Israel in Egypt A Poem. By Edwin Atherstone |
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 | Israel in Egypt |  |
Glad were the people then; and wonder-struck;
For, though in years before had locusts come
Thick on the land, yet, had they been, to these,
As pigmies unto men; and, though even weeks
They stayed, had spoiled not all. But, few short hours
Though these remained, yet not one herb, or fruit,
Or corn-blade, had they left.
For, though in years before had locusts come
Thick on the land, yet, had they been, to these,
As pigmies unto men; and, though even weeks
They stayed, had spoiled not all. But, few short hours
Though these remained, yet not one herb, or fruit,
Or corn-blade, had they left.
Still, all the day,
No word unto the Hebrews Pharaoh sent;
For in his heart he gloried that again
The wizard he had foiled: and the one plague
Which yet they must endure, by like deceit
Trusted to overcome. His sorcerers, too,
His proud heart lifted more,—declaring aloud,
That neither god, nor magic, had that plague
Brought on the land; but the east wind alone,
From the great deserts blowing; for, behold,
Soon as the west rose thundering, it had fled,
Even faster than it came.
No word unto the Hebrews Pharaoh sent;
For in his heart he gloried that again
The wizard he had foiled: and the one plague
Which yet they must endure, by like deceit
Trusted to overcome. His sorcerers, too,
His proud heart lifted more,—declaring aloud,
That neither god, nor magic, had that plague
Brought on the land; but the east wind alone,
From the great deserts blowing; for, behold,
Soon as the west rose thundering, it had fled,
Even faster than it came.
339
But, for the lords
Who Pharaoh had counselled to let Israel go,
They knew that, nor the east wind, nor the west,
The scourge had caused to come, or pass away;
But magic terrible, or the might of God,
Solely; and yet worse dreaded. And, as they,
So, of the Egyptian people, many thought;
Moses respecting greatly; whether power
Within himself, or greater power of God,
Through him made manifest, such wondrous things
For Israel's freedom had wrought: and fain would they,—
Maugre the promptings of the Spirits of Ill,—
Have seen the Hebrews loosed; and free to go,
Whither they would.
Who Pharaoh had counselled to let Israel go,
They knew that, nor the east wind, nor the west,
The scourge had caused to come, or pass away;
But magic terrible, or the might of God,
Solely; and yet worse dreaded. And, as they,
So, of the Egyptian people, many thought;
Moses respecting greatly; whether power
Within himself, or greater power of God,
Through him made manifest, such wondrous things
For Israel's freedom had wrought: and fain would they,—
Maugre the promptings of the Spirits of Ill,—
Have seen the Hebrews loosed; and free to go,
Whither they would.
But, to the Israelites,
Moses declared, that yet was Pharaoh's heart
Hard as the rock; his promise as thin smoke,
Melting even while it rose. “But the day comes,
When I shall speak to you, and bid prepare
For sudden going forth. Against that time,
In what ye may, get ready. Until then,
Bear as ye can; and put your trust in God.”
Moses declared, that yet was Pharaoh's heart
Hard as the rock; his promise as thin smoke,
Melting even while it rose. “But the day comes,
When I shall speak to you, and bid prepare
For sudden going forth. Against that time,
In what ye may, get ready. Until then,
Bear as ye can; and put your trust in God.”
| Israel in Egypt | |