Israel in Egypt A Poem. By Edwin Atherstone |
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 | Israel in Egypt |  |
Him, and his family, ere long, they saw,
In lowly guise depart: and, day and night,
Close watched them, as the tiger on the fawn,
Nigh to his lair approaching heedlessly,
With burning eye keeps watch. Yet still went on
The meditative man; his soul with God
Alway communing; or, with words of love,
Or pious wisdom, to his family
Gently discoursing; or with hope of good
For Israel, through him destined to be wrought,
Their spirits cheering:—still, of that great night,
The secret speaking never.
In lowly guise depart: and, day and night,
Close watched them, as the tiger on the fawn,
Nigh to his lair approaching heedlessly,
With burning eye keeps watch. Yet still went on
The meditative man; his soul with God
17
Or pious wisdom, to his family
Gently discoursing; or with hope of good
For Israel, through him destined to be wrought,
Their spirits cheering:—still, of that great night,
The secret speaking never.
But, at length,
The brothers, long years parted, they saw meet:
Their converse listened: heard the wondrous tale,
To Aaron told by Moses,—God's own words,
In human language spoken from the bush,
Burning, yet all unburnt: and instantly,
Through earth,—throughout the countless worlds, and suns,
To the fall'n host,—thus wide dispersed,—went forth
Summons to council prompt.
The brothers, long years parted, they saw meet:
Their converse listened: heard the wondrous tale,
To Aaron told by Moses,—God's own words,
In human language spoken from the bush,
Burning, yet all unburnt: and instantly,
Through earth,—throughout the countless worlds, and suns,
To the fall'n host,—thus wide dispersed,—went forth
Summons to council prompt.
Nor time was long
Ere, past the region of all living orbs;
And far within the void of night and death,
The myriads flew; and in the blazing round,
The heart of that great sun-anatomy,—
A congregation numerous and bright
As ocean's sun-tipped waves, from lofty cliff
At morn beheld,—in deepest silence all,
The voice expecting of their leader, stood.
Ere, past the region of all living orbs;
And far within the void of night and death,
The myriads flew; and in the blazing round,
The heart of that great sun-anatomy,—
A congregation numerous and bright
As ocean's sun-tipped waves, from lofty cliff
At morn beheld,—in deepest silence all,
The voice expecting of their leader, stood.
| Israel in Egypt | |