling At their head	H2
Marched Rabbi Jochanan ben Eleazar	K2
High priest in Prague oldest and most revered	V
To greet the star of Israel As a father	K2
Yearns toward his son so toward the noble Raschi	G
Leapt at first sight the patriarch's fresh old heart	L2
My home be thine in Prague Be thou my son	S
Who have no offspring save one simple girl	M2
See glorious youth who dost renew the days	N2
Of David and of Samuel early graced	O2
With God's anointing oil how Israel	A
Delights to honor who hath honored him	P2
Then Raschi though he felt a ball of fire	K2
Globe itself in his throat maintained his calm	Q2
His cheek's opaque swart pallor while he kissed	R2
Silent the Rabbi's withered hand and bowed	S2
Divinely humble his exalted head	H2
Craving the benison	S
For each who asked	T2
He had the word of counsel comfort help	U2
For all rich eloquence of thanks His voice	V2
Even and grave thrilled secret chords and set	W2
Plain speech to music Certain folk were there	K2
Sick in the body dragging painful limbs	X2
To the physician These he solaced first	Y2
With healing touch with simples from his pouch	G
Warming and lulling best with promises	Z2
Of constant service till their ills were cured	A3
And some gray bearded bald and curved with age	P
Blear eyed from poring over lines obscure	K2
And knotty riddles of the Talmud brought	B3
Their problems to this youth who cleared and solved	C3
Yielding prompt answer to a lifetime's search	G
Then followed pushed by his obsequious tribe	D3
Who fain had pedestaled him on their backs	E3
Hemming his steps choking the airs of heaven	S
With their oppressive honors he advanced	F3
Midst shouts tumultuous welcomes kisses showered	G3
Upon his road stained garments through Prague's streets	H3
Gaped at by Gentiles hissed at and reviled	I3
But no whit altering his majestic mien	S
For overwhelming plaudits or contempt	J3
Glad tidings Raschi brought from West and East	K3
Of thriving synagogues of famous men	S
And flourishing academies In Rome	L3
The Papal treasurer was a pious Jew	N
Rabbi Jehiel neath whose patronage	I2
Prospered a noble school Two hundred Jews	J2
Dwelt free and paid no tributary mark	M3
Three hundred lived in peace at Capua	G
Shepherded by the learned Rabbi David	N3
A prince of Israel In Babylon	S
The Jews established their Academy	O3
Another still in Bagdad from whose chair	K2
Preached the great rabbi Samuel Ha levi	P3
Versed in the written and the oral law	Q3
Who blindfold could repeat the whole vast text	R3
Of Mischna and Gemara On the banks	S3
Of Eden born Euphrates one day's ride	T3
From Bagdad Raschi found in the wilderness	H
Which once was Babylon Ezekiel's tomb	U3
Thrice ten perpetual lamps starred the dim shrine	S
Two hundred sentinels held the sleepless vigil	A
Receiving offerings At the Feast of Booths	V3
Here crowded Jews by thousands out of Persia	G
From all the neighboring lands to celebrate	W3
The glorious memories of the golden days	N2
Ten thousand Jews with their Academy	O3
Damascus boasted while in Cairo shone	S
The pearl the crown of Israel ben Maimuni	S
Physician at the Court of Saladin	S
The second Moses gathering at his feet	Q
Sages from all the world	X3
As Raschi spake	Y3
Forgetting or ignoring the chief shrine	S
The Exile's Home whereunto yearned all hearts	Z3
All ears were strained for tidings Some one asked	T2
What of Jerusalem Speak to us of Zion	S
The light died from his eyes From depths profound	A4
Issued his grave great voice Alas for Zion	S
Verily is she fallen Where our race	B4
Dictated to the nations not a handful	C4
Nay not a score not ten not two abide	T3
One only one one solitary Jew	N
The Rabbi Abraham Haceba flits	B4
Ghostlike amid the ruins every year	K2
Beggars himself to pay the idolaters	B4
The costly tax for leave to hold a gape	D4
His heart's live wound to weep a mendicant	T3
Amidst the crumbled stones of palaces	B4
Where reigned his ancestors upon the graves	B4
Where sleep the priests the prophets and the kings	B4
Who were his forefathers Ask me no more	K2
	-
Now when the French Jew's advent was proclaimed	T3
And his tumultuous greeting envious growls	B4
And ominous eyebeams threatened storm in Prague	E4
Who may this miracle of learning be	O3
The Anti Christ The century long awaited	T3
The hourly hoped Messiah come at last	T3
Else dared they never wax so arrogant	T3
Flaunting their monstrous joy in Christian eyes	B4
And strutting peacock like with hideous screams	B4
Who are wont to crawl mute reptiles underfoot	T3
A stone or two flung at some servile form	F4
Liveried in the yellow gaberdine	S
With secret happiness but half suppressed	T3
On features cast for misery served at first	T3
For chance expression of the rabble's hate	T3
But swelling like a snow ball rolled along	G4
By mischief plotting boys the rage increased	T3
Grew to a mighty mass until it reached	T3
The palace of Duke Vladislaw He heard	T3
With righteous wrath his injured subjects' charge	H4
Against presumptuous aliens how these blocked	T3
His avenues his bridges bared to the sun	S
The canker taint of Prague's obscurest coigne	S
Paraded past the churches of the Lord	T3
One who denied Him one by them hailed Christ	T3
Enough This cloud no bigger than one's hand	T3
Gains overweening bulk Prague harbored first	T3
Out of contemptuous ruth a wretched band	T3
Of outcast paupers gave them leave to ply	P3
Their money lending trade and leased them land	T3
On all too facile terms Behold to day	T3
Like leeches bloated with the people's blood	T3
They batten on Bohemia's poverty	O3
They breed and grow like adders spit back hate	T3
And venomed perfidy for Christian love	E2
Thereat the Duke urged by wise counsellors	B4
Narzerad the statesman half whose wealth was pledged	T3
To the usurers abetted by the priest	T3
Bishop of Olmutz who had visited	T3
The Holy Sepulchre whose long full life	I4
Was one clean record of pure piety	O3
The Duke I say by these persuasive tongues	B4
Coaxed to his darling aim forbade his guards	B4
To hinder the just anger of his town	S
And ordered to be led in chains to him	P2
The pilgrim and his host	T3
	-
At noontide meal	J4
Raschi sat full of peace with Jochanan	S
And the sole daughter of the house Rebekah	G4
Young beautiful as her namesake when she brought	T3
Her firm frail pitcher balanced on her neck	G4
Unto the well and gave the stranger drink	G4
And gave his camels drink The servant set	T3
The sparkling jar's refreshment from his lips	B4
And saw the virgin's face bright as the moon	S
Beam from the curled luxuriance of black locks	B4
And cast back linen veil's soft folded cloud	T3
Then put the golden ear ring by her cheek	G4
The bracelets on her hands his master's pledge	K4
Isaac's betrothal gift whom she should wed	T3
And be the mother of millions one whose seed	T3
Dwells in the gates of those which hate them	L4
So	B4
Yearned Raschi to adorn the radiant girl	M2
Who sat at board before him nor dared lift	T3
Shy heavy lids from pupils black as grapes	B4
That dart the imprisoned sunshine from their core	K2
But in her ears keen sense was born to catch	G
And in her heart strange power to hold each tone	S
O' the low keyed vibrant voice each syllable	A
O' the eloquent discourse enriched with tales	B4
Of venturous travel brilliant with fine points	B4
Of delicate humor or illustrated	T3
With living portraits of world famoused men	S
Jews Saracens Crusaders Islamites	B4
Whose hand he had grasped the iron warrior	K2
Godfrey of Bouillon the wise infidel	M4
Who in all strength wit courtesy excelled	T3
The kings his foes imperial Saladin	S
But even as Raschi spake an abrupt noise	B4
Of angry shouts of battering staves that shook	G4
The oaken portal stopped the enchanted voice	B4
The uplifted wine spilled from the nerveless hand	T3
Of Rabbi Jochanan God pity us	B4
Our enemies are upon us once again	S
Hie thee Rebekah to the inmost chamber	K2
Far from their wanton eyes' polluting gaze	B4
Their desecrating touch Kiss me Begone	S
Raschi my guest my son But no word more	K2
Uttered the reverend man With one huge crash	G
The strong doors split asunder pouring in	S
A stream of soldiers ruffians armed with pikes	B4
Lances and clubs the unchained beast the mob	N4
Behold the town's new guest jeered one who tossed	T3
The half filled golden wine cup's contents straight	T3
In the noble pure young face What master Jew	N
Must your good friends of Prague break bolts and bars	B4
To gain a peep at this prodigious pearl	M2
You bury in your shell Forth to the day	T3
Our Duke himself claims share of your new wealth	O4
Summons to court the Jew philosopher	K2
Then while some stuffed their pokes with baubles snatched	T3
From board and shelf or with malignant sword	T3
Slashed the rich Orient rugs the pictured woof	P4
That clothed the wall others had seized and bound	T3
And gagged from speech the helpless aged man	S
Still others outraged with coarse violent hands	B4
The marble pale rigid as stone strange youth	Q4
Whose eye like struck flint flashed whose nether lip	R4
Was threaded with a scarlet line of blood	T3
Where the compressed teeth fixed it to forced calm	Q2
He struggled not while his free limbs were tied	T3
His beard plucked torn and spat upon his robe	S4
Seemed scarce to know these insults were for him	P2
But never swerved his gaze from Jochanan	S
Then in God's language sealed from these dumb brutes	B4
Swiftly and low he spake Be of good cheer	K2
Reverend old man I deign not treat with these	B4
If one dare offer bodily hurt to thee	O3
By the ineffable Name I snap my chains	B4
Like gossamer and in his blood to the hilt	T3
Bathe the prompt knife hid in my girdle's folds	B4
The Duke shall hear me Patience Trust in me	O3
Somewhat the authoritative voice abashed	T3
Even hoarse and changed the miscreants who feared	T3
Some strong curse lurked in this mysterious tongue	G4
Armed with this evil eye But brief the spell	M4
With gibe and scoff they dragged their victims forth	T4
The abused old man the proud insulted youth	Q4
O'er the late path of his triumphal march	G
Befouled with mud with raiment torn wild hair	K2
And ragged beard to Vladislaw He sat	T3
Expectant in his cabinet On one side	T3
His secular adviser Narzerad	T3
Quick eyed sharp nosed red whiskered as a fox	B4
On the other hand his spiritual guide	T3
Bishop of Olmutz unctuous large and bland	T3
So these twain are chief culprits sneered the Duke	G4
Measuring with the noble's ignorant scorn	S
His masters of a lesser caste Stand forth	T4
Rash stubborn vain old man whose impudence	B4
Hath choked the public highways with thy brood	T3
Of nasty vermin by our sufferance hid	T3
In lanes obscure who hailed this charlatan	S
With sky flung caps bent knees and echoing shouts	B4
Due to ourselves alone in Prague yea worse	B4
Who offered worship even ourselves disclaim	L
Our Lord Christ's meed to this blaspheming Jew	N
Thy crimes have murdered patience Thou hast wrecked	T3
Thy people's fortune with thy own But first	T3
For even in anger we are just recount	T3
With how great compensation from thy store	K2
Of hoarded gold and jewels thou wilt buy	P3
Remission of the penalty Be wise	B4
Hark how my subjects storming through the streets	B4
Vent on thy tribe accursed their well based wrath	U4
And truly through closed casements roared the noise	B4
Of mighty surging crowds derisive cries	B4
And victims' screams of anguish and affright	T3
Then Raschi royal in his rags began	S
Hear me my liege At that commanding voice	B4
The Bishop who with dazed eyes had perused	T3
The grieved wise beautiful pale face sprang up	V4
Quick recognition in his glance warm joy	W4
Aflame on his broad cheeks No more No more	K2
Thou art the man Give me the hand to kiss	B4
That raised me from the shadow of the grave	X4
In Jaffa's lazar house Listen my liege	Y4
During my pilgrimage to Palestine	S
I sickened with the plague and nigh to death	Z4
Languished 'midst strangers all my crumbling flesh	G
One rotten mass of sores a thing for dogs	B4
To shy from shunned by Christian as by Turk	G4
When lo this clean breathed pure souled blessed youth	Q4
Whom I not knowing for an infidel	M4
Seeing featured like the Christ believed a saint	T3
Sat by my pillow charmed the sting from pain	S
Quenched the fierce fever's heat defeated Death	Z4
And when I was made whole had disappeared	T3
No man knew whither leaving no more trace	B4
Than a re risen angel This is he	O3
Then Raschi who had stood erect nor quailed	T3
From glances of hot hate or crazy wrath	U4
Now sank his eagle gaze stooped his high head	T3
Veiling his glowing brow returned the kiss	B4
Of brother love upon the Christian's hand	T3
And dropping on his knees implored the three	O3
Grace for my tribe They are what ye have made	T3
If any be among them fawning false	B4
Insatiable revengeful ignorant mean	S
And there are many such ask your own hearts	B4
What virtues ye would yield for planted hate	T3
Ribald contempt forced menial servitude	T3
Slow centuries of vengeance for a crime
Ye never did commit Mercy for these	B4
Who bear on back and breast the scathing brand	T3
Of scarlet degradation who are clothed	T3
In ignominious livery whose bowed necks	B4
Are broken with the yoke Change these to men	S
That were a noble witchcraft simply wrought	T3
God's alchemy transforming clods to gold	T3
If there be one among them strong and wise	B4
Whose lips anoint breathe poetry and love	E2
Whose brain and heart served ever Christian need	T3
And there are many such for his dear sake	G4
Lest ye chance murder one of God's high priests	B4
Spare his thrice wretched tribe Believe me sirs	B4
Who have seen various lands searched various hearts	B4
I have yet to touch that undiscovered shore	K2
Have yet to fathom that impossible soul
Where a true benefit's forgot where one	S
Slight deed of common kindness sown yields not	T3
As now as here abundant crop of love	E2
Every good act of man our Talmud says	B4
Creates an angel hovering by his side	T3
Oh what a shining host great Duke shall guard	T3
Thy consecrated throne for all the lives	B4
Thy mercy spares for all the tears thy ruth	Q4
Stops at the source Behold this poor old man	S
Last of a line of princes stricken in years	B4
As thy dead father would have been to day	T3
Was that white beard a rag for obscene hands	B4
To tear a weed for lumpish clowns to pluck	G4
Was that benignant venerable face	B4
Fit target for their foul throats' voided rheum
That wrinkled flesh made to be pulled and pricked	T3
Wounded by flinty pebbles and keen steel	J4
Behold the prostrate patriarchal form
Bruised silent chained Duke such is Israel	A
Unbind these men commanded Vladislaw	A
Go forth and still the tumult of my town	S
Let no Jew suffer violence Raschi rise	B4
Thou who hast served the Christ with this priest's life	I4
Who is my spirit's counselor Christ serves thee	O3
Return among thy people with my seal	A
The talisman of safety Let them know	S
The Duke's their friend Go publish the glad news	B4
Raschi the Saviour Raschi the Messiah	B4
Back to the Jewry carried peace and love	E2
But Narzerad fed his venomed heart with gall	A
Vowing to give his fatal hatred vent	T3
Despite a world of weak fantastic Dukes	B4
And heretic bishops He fulfilled his vow

Emma Lazarus

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