Israel in Egypt A Poem. By Edwin Atherstone |
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 | Israel in Egypt |  |
“I cannot help thee,” Pharaoh shouted back!
“If but one instant I throw ope the door,
The curse will burst upon us. Think, my son,—
What would it profit thee that, like the rest,
Thy sire and mother were stung? We now are safe.
The plague will quickly die: then bear it ye
As best ye may; or, as I bid you, haste,
And end it with your swords, deep in the hearts
Of those accurs'd magicians. Or, if blind
Wholly ye are, then from the windows call
Upon the people, saying, ‘the king wills
That forthwith ye make speed, and put to death
Moses and Aaron, who this scourge have sent;
Then shall it cease.’”
“If but one instant I throw ope the door,
The curse will burst upon us. Think, my son,—
What would it profit thee that, like the rest,
Thy sire and mother were stung? We now are safe.
The plague will quickly die: then bear it ye
As best ye may; or, as I bid you, haste,
And end it with your swords, deep in the hearts
Of those accurs'd magicians. Or, if blind
Wholly ye are, then from the windows call
Upon the people, saying, ‘the king wills
That forthwith ye make speed, and put to death
Moses and Aaron, who this scourge have sent;
Then shall it cease.’”
“Oh Pharaoh,” cried aloud
A voice without; “so would it never cease:
If they who sent, revoke it not, who else
May their dread spell call back? Send, rather, thou,
Light of the Sun, to those dread men, and say;
‘Take off this curse, and Israel shall go free.’
Then will they hearken; and our misery end:
Else quickly end must we, and all the race;
And Egypt be one charnel house; for thus
The threat was, that o'er all the land alike
The plague should fall. Oh Pharaoh! send thou, then,
That it may cease; else, ere new day shall come,
Over the dead alone wilt thou be King!”
A voice without; “so would it never cease:
If they who sent, revoke it not, who else
May their dread spell call back? Send, rather, thou,
Light of the Sun, to those dread men, and say;
‘Take off this curse, and Israel shall go free.’
Then will they hearken; and our misery end:
Else quickly end must we, and all the race;
And Egypt be one charnel house; for thus
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The plague should fall. Oh Pharaoh! send thou, then,
That it may cease; else, ere new day shall come,
Over the dead alone wilt thou be King!”
| Israel in Egypt | |