Selected Poems (Engelse vertaling)

xxviii INTRODUCTION

the first of the dialogues we might almost argue
that the poet possessed dramatic gifts, though
he appears never to have attempted to write
a formal drama.

Our reference to the Khazari reminds us of
yet another of Jehudah Halevi ^,s contradictions,
a contradiction which, however, we must not
take too seriously. Let us listen to part of a
conversation between the Khazar King and his
Rabbi interlocutor, as rendered into English
by Dr. H. Hirschfeld. Discussing with the
Rabbi the qualities of the Hebrew language,
the King of the Khazars remarks:

״Thou wilt only succeed in placing it thus on an
equality with other languages. But where is its pre-
eminence? Other languages surpass it in songs metric-
ally constructed and set to music."

The Rabbi: ״It is obvious that a tune is indepen-
dent of the metre, or of the lesser or greater numbers
of syllables.... Rhymed poems, however, which are
recited, and possess good metre, are neglected for
something higher and more useful. ..."

A1 Khazari: ״It is but proper that mere beauty of
sound should yield to lucidity of speech. Harmony
pleases the ear, but exactness makes the meaning clear.
I see, however, that you Jews long for a prosody, in