Julian's Attempt to Build on the Site of the Temple

The crowd is climbing up the sacred hill
With loud acclaim and music — shall we see
Jehovah's irreversible decree
Dogg'd into hiding by the Roman's will?
Shall this proud king our Lord's own words gainsay?
Nay — by that burst of sudden fire which sears
The uplifted hand of labour! by the fears
Of that vast crowd! By Christ and Moses, nay!
The Apostate challenged God on His own ground;
And as His prophet struck the fifties down,
The baffled servants of that older crown —
So now His flames their dazzled sense confound;
For none but He, who did the like before,
Shall change the story of Araunah's floor.