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Home  »  The Standard Book of Jewish Verse  »  “The Age of Toleration”

Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917.

By Arthur Upton

“The Age of Toleration”

WHAT this “the age of toleration”—Yet

’Tis well so named for you that wield Earth’s state:

’Tis a vast, bloody show ye tolerate,

Mute mouths, glazed eyes, round Hate’s arena set!

Behold your “Christian” robes all dabbled wet,

With human crimson, stains which to abate

No throat thrills out—(though soft ye come, too late

With bootless gold and maudlin, vain regret!)

Comes this of Fear, great Nations? Can it be

None dares the dripping monster’s bloodshot eye?

Not pious Germany, not ransomed Gaul,

Proud Britain, nor— Oh, shame, thy form to see

With theirs, my country! leaning from thy stall,

Pale but still mute, while Hell goes glittering by!