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Then fell a sudden shadow on the page；
And； lifting up his eyes； grown dim with age
He saw the Angel of Death before him stand；
Holding a naked sword in his right hand。
Rabbi Ben Levi was a righteous man；
Yet through his veins a chill of terror ran。
With trembling voice he said； 〃What wilt thou here？〃
The angel answered； 〃Lo！ the time draws near
When thou must die； yet first； by God's decree；
Whate'er thou askest shall be granted thee。〃
Replied the Rabbi； 〃Let these living eyes
First look upon my place in Paradise。〃
Then said the Angel； 〃Come with me and look。〃
Rabbi Ben Levi closed the sacred book；
And rising； and uplifting his gray head；
〃Give me thy sword；〃 he to the Angel said；
〃Lest thou shouldst fall upon me by the way。〃
The angel smiled and hastened to obey；
Then led him forth to the Celestial Town；
And set him on the wall； whence； gazing down；
Rabbi Ben Levi； with his living eyes；
Might look upon his place in Paradise。
Then straight into the city of the Lord
The Rabbi leaped with the Death…Angel's sword；
And through the streets there swept a sudden breath
Of something there unknown； which men call death。
Meanwhile the Angel stayed without and cried；
〃Come back！〃 To which the Rabbi's voice replied；
〃No！ in the name of God； whom I adore；
I swear that hence I will depart no more！〃
Then all the Angels cried； 〃O Holy One；
See what the son of Levi here hath done！
The kingdom of Heaven he takes by violence；
And in Thy name refuses to go hence！〃
The Lord replied； 〃My Angels； be not wroth；
Did e'er the son of Levi break his oath？
Let him remain； for he with mortal eye
Shall look upon my face and yet not die。〃
Beyond the outer wall the Angel of Death
Heard the great voice； and said； with panting breath；
〃Give back the sword； and let me go my way。〃
Whereat the Rabbi paused； and answered； 〃Nay！
Anguish enough already hath it caused
Among the sons of men。〃 And while he paused
He heard the awful mandate of the Lord
Resounding through the air； 〃Give back the sword！〃
The Rabbi bowed his head in silent prayer；
Then said he to the dreadful Angel； 〃Swear；
No human eye shall look on it again；
But when thou takest away the souls of men；
Thyself unseen； and with an unseen sword；
Thou wilt perform the bidding of the Lord。〃
The Angel took the sword again； and swore；
And walks on earth unseen forevermore。
INTERLUDE
He ended： and a kind of spell
Upon the silent listeners fell。
His solemn manner and his words
Had touched the deep； mysterious chords；
That vibrate in each human breast
Alike； but not alike confessed。
The spiritual world seemed near；
And close above them； full of fear；
Its awful adumbration passed；
A luminous shadow； vague and vast。
They almost feared to look； lest there；
Embodied from the impalpable air；
They might behold the Angel stand；
Holding the sword in his right hand。
At last； but in a voice subdued；
Not to disturb their dreamy mood；
Said the Sicilian： 〃While you spoke；
Telling your legend marvellous；
Suddenly in my memory woke
The thought of one； now gone from us；
An old Abate； meek and mild；
My friend and teacher； when a child；
Who sometimes in those days of old
The legend of an Angel told；
Which ran； as I remember； thus？'
THE SICILIAN'S TALE
KING ROBERT OF SICILY
Robert of Sicily； brother of Pope Urbane
And Valmond； Emperor of Allemaine；
Apparelled in magnificent attire；
With retinue of many a knight and squire；
On St。 John's eve； at vespers； proudly sat
And heard the priests chant the Magnificat；
And as he listened； o'er and o'er again
Repeated； like a burden or refrain；
He caught the words； 〃Deposuit potentes
De sede； et exaltavit humiles〃；
And slowly lifting up his kingly head
He to a learned clerk beside him said；
〃What mean these words？〃 The clerk made answer meet；
〃He has put down the mighty from their seat；
And has exalted them of low degree。〃
Thereat King Robert muttered scornfully；
〃'T is well that such seditious words are sung
Only by priests and in the Latin tongue；
For unto priests and people be it known；
There is no power can push me from my throne！〃
And leaning back； he yawned and fell asleep；
Lulled by the chant monotonous and deep。
When he awoke； it was already night；
The church was empty； and there was no light；
Save where the lamps； that glimmered few and faint；
Lighted a little space before some saint。
He started from his seat and gazed around；
But saw no living thing and heard no sound。
He groped towards the door； but it was locked；
He cried aloud； and listened； and then knocked；
And uttered awful threatenings and complaints；
And imprecations upon men and saints。
The sounds re…echoed from the roof and walls
As if dead priests were laughing in their stalls。
At length the sexton； hearing from without
The tumult of the knocking and the shout；
And thinking thieves were in the house of prayer；
Came with his lantern； asking； 〃Who is there？〃
Half choked with rage； King Robert fiercely said；
〃Open： 'tis I； the King！ Art thou afraid？〃
The frightened sexton； muttering； with a curse；
〃This is some drunken vagabond； or worse！〃
Turned the great key and flung the portal wide；
A man rushed by him at a single stride；
Haggard； half naked； without hat or cloak；
Who neither turned； nor looked at him； nor spoke；
But leaped into the blackness of the night；
And vanished like a spectre from his sight。
Robert of Sicily； brother of Pope Urbane
And Valmond； Emperor of Allemaine；
Despoiled of his magnificent attire；
Bareheaded； breathless； and besprent with mire；
With sense of wrong and outrage desperate；
Strode on and thundered at the palace gate；
Rushed through the courtyard； thrusting in his rage
To right and left each seneschal and page；
And hurried up the broad and sounding stair；
His white face ghastly in the torches' glare。
From hall to hall he passed with breathless speed；
Voices and cries he heard； but did not heed；
Until at last he reached the banquet…room；
Blazing with light and breathing with perfume。
There on the dais sat another king；
Wearing his robes； his crown； his signet…ring；
King Robert's self in features； form； and height；
But all transfigured with angelic light！
It was an Angel； and his presence there
With a divine effulgence filled the air；
An exaltation； piercing the disguise；
Though none the hidden Angel recognize。
A moment speechless； motionless； amazed；
The throneless monarch on the Angel gazed；
Who met his look of anger and surprise
With the divine compassion of his eyes；
Then said； 〃Who art thou？ and why com'st thou here？〃
To which King Robert answered； with a sneer；
〃I am the King； and come to claim my own
From an impostor； who usurps my throne！〃
And suddenly； at these audacious words；
Up sprang the angry guests； and drew their swords；