Anecdotes of Destiny and Ehrengard by Dinesen Isak & Blixen Karen

Author:Dinesen, Isak & Blixen, Karen [Dinesen, Isak & Blixen, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Classics, Fantasy, Historical
ISBN: 9780307790897
Goodreads: 11149622
Publisher: Vintage
Published: 1958-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

III. THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAH

In the party of Jews who in their flight from Poland had taken Elishama with them, there had been a very old man who had died on the way. Before he died he gave the child the piece of paper in the red bag. Elishama tied it round his neck, and managed to keep it there for many years, mainly because during this time he rarely undressed. He could not read, and did not know what was written on it.

But when in London he learned to read, and was told that people set a value on written matter; he took his paper out and found it to be written in letters different from those he had been taught. His master from time to time sent him on an errand to a dark and dirty little pawnshop, the owner of which was an unfrocked clergyman. Elishama took the paper to this man and asked him if it meant anything. When he was informed that it was written in Hebrew, he suggested that the pawnbroker should translate it to him for a fee of three pence. The old man read the paper through and recognized its contents; he looked them up in their own place, copied them out in English and gravely accepted the three pence. The boy, from now on, kept both the original and the translation in his small red bag.

In order to help Mr. Clay, Elishama now took the bag from his box. Under other circumstances he would not have done so, for it brought with it notions of darkness and horror and the dim picture of a friend. Elishama did not want friends any more than Mr. Clay did. They were, to him, people who suffered and perished—the word itself meant separation and loss, tears and blood dripped from it.

Thus it came about that a few nights later, when Elishama had finished reading the accounts to Mr. Clay, and the old man growled and prepared to send him off, the clerk took from his pocket a small dirty sheet of paper and said: “Here, Mr. Clay, is something that I shall read to you.” Mr. Clay turned his pale eyes to the reader’s face. Elishama read out:

“The wilderness and the solitary places shall be glad for them. And the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly. And sing even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it …”

“What is that?” Mr. Clay asked angrily.

Elishama laid down his paper. “That, Mr. Clay,” he said, “is what you have asked for. Something besides the account books, which people have put together and written down.” He continued:

“The excellency of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord. And the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands. And confirm the feeble knees. Say to them …”

“What is it? Where did you get it?” Mr. Clay again asked.

Elishama held up his hand to impose silence, and read:

“Say to them that are of a fearful heart: be strong, fear not.

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