 | Israel in Egypt |  |
Thus having spoken, tenderly he raised
The twain, yet kneeling; and, when they stood up,
Upon the forehead kissed them. Silently,
Hand clasped in hand, in holy joy stood they;
And he, with love and admiration filled,
Silent stood likewise, gazing.
The twain, yet kneeling; and, when they stood up,
Upon the forehead kissed them. Silently,
Hand clasped in hand, in holy joy stood they;
And he, with love and admiration filled,
Silent stood likewise, gazing.
All this while,—
To his bad office true,—unseen, he hoped,
By angel's ken,—or even the eye of God,—
Beelzebub, the spy and tempter, still
Nigh Moses watching, every word and look,
Heedfully marked; of every secret thought,
Subtle conjecture made: nor less on her,
That virgin pure, and on that spotless youth,
His burning Spirit-eye, exploring, fixed;
Hoping, of God's great purpose, undivulged,
Through them to be wrought out, that he might learn,—
All noting, and all weighing. Nor failed he,
Though thus intent, his more peculiar task
Also to ply,—from path of righteousness
Moses to lure; that so might God be foiled;
His chosen one cast down. By promise of wealth
Exhaustless,—Egypt's throne—Israel's release,—
Seductions strong,—already had he tried
The faithful servant; but had been repulsed,
Vanquished, and put to flight: yet stronger lure
Given to his hand, now thought he; that strange power
Of woman's beauty,—over heart of man
Oft irresistible proved: and when, before,
Had beauty like to that on which he gazed,—
Beauty, which even the loftiest Spirit of heaven
Might fix in wonder,—when, till now, on such,
Had eye of mortal looked! Intemperate thoughts,
Surely, thus on her gazing; her fair head
With spread palm touching; on her open brow
His lips impressing,—surely, carnal thoughts,
If human were he, must in Moses rise;
Though faint perchance, and with strong will subdued,—
Like fire down trodden, yet alive within,
And, breathed upon, of flame still capable.
Eagerly, therefore, in that righteous heart
Sought he to enter; that, if spark he found
Of love impure, to very ecstacy
Of madness he might blow it; and so bring
Destruction on him. But, as mail of steel
The pointless arrow laughs at,—even so,
The perfect panoply of holiness
That heart 'gainst entrance of foul thing made strong;
Nay, of attack insensible: for a thought
Toward that fair virgin, less than angel's pure,
None had he; on her gazing sinlessly,
As on the richest flower from plains of Heaven,
By seraph brought, sinless he might have gazed.
To his bad office true,—unseen, he hoped,
By angel's ken,—or even the eye of God,—
Beelzebub, the spy and tempter, still
Nigh Moses watching, every word and look,
Heedfully marked; of every secret thought,
Subtle conjecture made: nor less on her,
That virgin pure, and on that spotless youth,
His burning Spirit-eye, exploring, fixed;
Hoping, of God's great purpose, undivulged,
Through them to be wrought out, that he might learn,—
All noting, and all weighing. Nor failed he,
Though thus intent, his more peculiar task
Also to ply,—from path of righteousness
Moses to lure; that so might God be foiled;
His chosen one cast down. By promise of wealth
Exhaustless,—Egypt's throne—Israel's release,—
Seductions strong,—already had he tried
The faithful servant; but had been repulsed,
Vanquished, and put to flight: yet stronger lure
Given to his hand, now thought he; that strange power
Of woman's beauty,—over heart of man
Oft irresistible proved: and when, before,
Had beauty like to that on which he gazed,—
113
Might fix in wonder,—when, till now, on such,
Had eye of mortal looked! Intemperate thoughts,
Surely, thus on her gazing; her fair head
With spread palm touching; on her open brow
His lips impressing,—surely, carnal thoughts,
If human were he, must in Moses rise;
Though faint perchance, and with strong will subdued,—
Like fire down trodden, yet alive within,
And, breathed upon, of flame still capable.
Eagerly, therefore, in that righteous heart
Sought he to enter; that, if spark he found
Of love impure, to very ecstacy
Of madness he might blow it; and so bring
Destruction on him. But, as mail of steel
The pointless arrow laughs at,—even so,
The perfect panoply of holiness
That heart 'gainst entrance of foul thing made strong;
Nay, of attack insensible: for a thought
Toward that fair virgin, less than angel's pure,
None had he; on her gazing sinlessly,
As on the richest flower from plains of Heaven,
By seraph brought, sinless he might have gazed.
| Israel in Egypt | |