Page:Poems of Emma Lazarus vol 2.djvu/163

Rh My lords of Nordhausen, ahall ye be stunned With Bonnding words? Behold the serpent's akin, Sleek-shining, clear as sunlight; yet his tooth Holds deadly poison. Even as the Jews Did nail the Lord of heaven on the Cross, So will they murder all his followers, When once they have the might. Beware, be-ware!

So you are the accuser, my lord Schnetzen ? Now I confees, before you I am guilty. You are in all this presence, the one man Whom any Jew hath wronged —and I that Jew. Oh, my offence is grievous ; punish me With the utmoat rigor of the law, for theft And violence, whom ye deemed an honest man, But leave my tribe unharmedI I yield my hands Unto your chains, my body to your fires ; Let one life serve for all.

You hear, my lords, How the prevaricating villain shrinks From the absolate trath, yet dares not front his Maker With the full damnable lie hot on his lips.