Their priests interpret, and their flocks discuss. But while these gifted men, a favoured fold, 180 New powers exhibit and new worlds behold; Is there not danger lest their minds confound The pure above them with the gross around? May not these Phaetons, who thus contrive 'Twixt heaven above and earth beneath to drive, When from their flaming chariots they descend, The worlds they visit in their fancies blend? Alas! too sure on both they bring disgrace; Their earth is crazy, and their heav'n is base. We have, it seems, who treat, and doubtless well, 190 Of a chastising, not awarding hell; Who are assured that an offended God Will cease to use the thunder and the rod; A soul on earth, by crime and folly stain'd, When here corrected, has improvement gain'd-- In other state still more improved to grow, And nobler powers in happier world to know; New strength to use in each divine employ, And, more enjoying, looking to more joy. A pleasing vision! could we thus be sure 200 Polluted souls would be at length so pure; The view is happy, we may think it just, It may be true--but who shall add it must? To the plain words and sense of sacred writ, With all my heart I reverently submit; But, where it leaves me doubtful, I'm afraid To call conjecture to my reason's aid; Thy thoughts, thy ways, great God! are not as mine, And to thy mercy I my soul resign. Jews are with us, but far unlike to those, 210 Who, led by David, warr'd with Israel's foes; Unlike to those whom his imperial son Taught truths divine--the preacher Solomon: Nor war nor wisdom yield our Jews delight; They will not study, and they dare not fight[45]. These are, with us, a slavish, knavish crew, Shame and dishonour to the name of Jew; The poorest masters of the meanest arts, With cunning heads, and cold and cautious hearts; They grope their dirty way to petty gains, 220 While poorly paid for their nefarious pains. Amazing race! deprived of land and laws, A general language, and a public cause; With a religion none can now obey, With a reproach that none can take away: A people still, whose common ties are gone; Who, mix'd with every race, are lost in none. What said their prophet?--"Shouldst thou disobey, The Lord shall take thee from thy land away; Thou shalt a by-word and a proverb be, 230 And all shall wonder at thy woes and thee; Daughter and son shalt thou, while captive, have, And see them made the bond-maid and the slave; He, whom thou leav'st, the Lord thy God, shall bring War to thy country on an eagle-wing: A people strong and dreadful to behold, Stern to the young, remorseless to the old; Masters, whose speech thou canst not understand, By cruel signs shall give the harsh command;