Page:Works of Voltaire Volume 16.djvu/43

 Rh Condemned to exile, I chastised the rebel Too lightly, and his insolence returns With double force to punish my indulgence. He fled with Fatima from cave to cave, And suffered chains, contempt and banishment; Meantime the fury which he called divine Spread like a subtle poison through the crowd; Medina was infected: Omar then, To reason’s voice attentive, would have stopped The impetuous torrent; he had courage then And virtue to attack the proud usurper, Though now he crouches to him like a slave. If thy proud master be indeed a prophet, How didst thou dare to punish him? or why, If an impostor, wilt thou dare to serve him?

I punished him because I knew him not; But now, the veil of ignorance removed, I see him as he is; behold him born To change the astonished world, and rule mankind: When I beheld him rise in awful pomp, Intrepid, eloquent, by all admired, By all adored; beheld him speak and act, Punish and pardon like a god, I lent My little aid, and joined the conqueror. Altars, thou knowest, and thrones were our reward; Once I was blind, like thee, but, thanks to heaven! My eyes are opened now; would, Zopir, thine Were open, too! let me entreat thee, change, As I have done; no longer boast thy zeal And cruel hatred, nor blaspheme our God, But fall submissive at the hero’s feet Whom thou hast injured; kiss the hand that bears The angry lightning, lest it fall upon thee.