 | Israel in Egypt |  |
“That they may serve their God?” with tone of scorn
Spake Pharaoh, echoing them; for, by their prayer
That he would yield, the stiffer had he grown;
By their submiss'ness, haughtier: the fear, too,
Was now gone from him; for the watchful fiend
Had entered, and his heart made iron-hard;—
“That they may serve their God? And think ye, then,
That, God to serve, into the wilderness
A three days' journey distant they must go?
Ah! if a god they had, all spots alike,
To worship him were fit. A vile pretence
This wilderness worship is: the slaves would 'scape:
And three days' journey off, good starting-point,
Doubtless they think. If worship were their aim,
Why go not forth the Elders, and the priests,
Alone,—the people leaving all behind,
That they may labor? But not thus, methinks,
Would they be satisfied. If so ye will,
Send after the two sorcerers: bid them back;
And, in your hearing, will I question them.”
Spake Pharaoh, echoing them; for, by their prayer
That he would yield, the stiffer had he grown;
By their submiss'ness, haughtier: the fear, too,
Was now gone from him; for the watchful fiend
Had entered, and his heart made iron-hard;—
“That they may serve their God? And think ye, then,
That, God to serve, into the wilderness
A three days' journey distant they must go?
Ah! if a god they had, all spots alike,
To worship him were fit. A vile pretence
This wilderness worship is: the slaves would 'scape:
And three days' journey off, good starting-point,
Doubtless they think. If worship were their aim,
Why go not forth the Elders, and the priests,
Alone,—the people leaving all behind,
That they may labor? But not thus, methinks,
Would they be satisfied. If so ye will,
Send after the two sorcerers: bid them back;
And, in your hearing, will I question them.”
| Israel in Egypt | |