Israel in Egypt A Poem. By Edwin Atherstone |
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 | Israel in Egypt |  |
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.”
| Israel in Egypt | |