Israel in Egypt A Poem. By Edwin Atherstone |
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 | Israel in Egypt |  |
309
Regardless of his priests and sorcerers,—
Who, though aloud they boasted, and made mock
Of Moses, and his God, yet, in their hearts,
Great terror had, lest verily the threat
Should be accomplished; and the dreaded scourge
Themselves should strike; and, therefore, earnestly
Had counselled him that morning to abide
Within the palace,—for, by natural signs,
They read a tempest coming,—of all these
Unheedful; hardened still, and proud of heart,
And resolute more, the more dissuasive they,—
Forth to the river, as his custom was
Ever at sunrise,—by his lords, and priests,
And sorcerers, attended, Pharaoh went,
The threatened plague defying. Round the sky,
Gayly he looked, when they the outer gate
Had passed, and in the open space made pause;
Then, turning to his followers, with a look
And tone derisive, thus.
Who, though aloud they boasted, and made mock
Of Moses, and his God, yet, in their hearts,
Great terror had, lest verily the threat
Should be accomplished; and the dreaded scourge
Themselves should strike; and, therefore, earnestly
Had counselled him that morning to abide
Within the palace,—for, by natural signs,
They read a tempest coming,—of all these
Unheedful; hardened still, and proud of heart,
And resolute more, the more dissuasive they,—
Forth to the river, as his custom was
Ever at sunrise,—by his lords, and priests,
And sorcerers, attended, Pharaoh went,
The threatened plague defying. Round the sky,
Gayly he looked, when they the outer gate
Had passed, and in the open space made pause;
Then, turning to his followers, with a look
And tone derisive, thus.
“A threatening heaven
Verily have we! Yon blue cloudless vault
Hath mischief in it, like the face that smiles,
While the hand gripes a dagger. As I live,
Ye are pale-hued and fearful. If indeed,
As ye aver, the natural signs ye see
Of gathering storm, teach me to see them too.
Doth emptiness show fulness? Why, nor wind,
Nor cloud, nor moaning in the air; nor aught,
To eye, or ear, or any sense, gives note
Of tempest coming. 'Tis a day for youth
And love to wanton in from morn till night.
Get ye all out, ye downcast sorcerers,
To wood, and river-bank; and search for gold:
Then, when ye find it, look for hailstones too;
'Twould be the rarer prize. From my first days,
Ne'er saw I morn more lustrous, or more sweet:
It brings me youth again. Some joyous sport
Must I devise, to suit such happy time;
That it may be remembered, as the day
Of the great hailstorm.”
Verily have we! Yon blue cloudless vault
Hath mischief in it, like the face that smiles,
While the hand gripes a dagger. As I live,
Ye are pale-hued and fearful. If indeed,
As ye aver, the natural signs ye see
Of gathering storm, teach me to see them too.
Doth emptiness show fulness? Why, nor wind,
Nor cloud, nor moaning in the air; nor aught,
To eye, or ear, or any sense, gives note
Of tempest coming. 'Tis a day for youth
And love to wanton in from morn till night.
Get ye all out, ye downcast sorcerers,
To wood, and river-bank; and search for gold:
Then, when ye find it, look for hailstones too;
'Twould be the rarer prize. From my first days,
Ne'er saw I morn more lustrous, or more sweet:
It brings me youth again. Some joyous sport
Must I devise, to suit such happy time;
That it may be remembered, as the day
Of the great hailstorm.”
310
Laughing pleasantly,
On went he then; Soter, his second son,
Walking beside him, and right lustily,
Joining his father's merriment. In a while,
His head half backward turning, as they walked,
Again unto his sorcerers, with light mock,
Spake Pharaoh.
On went he then; Soter, his second son,
Walking beside him, and right lustily,
Joining his father's merriment. In a while,
His head half backward turning, as they walked,
Again unto his sorcerers, with light mock,
Spake Pharaoh.
“When a sign ye shall behold,
Declare it to me; for mine eyes, alas!
No cunning have to see, save that which is;
The non-existent, or the invisible,
Beholding never.”
Declare it to me; for mine eyes, alas!
No cunning have to see, save that which is;
The non-existent, or the invisible,
Beholding never.”
“Will the king look now:”
Said a deep voice: and Pharaoh, at the word,
Stopped, and turned round; and, as the extended arm
Of Hophra pointed, toward the west looked out.
Said a deep voice: and Pharaoh, at the word,
Stopped, and turned round; and, as the extended arm
Of Hophra pointed, toward the west looked out.
“And what should Pharaoh see, now he doth look?”
After short silence said the king, displeased.
“What dost thou see?”
After short silence said the king, displeased.
“What dost thou see?”
“The forelock of the storm,
Of which we warned thee, Pharaoh, do I see,”
Hophra made answer: “and the lowering brow,
Is mounting; and the whole dread shape, ere long,
Careering on the winds, will shadow earth.
See,—like dread Typhon rising from his throne,
Up soars the blackness. Fleetest desert-steed
Would fail to save thee, king, if on the plain
That demon should pursue thee.”
Of which we warned thee, Pharaoh, do I see,”
Hophra made answer: “and the lowering brow,
Is mounting; and the whole dread shape, ere long,
Careering on the winds, will shadow earth.
See,—like dread Typhon rising from his throne,
Up soars the blackness. Fleetest desert-steed
Would fail to save thee, king, if on the plain
That demon should pursue thee.”
“Nought I see,”
Pharaoh made answer, “save such cloud, night-hued,
As oft, against the season of the rains,
From out the abyss beneath the earth ascends,
To herald their on-coming. In due time,—
At hour of noon, perchance,—that sable mass
Above our heads may sweep, and some broad drops
Cast down upon us. Meantime, toward the bath
Our easy course we take, be thou assured.
The threat of the great sorcerer I defied;
And yield not to thy tremblings.”
Pharaoh made answer, “save such cloud, night-hued,
As oft, against the season of the rains,
From out the abyss beneath the earth ascends,
To herald their on-coming. In due time,—
At hour of noon, perchance,—that sable mass
Above our heads may sweep, and some broad drops
Cast down upon us. Meantime, toward the bath
Our easy course we take, be thou assured.
The threat of the great sorcerer I defied;
And yield not to thy tremblings.”
311
“Nay, O king,”
With firm voice Hophra answered; “for myself
Nought fear I,—but for thee. If go thou wilt,
Forbidden not, I go. Thunder, and rain,
And hailstones, not more heavy on my head
Than on thine own will fall. But, once again,
O Pharaoh, look. Even in this point of time,
How hath the Fury mounted! At such speed
If it hold on, plainly I tell thee, king,
The threshold of thy palace thou'lt not cross
Ere storm and thunder reach thee. Hark! the voice
Of angry winds already overhead,
Even in yon crystal sky....Thou hearëst it,
O Pharaoh, and yet stirr'st not; though 'tis note
Of death to him who scorns it. Ha! look! look!
Heaven is in flames: the great arch melts: see! see!
In fiery ruin it falls! A moment more,
And flight will be too late!”
With firm voice Hophra answered; “for myself
Nought fear I,—but for thee. If go thou wilt,
Forbidden not, I go. Thunder, and rain,
And hailstones, not more heavy on my head
Than on thine own will fall. But, once again,
O Pharaoh, look. Even in this point of time,
How hath the Fury mounted! At such speed
If it hold on, plainly I tell thee, king,
The threshold of thy palace thou'lt not cross
Ere storm and thunder reach thee. Hark! the voice
Of angry winds already overhead,
Even in yon crystal sky....Thou hearëst it,
O Pharaoh, and yet stirr'st not; though 'tis note
Of death to him who scorns it. Ha! look! look!
Heaven is in flames: the great arch melts: see! see!
In fiery ruin it falls! A moment more,
And flight will be too late!”
Pale, breathless, mute,
Stood Pharaoh, looking on the coming Plague;
Heartsick with fear, and shame; yet iron-stiff
In native obduracy, so that power
To bend, none had he. But, around him now,
Trembling with fear, came rulers, lords, and priests,
Conjuring him to turn: and, with both hands,
Grasping his arm, his son, too, cried aloud,
Imploring him, and gently drawing back:
So that, though slowly, and reluctantly,
Homeward at length he moved.
Stood Pharaoh, looking on the coming Plague;
Heartsick with fear, and shame; yet iron-stiff
In native obduracy, so that power
To bend, none had he. But, around him now,
Trembling with fear, came rulers, lords, and priests,
Conjuring him to turn: and, with both hands,
Grasping his arm, his son, too, cried aloud,
Imploring him, and gently drawing back:
So that, though slowly, and reluctantly,
Homeward at length he moved.
But quicker foot
Soon found he; for the hurricane's first breath
Half overthrew, half lifted him from earth:
And from the dry ground, like a harrow, tore
Pebble, and sand; and in thick cloud drove on,
Like stone-shower from the sling. Arm locked in arm,—
For, singly, none had stood,—heads bowed, teeth clenched,
Sinews hard braced,—stunned, speechless, terror-struck,—
In one close mass, as 'gainst a torrent's force
Thrusting and struggling, onward labored they;
In midst of them the king.
Soon found he; for the hurricane's first breath
Half overthrew, half lifted him from earth:
And from the dry ground, like a harrow, tore
Pebble, and sand; and in thick cloud drove on,
Like stone-shower from the sling. Arm locked in arm,—
For, singly, none had stood,—heads bowed, teeth clenched,
Sinews hard braced,—stunned, speechless, terror-struck,—
In one close mass, as 'gainst a torrent's force
Thrusting and struggling, onward labored they;
In midst of them the king.
312
'Gainst a strong wind,
As the deep-laden bark—her port in view—
Oft tacking, heavily rolling, staggering,
Holds on her difficult way,—so these, to the right
Now reeling, now to the left, still toward their goal
Stiffly bore on: and never mariners,
After long, perilous voyage, more rejoiced,
Their native harbour entering, than did these,
When, panting, crushing, through the palace door
They crowded in at last. Even then, from stroke
Of Plague's fierce arm, as though not safe enough,—
Hurriedly toward the hall's remotest end,
Prince, priests, and sorcerers ran: and silent stood;
Listening, and trembling.
As the deep-laden bark—her port in view—
Oft tacking, heavily rolling, staggering,
Holds on her difficult way,—so these, to the right
Now reeling, now to the left, still toward their goal
Stiffly bore on: and never mariners,
After long, perilous voyage, more rejoiced,
Their native harbour entering, than did these,
When, panting, crushing, through the palace door
They crowded in at last. Even then, from stroke
Of Plague's fierce arm, as though not safe enough,—
Hurriedly toward the hall's remotest end,
Prince, priests, and sorcerers ran: and silent stood;
Listening, and trembling.
But, with lowering brow,
To no man speaking,—for great wrath and shame
Burned in him, when of his proud boasts and mocks,
Thus ending, he bethought him,—Pharaoh straight
Toward his own chamber sped; that privily
To rage he might give loose; and, all alone,
On the coming Plague look out. Yet, as he went,
To his servants cried he out; “Send to the field.
Bid that all cattle therein be brought home:
Let not a hoof be left. Instantly send;
Else will all perish.”
To no man speaking,—for great wrath and shame
Burned in him, when of his proud boasts and mocks,
Thus ending, he bethought him,—Pharaoh straight
Toward his own chamber sped; that privily
To rage he might give loose; and, all alone,
On the coming Plague look out. Yet, as he went,
To his servants cried he out; “Send to the field.
Bid that all cattle therein be brought home:
Let not a hoof be left. Instantly send;
Else will all perish.”
But too late the word!
For, when he gained his chamber, and looked forth,—
Not far away, like bars of steel white-hot,
From cloud to earth ran down the fire-lit hail;
Thunders before it coming, and great blasts,
That all the palace shook.
For, when he gained his chamber, and looked forth,—
Not far away, like bars of steel white-hot,
From cloud to earth ran down the fire-lit hail;
Thunders before it coming, and great blasts,
That all the palace shook.
With piercing shrieks,—
Yet, in that hurly, small as infant's wail,—
The queen, and her two daughters, pale as death,
Rushed in the chamber; fell upon their knees:
Uplifted trembling hands, and piteously called,
Imploring him. But, in that uproar, nought
Heard he, or cared to hear. Suddenly then
Sirois upstarted,—grasped his arm,—her face,
All wild with terror, lifted,—drew him down,—
Close to his ear put her white quivering lips,
And cried out franticly; “Oh Pharaoh dear,
Why didst thou mock me when I prayed of thee
To let the Hebrews go! Thou canst not stand
Against their terrible God! Six fearful plagues
Already hath he sent; and now a seventh,
More dreadful far, is coming. Ere it fall,
Send thou to Moses; I beseech thee send;
Else, such destruction as....”
Yet, in that hurly, small as infant's wail,—
The queen, and her two daughters, pale as death,
Rushed in the chamber; fell upon their knees:
Uplifted trembling hands, and piteously called,
Imploring him. But, in that uproar, nought
Heard he, or cared to hear. Suddenly then
Sirois upstarted,—grasped his arm,—her face,
All wild with terror, lifted,—drew him down,—
313
And cried out franticly; “Oh Pharaoh dear,
Why didst thou mock me when I prayed of thee
To let the Hebrews go! Thou canst not stand
Against their terrible God! Six fearful plagues
Already hath he sent; and now a seventh,
More dreadful far, is coming. Ere it fall,
Send thou to Moses; I beseech thee send;
Else, such destruction as....”
Her speech to stop,
Pharaoh his hand uplifted; shook the head,
And turned away,—anger, and shame, and pride,
O'er mastering him. But every moment now
More terrible grew the roar of hurricane,
The thunder, and the thickening lightning's flash;
And yet again, by the arm seizing him,
Into his ear she shrieked.
Pharaoh his hand uplifted; shook the head,
And turned away,—anger, and shame, and pride,
O'er mastering him. But every moment now
More terrible grew the roar of hurricane,
The thunder, and the thickening lightning's flash;
And yet again, by the arm seizing him,
Into his ear she shrieked.
“Oh, Pharaoh, send—
Send, ere too late. The ever blessed gods
So have disposed, that, in this very house,
With thy dear father's sister, Moses sits
At morning meal,—invited yester-eve;
For the old love she bears him. Aaron too,
The high priest, with them sits. Oh! send thou, then,
I do implore thee, Pharaoh.....”
Send, ere too late. The ever blessed gods
So have disposed, that, in this very house,
With thy dear father's sister, Moses sits
At morning meal,—invited yester-eve;
For the old love she bears him. Aaron too,
The high priest, with them sits. Oh! send thou, then,
I do implore thee, Pharaoh.....”
Uttering cries
As of death-torment, suddenly she ceased,
And dropped upon the knee; with hand on floor,
A moment stayed herself,—then, senseless all,
Rolled back, and lay as dead. Shrieking, down sank
Her daughters also. The astounded king,
Staggering, and cowering, trembling, wailing, ran;
Fell on a couch, and, with sharp-quivering hands,
Covered his face: for, in one moment, burst
The Plague in all its wrath; lightning in floods,—
Cataracts for rain,—and hail that, like the clang
Of myriad iron hammers, on the roof
And walls brought trembling. As the very world
Were in its death-throes, and the elements
Rending asunder,—ocean, sky, and earth,
In horrible uproar battling,—seemed the din.
Stopping his ears, he sat, and glared around,
As if to see when walls should topple down;
Or the whole palace, like a stone cast forth
Into deep water, sink within the earth!
All plagues, to this, seemed light. One single hour
Should it endure, Egypt a waste would be.
Submit he must. Nerving himself, he rose,
To seek the Hebrews. But, ere step he took,—
Behold, as, terror-stunned, will lamb and kid
With lions mingle,—so, all form forgot,
Even in the royal chamber, yelling, poured
Priests, rulers, sorcerers, princes, serving-men,
Crowded together; fell before his feet;
Lifted their quivering hands, and cried to him.
Words he heard none; but saw their moving lips,
And their speech guessed. To one of them signed then;
And, when the man arose, close to his ear
His voice uplift to the highest, and thus cried.
“At table with my father's sister, sit
Moses and Aaron, at the morning meal.
Fly to her chamber: bid them hither haste;
Even on the instant: the king waiteth them.”
As of death-torment, suddenly she ceased,
And dropped upon the knee; with hand on floor,
A moment stayed herself,—then, senseless all,
Rolled back, and lay as dead. Shrieking, down sank
Her daughters also. The astounded king,
Staggering, and cowering, trembling, wailing, ran;
Fell on a couch, and, with sharp-quivering hands,
Covered his face: for, in one moment, burst
The Plague in all its wrath; lightning in floods,—
Cataracts for rain,—and hail that, like the clang
Of myriad iron hammers, on the roof
And walls brought trembling. As the very world
Were in its death-throes, and the elements
Rending asunder,—ocean, sky, and earth,
314
Stopping his ears, he sat, and glared around,
As if to see when walls should topple down;
Or the whole palace, like a stone cast forth
Into deep water, sink within the earth!
All plagues, to this, seemed light. One single hour
Should it endure, Egypt a waste would be.
Submit he must. Nerving himself, he rose,
To seek the Hebrews. But, ere step he took,—
Behold, as, terror-stunned, will lamb and kid
With lions mingle,—so, all form forgot,
Even in the royal chamber, yelling, poured
Priests, rulers, sorcerers, princes, serving-men,
Crowded together; fell before his feet;
Lifted their quivering hands, and cried to him.
Words he heard none; but saw their moving lips,
And their speech guessed. To one of them signed then;
And, when the man arose, close to his ear
His voice uplift to the highest, and thus cried.
“At table with my father's sister, sit
Moses and Aaron, at the morning meal.
Fly to her chamber: bid them hither haste;
Even on the instant: the king waiteth them.”
Forth sped the man: and Pharaoh, seeing now
His queen and daughters stretched upon the floor,
With his own trembling hands uplifted them;
On couches placed; and to the servants then,
Priests, rulers, sorcerers, signed that they should go.
Backward all went; yet lingered; for the Plague
More terror had than even Pharaoh's wrath;
And from the chamber, though about the doors
They gathered, yet departed not one man.
Crazed with affright, the king beheld them not;
Stunned by the uproar, dazzled by the fires;
But, with stopped ears, eyes bent upon the floor,
To and fro hurriedly walked; a furtive glance
Casting at times, expecting to behold
Whom most he feared, and loathed; yet now, of all,
The most desired to see. Nor long the time
Ere, with calm mien, and gesture dignified;
Yet look severe, as of doom-speaking judge;
Moses and Aaron entered.
His queen and daughters stretched upon the floor,
With his own trembling hands uplifted them;
On couches placed; and to the servants then,
Priests, rulers, sorcerers, signed that they should go.
Backward all went; yet lingered; for the Plague
More terror had than even Pharaoh's wrath;
And from the chamber, though about the doors
They gathered, yet departed not one man.
Crazed with affright, the king beheld them not;
Stunned by the uproar, dazzled by the fires;
But, with stopped ears, eyes bent upon the floor,
To and fro hurriedly walked; a furtive glance
Casting at times, expecting to behold
Whom most he feared, and loathed; yet now, of all,
The most desired to see. Nor long the time
315
Yet look severe, as of doom-speaking judge;
Moses and Aaron entered.
Pride and rank
In that great dread forgetting,—with hands clasped—
Lips quivering—eyes wide staring—his whole look
Mercy imploring,—toward them Pharaoh ran;
To the highest pitch lifted his voice, and cried,
Piteously cried:
In that great dread forgetting,—with hands clasped—
Lips quivering—eyes wide staring—his whole look
Mercy imploring,—toward them Pharaoh ran;
To the highest pitch lifted his voice, and cried,
Piteously cried:
“Oh, I have sinned this time!
The Lord is righteous: I, and my people all,
Are wicked! But entreat ye now the Lord,
That no more thunderings and hail there be;
Then shall ye go; ye shall no longer stay.”
The Lord is righteous: I, and my people all,
Are wicked! But entreat ye now the Lord,
That no more thunderings and hail there be;
Then shall ye go; ye shall no longer stay.”
In stern mood Moses on him looked, and said;
“Soon as without the city I am gone,
I will spread forth my hands unto the Lord;
And the great thunder and the hail shall cease:
So mayst thou know that all the earth is God's.
But, as for thee, and thine, I know that yet
Ye will not fear the Lord.”
“Soon as without the city I am gone,
I will spread forth my hands unto the Lord;
And the great thunder and the hail shall cease:
So mayst thou know that all the earth is God's.
But, as for thee, and thine, I know that yet
Ye will not fear the Lord.”
Like two sharp swords
Piercing the flesh, in Pharaoh's spirit pierced
The eyes of Moses, when, thus having said,
Full in the face he looked him; without word,
A book of censure speaking. Turning then,
Aaron beside him, swiftly he went forth.
Piercing the flesh, in Pharaoh's spirit pierced
The eyes of Moses, when, thus having said,
Full in the face he looked him; without word,
A book of censure speaking. Turning then,
Aaron beside him, swiftly he went forth.
No hailstone smote them; tempest stirred them not:
With a great pity at their hearts, they sped:
And when without the city Moses came,
He spread abroad his hands unto the Lord.
Hail, rain, fire, hurricane, and thunder, ceased.
Through all the land of Egypt, instantly
The mighty uproar ceased; and silence fell,
Even as a blow; so, unto common noise,
Was every ear made deaf.
With a great pity at their hearts, they sped:
And when without the city Moses came,
He spread abroad his hands unto the Lord.
Hail, rain, fire, hurricane, and thunder, ceased.
Through all the land of Egypt, instantly
The mighty uproar ceased; and silence fell,
Even as a blow; so, unto common noise,
Was every ear made deaf.
But, in a while,
When from the houses pallid men looked forth,
A gathering sound they heard; like gentle flow
Of streamlet first; but, as the sense returned,
Swelling and deepening to the torrent's rush:
For, channelling the ground, through all the land,
Toward Nile the rain-flood, and the melting hail,
Ran roaring: and the fervent sun poured down
On the huge hailstones, and the leaping streams,
That all the earth with a great glory blazed.
When from the houses pallid men looked forth,
316
Of streamlet first; but, as the sense returned,
Swelling and deepening to the torrent's rush:
For, channelling the ground, through all the land,
Toward Nile the rain-flood, and the melting hail,
Ran roaring: and the fervent sun poured down
On the huge hailstones, and the leaping streams,
That all the earth with a great glory blazed.
But when, with trembling, men 'gan issue forth,
And walk abroad,—destruction terrible
On all sides round they saw. Dead men, and beasts,—
All flesh that from the field had not been brought,—
Stiff, crushed, and battered, lay: birds of all wing,
Sparrow, and eagle alike;—from sheltered nook,
Or lofty eyry mid the far-off hills,
Blown forth, and smitten: trees by the roots dragged up;
Or snapped in the midst; or, branchless, leaning down:
Bushes, and plants, and all grain that had sprung,—
As by a harrow, torn from out the ground,
And utterly destroyed.
And walk abroad,—destruction terrible
On all sides round they saw. Dead men, and beasts,—
All flesh that from the field had not been brought,—
Stiff, crushed, and battered, lay: birds of all wing,
Sparrow, and eagle alike;—from sheltered nook,
Or lofty eyry mid the far-off hills,
Blown forth, and smitten: trees by the roots dragged up;
Or snapped in the midst; or, branchless, leaning down:
Bushes, and plants, and all grain that had sprung,—
As by a harrow, torn from out the ground,
And utterly destroyed.
A voice of wail
Went quickly through the land. Many cried out,
Cursing the Israelites,—through whom had come
Such bitter woes: but many on the king
Cast censure; saying that, obstinate and proud,
And faithless to his promise, he himself
Those ills had brought on Egypt; the great power
Of Hebrew magic, or of Israel's God,
Defying still, though, by six fearful Plagues,
Might he have learned that, 'gainst it, all his strength
Mere breath was, 'gainst the everlasting rock.
Went quickly through the land. Many cried out,
Cursing the Israelites,—through whom had come
Such bitter woes: but many on the king
Cast censure; saying that, obstinate and proud,
And faithless to his promise, he himself
Those ills had brought on Egypt; the great power
Of Hebrew magic, or of Israel's God,
Defying still, though, by six fearful Plagues,
Might he have learned that, 'gainst it, all his strength
Mere breath was, 'gainst the everlasting rock.
| Israel in Egypt | |