 | Israel in Egypt |  |
Stirred by the demon, Pharaoh boldly then
Advanced: his right hand lifted toward the gods:
On the damp, wrinkled, icy brow, his left
Laid firmly: on the stone face looked; and spake.
“Soul, which within this dead clay hoverest yet,
By the Dread Powers do I conjure thee, speak.
While in this flesh thou dwelt, not the great god
Osiris, didst thou worship, but a name
To Israel only known. As thou wouldst hope,
Within the bark of Athom safe to reach
The nether world; and, in the realms of death,
Enemies vanquish; and divinities soothe;
And in the hall of judgment have thy sins
Weighed mercifully,—speak to me the truth.
Is there a god, Jehovah named; a god
Of thy peculiar people?”
Advanced: his right hand lifted toward the gods:
On the damp, wrinkled, icy brow, his left
Laid firmly: on the stone face looked; and spake.
“Soul, which within this dead clay hoverest yet,
By the Dread Powers do I conjure thee, speak.
While in this flesh thou dwelt, not the great god
Osiris, didst thou worship, but a name
To Israel only known. As thou wouldst hope,
Within the bark of Athom safe to reach
The nether world; and, in the realms of death,
Enemies vanquish; and divinities soothe;
And in the hall of judgment have thy sins
Weighed mercifully,—speak to me the truth.
Is there a god, Jehovah named; a god
Of thy peculiar people?”
Like the moan
Of night-wind in the wave-worn sea-shore cave,
Went through the vault a low, deep, shuddering sound,
As though even air were awe-struck. 'Neath his hand,
The hard brow seemed to quiver; ne'ertheless,
By the fiend strengthened, on the marble lips
Keenly his eyes he bent; waiting to see
When the dead breath should stir them. Motionless
Lay they: the whole gaunt face hard fixed as rock:
But, from within the body of the dead,
A voice he heard,—faint, dim, like sound from far,
Coming at hush of midnight, yet distinct;
And thus it spake.
Of night-wind in the wave-worn sea-shore cave,
Went through the vault a low, deep, shuddering sound,
As though even air were awe-struck. 'Neath his hand,
The hard brow seemed to quiver; ne'ertheless,
By the fiend strengthened, on the marble lips
Keenly his eyes he bent; waiting to see
When the dead breath should stir them. Motionless
Lay they: the whole gaunt face hard fixed as rock:
But, from within the body of the dead,
324
Coming at hush of midnight, yet distinct;
And thus it spake.
“Oppressor of our race!
Why wilt thou question me? Is't not enough
That, while in flesh, we thy poor slaves should be?
Thou hast called back my soul, to force from it
Knowledge pernicious. Ask me, then, no more,
But let me go. The bark of Athom waits
My coming; and the impatient souls look out,
Chiding my long delay. If speak I must,
Truth only can I speak; and, of my words,
A whip thou'lt make, to scourge our people more.
Be pitiful, O king; and let me go!”
Why wilt thou question me? Is't not enough
That, while in flesh, we thy poor slaves should be?
Thou hast called back my soul, to force from it
Knowledge pernicious. Ask me, then, no more,
But let me go. The bark of Athom waits
My coming; and the impatient souls look out,
Chiding my long delay. If speak I must,
Truth only can I speak; and, of my words,
A whip thou'lt make, to scourge our people more.
Be pitiful, O king; and let me go!”
| Israel in Egypt | |