 | Israel in Egypt |  |
Among the sorcerers chiefly, and the priests,
Was gladness, hearing that but two plagues more,
Had Moses power to send; though, even of those,
Were some who at the prophecy shook the head;
And feared, they knew not what; the awful power
Of Israel's magic; or the power, yet more,
Of Israel's God: for, through the boundless void
Of mortal darkness, how could man see all,
Know all that is? Osiris who had seen?
Or heard? or felt? Yet who him doubted God?
If he,—why not a god Jehovah, too,
Existent, though unseen; by no sense known?
And, surely, or a god, or magic power
Great as a god's, it must be, that such plagues
Had sent on Egypt,—Israel to get loosed.
Magic, or god, alike 'twould victor be:
Soonest, then, best, to yield, and let them go.
Was gladness, hearing that but two plagues more,
Had Moses power to send; though, even of those,
Were some who at the prophecy shook the head;
And feared, they knew not what; the awful power
Of Israel's magic; or the power, yet more,
Of Israel's God: for, through the boundless void
Of mortal darkness, how could man see all,
Know all that is? Osiris who had seen?
Or heard? or felt? Yet who him doubted God?
329
Existent, though unseen; by no sense known?
And, surely, or a god, or magic power
Great as a god's, it must be, that such plagues
Had sent on Egypt,—Israel to get loosed.
Magic, or god, alike 'twould victor be:
Soonest, then, best, to yield, and let them go.
| Israel in Egypt | |