Israel in Egypt :: :: University of Virginia Library

But in that throng,—for, through the palace gates
The multitude all day had crowded in,
To cry unto the king,—were Hebrew men,
With the Egyptians mingled, all unknown;
And they, untouched by harm, at full speed ran;
And, to the door of Aaron coming, struck
Sharply, and long; and, when he hastened forth,
Cheerily spake, “Oh Aaron, to the king
Speed thou, and Moses; for he calleth out,
That, if ye come, and suddenly stay the plague,
Our people shall go forth.”

Then Aaron went,
And summoned Moses; and together they
Walked swiftly,—a great pity in their hearts
For that tormented people, who, nigh mad,
Groped blindly through the streets,—for their own sins
'Gainst Israel, and for sin of him who ruled,
Afflicted thus. Within the palace soon
Arriving, mid the throng they found the king,
To and fro staggering; yelling out aloud:
Then Moses, with uplifted voice,—for din
Of outcries all around, and the dire hum
Of the fierce plague, nigh deafened every ear,—
Thus briefly spake.

“O king, awhile be still,

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And hear me. Hebrew men have said to us,
‘Aaron and Moses, Pharaoh calleth out,
That, if ye come before him, and the plague
Stay suddenly, then Israel shall go forth.’
Moses and Aaron, now before thee stand.
Dost thou repent thee, Pharaoh, of thy sin;
Thy lie to God? and wilt thou now, in truth,
If He take off this plague, let Israel go?”