To Walter Lionel de Rothschild on His Bar-Mitzvah

THINE is the heritage of ancient birth,

Age upon age hath dawned since first thy race

Was cradled in the empurpled East: the place

Whence seer and king have sprung—the great of earth.

And thine the heritage of higher worth;

The large-souled Charity, whose pitying grace

Hath left nor land nor sea without its trace,

And raised a plenteous harvest ’midst the dearth,

But thine a greater heritage than these;

The heaven-born Faith, thy sires have taught the world;

Which lifts thine eyes to God without surcease,

And bid thee guard His banner, wide unfurled.

That deathless Faith make thou thy steadfast star,

Thy heart shall know a peace no pain can mar.