You must not weep and quail!

And in--and out,--she leaps. Once more!
Poor girl, it has not served you.
No purer are you than before:
A Gentile has observed you!

And into th' icy flood again,
In terror wild she leaps!
The white limbs shudder... all in vain!
The Christian still he peeps.

The frost and cold, they burn and bite,
The women rub their fingers,
The lovely child grows white and white,
As on the bank she lingers.

"The Law, my child, we must fulfill,
The scoundrel see depart!
Yet once! 'tis but a moment's chill,
'Tis but a trifling smart!"

The white-faced child the Law has kept,
The covenant unstained,
For in the waters deep she leapt,
And there below remained.