“We sate beside the Babylonian river:
Within the conqueror's bound, weeping we sate;
We hung our harps upon the trees that quiver
Above the rushing waters desolate.
“A song they claimed—the men our tasks who meted—
‘A song of Sion sing us, exile band!’
For song they sued, in pride around us seated;
How can we sing it in the stranger's land?
“If I forget thee, Salem, in thy sadness,
May this right hand forget the harper's art!