 | American poems, selected and original |  |
21
The PROPHECY of BALAAM.
Numbers: Chap. xxiii. 24.
An Irregular Ode. Written, Anno 1773.
BY THE SAME.
I.
On lofty Peor's brow,That rears its forehead to the sky,
And sees the airy vapours fly,
And clouds in bright expansion sail below,
Sublime the Prophet stood.
Beneath its pine-clad side,
The distant world her various landscape yeilds;
Winding vales and lengthening fields,
Streams in sunny maze that flow'd;
Stretch'd immense in prospect wide
Forests green in summer's pride;
Waving glory gilds the main,
The dazzling sun ascending high;
While earth's blue verge at distance dimly seen,
Spreads from the aching sight, and fades into the sky.
II.
Beneath his feet along the level plain,The host of Israel stretch'd in deep array;
Their tents rose frequent on the enamell'd green;
Bright to the winds the colour'd streamers play.
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In awful steel the embattled heroes stood;
High o'er the shaded ark in terror rose
The cloud, the dark pavilion of their God.
Before the Seer's unwilling eyes,
The years unborn ascend in sight.
He saw their opening morn arise,
Bright in the sun shine of the favoring skies;
While from the unsufferable light,
Fled the dire demons of opposing night.
No more, elate with Stygian aid,
He waves the wand's enchanted power,
And baleful thro the hallow'd glade,
His magic footsteps rove no more.
Fill'd with prophetic fire, he lifts his hand,
O'er the dim host in deep array;
And aw'd by Heaven's supreme command,
Pours forth the rapture of the living lay.
III.
Fair, oh Israel, are thy tents!Blest the banners of thy fame!
Blest the dwelling of the saints,
Where their God displays his name!
Fair as these vales, that stretch their lawns so wide,
As gardens smile, in flowery meadows fair,
As rising cedars on the streamlet's side,
That lift their branches to the fragrant air!
Vain is magic's deadly force,
Vain the dire enchanter's spell,
Waving wand, or charmed curse,
Vain the pride, the rage of hell!
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I see the eternal powers reveal'd,
And all the lengthen'd plains below
O'ershrouded by the Almighty shield!
God, their guardian God, descends,
And o'er the favor'd host Omnipotence extends.
IV.
And see, bright Judah's star ascendingFires the east with crimson day,
Aweful o'er his foes impending,
Pours wide the lightning of his ray,
And flames destruction on the opposing world!
Death's broad banners, dark, unfurl'd,
Wave o'er his blood-encircled way!
Scepter'd king of Moab, hear,
Deeds, that future times await,
Deadly triumph, war severe,
Israel's pride, and Moab's fate!
What echoing terrors burst upon my ear!
What aweful forms in ghastly horror rise!
Empurpled rage, pale ruin, heart-struck fear,
In scenes of blood ascend, and skim before my eyes!
V.
Dimly on the skirt of nightO'er thy sons the cloud impends,
Louring storm with wild affright
Loud the astonish'd ether rends.
Long hosts, emblaz'd with sun-bright shields appear,
And victory severe
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Arm'd with the bolts of fate,
Impending navies wait;
Above, around, the shout of ruin roars.
For nought avails, that clad in spiry pride,
Thy rising cities glitter'd on the day;
The vengeful arms wave devastation wide,
And give thy pompous domes to mouldering flames a prey.
VI.
Edom bows her lofty head;Seer submits her vanquish'd bands;
Amalek, of hosts the dread,
Sinks beneath their wasting hands.
See, whelm'd in smoky heaps, the ruin'd walls,
Rise o'er thy sons' unhappy grave;
Low their blasted glory falls;
Vain the pride that could not save!
Israel's swords arrest their prey;
Back to swift fate thy frighted standards turn;
Black desolation rolls along their way;
War sweeps in front, and flames behind them burn:
And death, and dire dismay,
Unfold their universal grave, and ope the mighty urn.
| American poems, selected and original | |