THE WARNING.

Ye nations of earth, give ear, give ear, From Holy Writ comes the warning true, The voice of the ancient captive seer Through the dim-aisled centuries reaches you. Thus saith the seer: "Ye have lifted high Against his altar your impious hand; From the Lord's spoiled house is heard the cry, 'Destruction swift to this guilty land.'" But a deeper than Belshazzar's wrong Veils the light of these mournful years, And many an eye in the saintly throng Turns from the earth bedimmed with tears. The Holy City by promise given, A precious dower to the spotless bride, Is trodden by feet outlawed, unshriven, And her streets with martyrs' blood are dyed. The crown that ever has fallen as light On holy brows, from the Hand above, Has been torn away by sinful might From him whose rule was a father's love. The deed was by one; the sin by all; By ay, or by silence, ye gave assent; Ye saw the shrine to the spoiler fall, Nor hand ye lifted, nor aid ye lent. O nations of earth! give ear, give ear, From Holy Writ comes the warning true, The voice of the ancient captive seer, From the far-off ages, speaks to you!