Israel in Egypt A Poem. By Edwin Atherstone |
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 | Israel in Egypt |  |
“Oh father,” cried a voice, “fling open now,
For but one moment. Sethos 'tis who calls;
None else is here: for but one moment now
I pray thee open; else, before thy door
Wilt thou behold me dead!”
For but one moment. Sethos 'tis who calls;
None else is here: for but one moment now
I pray thee open; else, before thy door
Wilt thou behold me dead!”
“I tell thee, son,
I will not open till this plague be gone.
Wouldst have thy father suffer,—and his queen,—
All selfish as thou art, in pity of thee;
Yet thee availing nought? The plague without,
Would enter with thee; and alike wouldst thou
Here be tormented, as where now thou art;
We but thy partners in the misery be;
Nor thou one sting escaping. Speed thee hence;
With thine own sword those cursed magicians kill;
At once then dies the scourge. If thou wilt not,
Endure it as thou may. 'Tis but one night:
At sunrise will it die. Till then, this door
Firm as a rock shall stand.”
I will not open till this plague be gone.
Wouldst have thy father suffer,—and his queen,—
All selfish as thou art, in pity of thee;
Yet thee availing nought? The plague without,
Would enter with thee; and alike wouldst thou
Here be tormented, as where now thou art;
We but thy partners in the misery be;
Nor thou one sting escaping. Speed thee hence;
With thine own sword those cursed magicians kill;
At once then dies the scourge. If thou wilt not,
Endure it as thou may. 'Tis but one night:
At sunrise will it die. Till then, this door
Firm as a rock shall stand.”
Again his cry
Sethos began; but now such din arose,
From priests, and sorcerers, women of the court,
Rulers, and servants, clamoring all at once,
That Pharaoh heard him not: but, in alarm
Lest entrance they should force—the silver bolts
Shot in the staples,—struck upon the door;
And, at the shrillest pitch of voice, cried out;
“Who are ye now? and what your errand here,
At the queen's chamber? Suddenly get hence,
Whoe'er ye be; and smite with all your swords,
Those Hebrew wizards. Nought else can be done,
This curse to stay. I will not ope the door.
Dare ye to force it, by our gods I swear,
Ye all shall die the death.”
Sethos began; but now such din arose,
From priests, and sorcerers, women of the court,
Rulers, and servants, clamoring all at once,
That Pharaoh heard him not: but, in alarm
Lest entrance they should force—the silver bolts
Shot in the staples,—struck upon the door;
And, at the shrillest pitch of voice, cried out;
“Who are ye now? and what your errand here,
At the queen's chamber? Suddenly get hence,
226
Those Hebrew wizards. Nought else can be done,
This curse to stay. I will not ope the door.
Dare ye to force it, by our gods I swear,
Ye all shall die the death.”
Rose then a voice,
Shrill as an eagle's scream; “Oh father, hear;
'Tis I, thy youngest daughter: open quick:
I am on flame, blind, dying; let me in.”
Shrill as an eagle's scream; “Oh father, hear;
'Tis I, thy youngest daughter: open quick:
I am on flame, blind, dying; let me in.”
| Israel in Egypt | |