Israel in Egypt A Poem. By Edwin Atherstone |
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 | Israel in Egypt |  |
“O Splendor of the Sun,” Thamusin said;
“Thou wouldst the impossible. Silence, rest profound,
Alone can lure the spirit to remain
In the fast-perishing corpse. Spells cannot force;
They but conjúre. All now prepared awaits;
And still the spirit answers: but, the hour
Well nigh is ended: and, once passed, the might
Of all earth's charms combined will never draw
The freed soul back. See,—on my torch I throw
A perfume that will call the flowers of Spring
Around us. Hasten then, O Light of Day:
See nought,—nought hear, or feel,—and think of nought,
Save of the one great end for which alone
Here com'st thou,—the far-onward-piercing look
Into the hidden knowledge.”
“Thou wouldst the impossible. Silence, rest profound,
Alone can lure the spirit to remain
In the fast-perishing corpse. Spells cannot force;
They but conjúre. All now prepared awaits;
And still the spirit answers: but, the hour
Well nigh is ended: and, once passed, the might
Of all earth's charms combined will never draw
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A perfume that will call the flowers of Spring
Around us. Hasten then, O Light of Day:
See nought,—nought hear, or feel,—and think of nought,
Save of the one great end for which alone
Here com'st thou,—the far-onward-piercing look
Into the hidden knowledge.”
“On, then, quick,”
Impatiently said Pharaoh; “and fail not
To feed thy torch-fire, ever and anon,
With that life-raising essence: the death-air
Will choke me, else.”
Impatiently said Pharaoh; “and fail not
To feed thy torch-fire, ever and anon,
With that life-raising essence: the death-air
Will choke me, else.”
A low, and narrow way,
Lined by the dead, they trod; and speedily
A chamber reached. Before the entrance, paused
The monarch, awe-chained: for one ghastly beam
Alone kept off pitch-blackness; a thin flame,—
As 'twere the ghost of light,—nought showing there,
Save the stern, livid faces of the priests,
Like dead men motionless standing. Clearer view
Soon coming,—in the midst a corpse he saw,
Clad in the grave-clothes. From the high-arched breast,
As from a lamp, that supernatural flame,
Like a thin luminous smoke, rose tremulously;
And, slanting on the countenance of the dead,
Distortion gave horrific. While aghast
Thus stood he gazing,—on the stillness broke
The low, hoarse voice of Hophra.
Lined by the dead, they trod; and speedily
A chamber reached. Before the entrance, paused
The monarch, awe-chained: for one ghastly beam
Alone kept off pitch-blackness; a thin flame,—
As 'twere the ghost of light,—nought showing there,
Save the stern, livid faces of the priests,
Like dead men motionless standing. Clearer view
Soon coming,—in the midst a corpse he saw,
Clad in the grave-clothes. From the high-arched breast,
As from a lamp, that supernatural flame,
Like a thin luminous smoke, rose tremulously;
And, slanting on the countenance of the dead,
Distortion gave horrific. While aghast
Thus stood he gazing,—on the stillness broke
The low, hoarse voice of Hophra.
“Quickly wanes,
O king, the life-flame: while that weak light burns,
The spirit lingers: when the flame dies out,
Gone is it, and for ever! Weak the words
Which last it spake; with every moment now,
Death clogs it more: if question thou wouldst put,
Lose not, O king, an instant. Thy right hand,
Stretch toward the gods: on the dead brow, thy left
Lay firmly, and then speak.”
O king, the life-flame: while that weak light burns,
The spirit lingers: when the flame dies out,
Gone is it, and for ever! Weak the words
Which last it spake; with every moment now,
Death clogs it more: if question thou wouldst put,
Lose not, O king, an instant. Thy right hand,
Stretch toward the gods: on the dead brow, thy left
Lay firmly, and then speak.”
One step advanced
The blood-chilled Pharaoh; but, irresolute, paused;
Shrinking to touch, nay ev'n draw nigh the corpse,
So grimly terrible in stony rest;
Rotting, yet not all dead.
The blood-chilled Pharaoh; but, irresolute, paused;
Shrinking to touch, nay ev'n draw nigh the corpse,
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Rotting, yet not all dead.
“Of Israel's god
Myself have asked,” said Hophra, hoping thus
The faltering king to stir; “but, unto me,
Came not a word: as if for shame, or wrath,
Or terror,—from the crown unto the foot,
The dead flesh trembled; but reply was none.
Yet, if the Splendor of the Sun demand—
To that great voice, reluctant though it be,
Promptly the soul must answer. But, O king,
Fast is the life-flame dying! when 'tis gone,
Question the rock; 'twill answer thee as soon.”
Myself have asked,” said Hophra, hoping thus
The faltering king to stir; “but, unto me,
Came not a word: as if for shame, or wrath,
Or terror,—from the crown unto the foot,
The dead flesh trembled; but reply was none.
Yet, if the Splendor of the Sun demand—
To that great voice, reluctant though it be,
Promptly the soul must answer. But, O king,
Fast is the life-flame dying! when 'tis gone,
Question the rock; 'twill answer thee as soon.”
| Israel in Egypt | |