Israel in Egypt A Poem. By Edwin Atherstone |
 |
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. |
| 11. |
| 12. |
| 13. |
| 14. |
| 15. |
| 16. |
| 17. |
| 18. |
|
| 19. |
| 20. |
| 21. |
| 22. |
| 23. |
| 24. |
| 25. |
| 26. |
| 27. |
 | 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.
| Israel in Egypt | |