Let Us Depart!

Night hung on Salem’s towers,And a brooding hush profoundLay where the Roman eagle shoneHigh o’er the tents around--

The tents that rose by thousands,In the moonlight glimmering pale;Like white waves of a frozen seaFilling an Alpine vale.

And the Temple’s massy shadowFell broad, and dark, and still,In peace--as if the Holy OneYet watch’d his chosen hill.

But a fearful sound was heardIn that old fane’s deepest heart,As if mighty wings rush’d by,And a dread voice raised the cry,“Let us depart!”

Within the fated cityE’en then fierce discord raved,Though o’er night’s heaven the comet-swordIts vengeful token waved.

There were shouts of kindred warfareThrough the dark streets ringing high,Though every sign was full which toldOf the bloody vintage nigh;

Though the wild red spears and arrowsOf many a meteor hostWent flashing o’er the holy stars,In the sky now seen, now lost.

And that fearful sound was heardIn the Temple’s deepest heart,As if mighty wings rush’d by,And a voice cried mournfully,“Let us depart!”

But within the fated cityThere was revelry that night--The wine-cup and the timbrel note,And the blaze of banquet-light.

The footsteps of the dancerWent bounding through the hall,And the music of the dulcimerSummon’d to festival:

While the clash of brother-weaponsMade lightning in the air,And the dying at the palace gatesLay down in their despair;

And that fearful sound was heardAt the Temple’s thrilling heart,As if mighty wings rush’d by,And a dread voice raised the cry,“Let us depart!”