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Article THE LEVITE. Page 1 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Levite.
THE LEVITE .
THE hour so frequently predicted by the prophets of the Hebrew nation had arrived , aad Jerusalem , girt by the fierce legions of imperial Rome , must fall ; the desperate courage of the besieged , their patience under the fearful scourge of pestilence and famine , the firm trust which they reposed in the inviolability of the Temple , their vain expectation of a divine manifestation of the Most High in their favour , abstracted from the historical and mystical importance of the eventgilds their
, downfall % \* itl \ an interest so peculiar to tbe fortunes of that remarkable people . From the open curtains of his silken tent , on the summit of Mount Olivet , Titus , the mispraiscd for clemency , gazed on the scene below . The condemned city rose in graceful majesty before him , her many domes , anil the lofty pinacles of her unrivalled Temple distinctly shown by the light of an eastern moon , that lingered o ' er them as in sorrow for their desolation . Aware of the brutal and unrestrained
licence of his soldiery , inflamed to an unusual degree by the protracted defence of the besieged , the wily general bad , after carrying the second wall , intermitted the assault for four days , in the hope of terrifying the Jews into a surrender , and preserving the Temple uninjured , that he might dedicate it to his heathen gods , and secure the persons of the priests alive to grace his triumphant entry into Rome . The desperate Israelites ivere alike unmoved by promises and threats , his messengers were punished with death if they approached the walls , even the fearful spectacle of five hundred of their brethren crucified daily within their sight by tlie detested cruelty of Titus , failed to change their resolution ;
with their arrows they endeavoured to terminate the protracted sufferings of the victims . " Obstinate slaves , " muttered the Roman , " whom experience cannot teach , or chastisement bend ; I will wash out the stain cast upon my arms with blood , in captivity , the mines , the galley , upon the wheel , long shall you tremble at the name of Titus ; " his reverie ivas interrupted by tlie entrance of ' his favourite , Claudius , to announce to him the approach of two captives of superior rank , who had fallen
into the hands of the outguard of the camp . This young soldier really merited the character for bravery and clemency which the zeal of flatterers have assigned to Titus ; for several years he had commanded a legion stationed in Jerusalem , and if report erred not , loved unsuccessfully one of her fairest daughters . Throwing himself upon his ivory chair , the tyrant impatiently commanded the captives to be dragged before him ; preceded by several commanderswhose rank entitled them
, to tlie privilege , tlie guard entered the tent with their prisoners , an aged emaciated man , whose white robes showed him of the sacred order of Levites , and a female , thin to attenuation , deeply veiled , who leaned upon her companion for support ; the captive-priest knew in whose presence he stood , for the golden victory in the tent plainly indicated the imperial rank ; yet he neither bent the knee in supplication , or inclined his head in homagebut remained gazing in calm dignity around .
, " Why speaks net the slave ? " exclaimed the Reman , incensed at his contemptuous silence ; the old man answered not . " Art dumb ?" ! t Titus , " said the Levite , with dignity , *"* " a priest of the living God answers not , even to a lloman prince , by that injurious name . 1 am a cajitive , if you will , but not a slave . " " Insolent priest , " replied Titus ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Levite.
THE LEVITE .
THE hour so frequently predicted by the prophets of the Hebrew nation had arrived , aad Jerusalem , girt by the fierce legions of imperial Rome , must fall ; the desperate courage of the besieged , their patience under the fearful scourge of pestilence and famine , the firm trust which they reposed in the inviolability of the Temple , their vain expectation of a divine manifestation of the Most High in their favour , abstracted from the historical and mystical importance of the eventgilds their
, downfall % \* itl \ an interest so peculiar to tbe fortunes of that remarkable people . From the open curtains of his silken tent , on the summit of Mount Olivet , Titus , the mispraiscd for clemency , gazed on the scene below . The condemned city rose in graceful majesty before him , her many domes , anil the lofty pinacles of her unrivalled Temple distinctly shown by the light of an eastern moon , that lingered o ' er them as in sorrow for their desolation . Aware of the brutal and unrestrained
licence of his soldiery , inflamed to an unusual degree by the protracted defence of the besieged , the wily general bad , after carrying the second wall , intermitted the assault for four days , in the hope of terrifying the Jews into a surrender , and preserving the Temple uninjured , that he might dedicate it to his heathen gods , and secure the persons of the priests alive to grace his triumphant entry into Rome . The desperate Israelites ivere alike unmoved by promises and threats , his messengers were punished with death if they approached the walls , even the fearful spectacle of five hundred of their brethren crucified daily within their sight by tlie detested cruelty of Titus , failed to change their resolution ;
with their arrows they endeavoured to terminate the protracted sufferings of the victims . " Obstinate slaves , " muttered the Roman , " whom experience cannot teach , or chastisement bend ; I will wash out the stain cast upon my arms with blood , in captivity , the mines , the galley , upon the wheel , long shall you tremble at the name of Titus ; " his reverie ivas interrupted by tlie entrance of ' his favourite , Claudius , to announce to him the approach of two captives of superior rank , who had fallen
into the hands of the outguard of the camp . This young soldier really merited the character for bravery and clemency which the zeal of flatterers have assigned to Titus ; for several years he had commanded a legion stationed in Jerusalem , and if report erred not , loved unsuccessfully one of her fairest daughters . Throwing himself upon his ivory chair , the tyrant impatiently commanded the captives to be dragged before him ; preceded by several commanderswhose rank entitled them
, to tlie privilege , tlie guard entered the tent with their prisoners , an aged emaciated man , whose white robes showed him of the sacred order of Levites , and a female , thin to attenuation , deeply veiled , who leaned upon her companion for support ; the captive-priest knew in whose presence he stood , for the golden victory in the tent plainly indicated the imperial rank ; yet he neither bent the knee in supplication , or inclined his head in homagebut remained gazing in calm dignity around .
, " Why speaks net the slave ? " exclaimed the Reman , incensed at his contemptuous silence ; the old man answered not . " Art dumb ?" ! t Titus , " said the Levite , with dignity , *"* " a priest of the living God answers not , even to a lloman prince , by that injurious name . 1 am a cajitive , if you will , but not a slave . " " Insolent priest , " replied Titus ,