Israel in Egypt A Poem. By Edwin Atherstone |
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 | Israel in Egypt |  |
While yet he spake,—with slow and careful hand,
The old man on a table placed the box
Of ebony, gold-inlaid, which to his heart
Till then close pressed had been; and, from his robe,
A golden key, to slender chain of gold
Suspended, drawing forth,—into the lock
Tenderly thrust it; with a gentlest touch
Turned the smooth noiseless bolt; the lid upraised,
And let forth a new sunshine. From its couch
Of purple silk, with reverential hands,
Then lifted he what fires celestial seemed,
In gold imbedded; fires of many hues
Battling together in a silent strife
Perpetual; ever burning, never burnt:
And, with slow step majestic, on her face
Fixing his large bright eyes, toward Sarah moved;
Bowed low, as to the honored of the king,
And the rich blaze presented.
The old man on a table placed the box
Of ebony, gold-inlaid, which to his heart
Till then close pressed had been; and, from his robe,
A golden key, to slender chain of gold
Suspended, drawing forth,—into the lock
Tenderly thrust it; with a gentlest touch
Turned the smooth noiseless bolt; the lid upraised,
And let forth a new sunshine. From its couch
Of purple silk, with reverential hands,
Then lifted he what fires celestial seemed,
In gold imbedded; fires of many hues
Battling together in a silent strife
Perpetual; ever burning, never burnt:
And, with slow step majestic, on her face
Fixing his large bright eyes, toward Sarah moved;
Bowed low, as to the honored of the king,
And the rich blaze presented.
But, as starts
A timid maiden, seeing at her feet
The gold-gleams of a serpent,—even so,
At that unearthly lustre shrank she back,
Pallid and trembling. With wide-opened eyes,
She gazed upon it; but still backward drew,—
Breath leaving her, and strength; till, even to stand,
Powerless at last, upon a couch she sank;
Covered her face, and wept. From Reuben's hand,
Till then close held, Rachel her own withdrew,
And to her mother went, and o'er her leaned,
And whispered words of comfort.
A timid maiden, seeing at her feet
The gold-gleams of a serpent,—even so,
At that unearthly lustre shrank she back,
Pallid and trembling. With wide-opened eyes,
She gazed upon it; but still backward drew,—
Breath leaving her, and strength; till, even to stand,
Powerless at last, upon a couch she sank;
Covered her face, and wept. From Reuben's hand,
Till then close held, Rachel her own withdrew,
And to her mother went, and o'er her leaned,
And whispered words of comfort.
But, meantime,
The strong oppression of that Presence strange,
Striving to combat,—with a faltering tongue,
Thus Kohath pleaded.
The strong oppression of that Presence strange,
Striving to combat,—with a faltering tongue,
Thus Kohath pleaded.
“Pardon her, O king;
For timorous is she, and of feeble frame;
And fearful ever, lest by act, or word,
Or thought, she God displease. No slightest thing—
The issue doubtful—ever hath she done,
Till, to her best, considered. If for her,
And for myself, I may permitted be,
Few words to speak”.....
For timorous is she, and of feeble frame;
And fearful ever, lest by act, or word,
271
The issue doubtful—ever hath she done,
Till, to her best, considered. If for her,
And for myself, I may permitted be,
Few words to speak”.....
“Go on; the king will hear,”
In tone subdued, and kind, said the great voice,
The sudden silence ending; “freely speak;
And the plain truth; for such I love to hear,
Though harsh, better than lies, to music set.”
In tone subdued, and kind, said the great voice,
The sudden silence ending; “freely speak;
And the plain truth; for such I love to hear,
Though harsh, better than lies, to music set.”
| Israel in Egypt | |