REDEMPTION. 17
O'er Israel's plains resound Prepare the way; Let deserts as the rose and highways bloom, Let mountains sing, and forests join their voice, To hail Messias, Israel's Saviour, near? It ill beseems that grief should rack the breast, Tears dim the eye, of Israel's chosen seed, Who chiefest should rejoice, for whom he cotnes, -And to whom chief the promises were giv'n."
Thus he smiling, as angels oft are wont To srnile at pious griefs, knowing the while, Who most are loved, are most severely tried, Then with fruition crown'd of heav'nly joys. To whom, dolorous, Joachim replied :
"Who art thou, fair young man, that smil'st at grief, Unfelt perhaps, and therefore hardly known ? Thy words bespeak thee not a stranger here, Nor alien to the Hope of Israel's house."
" No stranger truly," Abdiel return'd, " Though I, this day, long way have come, perchance To comfort thee, unless thy heart forestall My kind intent, and stubbornly refuse, What I would fain bestow. But rise, and leave This wild, which brooks nor comfort nor repose. Know'st thou not, nor car'st, thy faithful spouse seeks Thee sorrowing, and mourns thy long delay?
Thus he, with sweetest accent, soon disposed His list'niug ear, persuasive touch'd his heart, And gently led the way, whilst Joachim, Unconsciously impell'd, his griefs disclosed.
" Truth manifests thy kindly words, young man. Ill it beseems the chosen seed to mourn, On th' eve of Israel's great Deliv'rer's birth.
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