We are not in our proper sphere, Here, all we do is fag on. Now, were we left to choose our line, We'd serve beneath the 'Angel' sign, And give up the 'Green Dragon.' TURN AGAIN! (2) [Talmud Jerusalem, Haggada ii. Halacha i.] ELISHA BEN ABUJA, deeply skilled In mysteries of science, and a Rabbi filled And, from the childlike faith he had before, And changed his name, and lived a Gentile life. Then to the Rabbi, weeping, came his wife, D But Gentile Acher cannot be the same, Then drew his father nigh, with silvery head Is he hight Acher. Woe! I had a son ; But these grey hairs bow to the grave with none And next his mother, with a bitter cry, Rent out her hair, and strewed it to the sky, And now are torn away, and from me flung, In sweet old times, now I see only night.' His pupil Meir alone to him remained, His equal is not found in Israel ; I eat the nut, and cast aside the shell.' And thus, for five long years did Meir his seat And all this while, the Holy Law of God It came to pass one Sabbath day, they went And thus they fared, till Acher turned his head, 'I reckon from the pacing of thy feet, That thou hast reached the limit that is meet So refrain To journey on the Sabbath. Turn again.' Then halted Meir, and looking in the face Of his old master, said: 'Do thou retrace The journey thou hast trod. Why shouldst thou roam An exile from thy Faith, from thy True Home? A Rabbi thou, and thou a reprobate ! Turn thee, Elisha ben Abuja! Turn again!' 'I cannot,' answered, with a spasm of pain Have burst through all restraints unto the last; Then cried the pupil, with distilling tear, 'O listen but one moment, master dear! Here is a school, come with me through the door, That they have learn'd; perchance, some word may be Stood at the school door, with a mournful smile Recite the lessons ye this day have learned, |