1) Heretics.
Not the sleek snake in anthill coil’d I dread;
nor feigned truth of men of lies,-
As I, in sooth, feel fear at night of those
who have not learnt the Lofty-One
To know; who near the Foot of the Brow-Ey’d,-
our Lord, crown’d with the braided-lock,-
Yet think there’s other God. When these unlearn’d we see,-
AH ME! WE FEEL NO DREAD LIKE THIS! || 4 ||
2) False teachers.
I shudder not, though evil yearnings rise;
nor fear, though sea of deeds o’erwhelm!
Beside His sacred Form, our Lord of lords,-
in which the Two no change discerned,
When name of other gods,- what’er they be,-
by lips profane is but pronounc’d:
If I see those, who loathe not such discourse,-
AH ME! WE FEEL NO DREAD LIKE THIS! || 8 ||
3) The unloving.
I dread not mighty jav’lin, dripping gore;
nor glance of maids with jewell’d arms!
But those that will not sweetly taste His grace,-
Whose glance can melt the inmost soul,-
Who dances in the hallow’d court,- my Gem
unstain’d and pure,- nor praise His Name:-
Such men of loveless hearts when we behold,-
AH ME! WE FEEL NO DREAD LIKE THIS! || 12 ||
4) The unfeeling.
I dread not chatter vain of parrot-tongues;
nor fear their guileful wanton smile!
If, drawing nigh the Vethian’s feet, Whose Form
the sacred ashes white displays,
Men’s souls nor melt, nor weep they worshipping,
their eyes with gushing teardrops fill’d:
If these, of tender feeling void, we see,-
AH ME! WE FEEL NO DREAD LIKE THIS! || 16 ||
5) The undevout.
I fear not, though diseases all should come;
nor dread I birth with death conjoin’d!
The crescent moon as ornament He wears,
yet men praise not His roseate Feet,
|| Which Mal, though the firm ground He clave, saw not, ||
nor join His worshippers devout!
If those that wear not ashes white we see,-
AH ME! WE FEEL NO DREAD LIKE THIS! || 20 ||
6) Not real worshippers.
I dread not angry flash of gleaming fires;
nor fear, though mountains on me roll !
His shoulders ashes wear, Lord of the Bull,
Sire, passing utterance of speech,-
Yet men praise not His lotus Feet, nor bow,
nor crown them with the full-blown flower!
If those hard hearts, that yield not to His power we see,-
AH ME! WE FEEL NO DREAD LIKE THIS! || 24 ||
7) Devoid of enthusiasm.
Not guilt unseemly that swift vengeance brings;
nor stroke of instant death I dread!
He dances in the beauteous court, and waves
‘mid smoking clouds His fiery axe;
The cassia-wreath, all bright with jewell’d buds,
He wears, of beings First! Yet men
Praise not His Foot! If these, unmov’d by grace we see,-
AH ME! WE FEEL NO DREAD LIKE THIS! || 28 ||
8) No high aspirations.
I fear not elephant to pillar chain’d;
nor tiger fiery-eyed I dread!
The Sire, whose crest sweet fragrance sheds,- His Feet
that heav’nly ones may not approach,-
Men praise not, nor with triumph haste
within His shrine to sweetly live !
If we behold these men of wisdom reft,-
AH ME! WE FEEL NO DREAD LIKE THIS! || 32 ||
9) False shame.
I fear not thunderbolt from out the cloud;
nor changing confidence of kings!
Our Lord of lords the very poison made
Ambrosia, by His gracious act;
He makes us His in way of righteousness;
yet men smear not the sacred ash!
If those who from His side shrink thus we see,-
AH ME! WE FEEL NO DREAD LIKE THIS! || 36 ||
10) Men that worship not.
I dread not arrow that unswerving flies;
nor wrath of death’s dread King, I fear !
Him Whose adornment is the mighty moon
men praise not, nor with hymns adore;
They ponder not eith souls subdued, while tears
from brighty beaming eyes pour forth.
These thankless men,- not men !- if we behold,-
AH ME! WE FEEL NO DREAD LIKE THIS! || 40 ||