Israel in Egypt A Poem. By Edwin Atherstone |
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 | Israel in Egypt |  |
He ceased, and all sat silent. A faint dread
Disturbed the loving parents; yet, so faint,
And seeming causeless, that they shamed to speak
Objection: and, for Rachel, though fear none
Had she, yet her fine delicate nature shrank
From the fair-seeming Moses, as from touch
Of the hot finger shrinks the sensitive-leaf,—
And not more knowing wherefore: for, though words
Like flatterer's he had spoken, yet the voice,
And look, had earnest seemed, and grave, like his
Who the heart's-truth doth speak: and, though she felt
Of all unworthy; pain, not pleasure, felt,
From praise unmerited,—yet, for distaste
Toward one, long deemed the holiest, the chief hope
Of Israel, poor excuse indeed were this.
Sinful must be that feeling; and by force
To be suppressed. Thus thinking, she looked round.
All eyes on her were bent; on every face,
Was smile of love; a look that said, “we wait;
Thine 'tis to answer.” To her parents then
Gently she spake. “No evil do I fear;
And toward that gracious princess my heart yearns
With strong affection. If ye, then, approve,
Cheerfully will I go.” Well pleased were all;
And with glad voices spake.
Disturbed the loving parents; yet, so faint,
And seeming causeless, that they shamed to speak
Objection: and, for Rachel, though fear none
Had she, yet her fine delicate nature shrank
From the fair-seeming Moses, as from touch
Of the hot finger shrinks the sensitive-leaf,—
And not more knowing wherefore: for, though words
Like flatterer's he had spoken, yet the voice,
And look, had earnest seemed, and grave, like his
Who the heart's-truth doth speak: and, though she felt
Of all unworthy; pain, not pleasure, felt,
From praise unmerited,—yet, for distaste
Toward one, long deemed the holiest, the chief hope
Of Israel, poor excuse indeed were this.
Sinful must be that feeling; and by force
To be suppressed. Thus thinking, she looked round.
All eyes on her were bent; on every face,
Was smile of love; a look that said, “we wait;
Thine 'tis to answer.” To her parents then
Gently she spake. “No evil do I fear;
And toward that gracious princess my heart yearns
With strong affection. If ye, then, approve,
Cheerfully will I go.” Well pleased were all;
And with glad voices spake.
In little while,—
Serenely beautiful, from out the gate,
On her swift milk-white mule rode forth the maid,
Image of holiness more of heaven than earth;
And, at her side, a spear's length scarce apart,
Silent, and anxious, the dread king of hell:—
Anxious, and silent, lest the sun-beam eye
Of greater angel, hovering in mid heaven,
Through that fair garb of sanctity should pierce,
And see the demon, and his wiles defeat:—
Silent, and anxious; with far-reaching look,
Striving to see the invisible: for, by sense
Spiritual wholly, and to flesh unknown,
A Presence, somewhere under cope of sky,
He felt,—as by man's soul the shadow is felt
Of evil threatening. Nor the spirit-touch
Wrongly informed him: for, beside the moon,
In her dark shadow, looking on him, stood
Gabriel, and Zophiel,—of his bad intent
Forewarned; and ready, from Satanic harm,
The chosen maid to guard. Though thus far off,
Yet, by the Power of hell, some adverse Power,
Heavenly, was feared on watch; so that in awe,
Silent, and anxious,—as with myriad eyes,
All parts of space transpiercing, whence might come
The adversary,—hell's dread king rode on.
Serenely beautiful, from out the gate,
On her swift milk-white mule rode forth the maid,
Image of holiness more of heaven than earth;
And, at her side, a spear's length scarce apart,
Silent, and anxious, the dread king of hell:—
Anxious, and silent, lest the sun-beam eye
Of greater angel, hovering in mid heaven,
Through that fair garb of sanctity should pierce,
And see the demon, and his wiles defeat:—
Silent, and anxious; with far-reaching look,
349
Spiritual wholly, and to flesh unknown,
A Presence, somewhere under cope of sky,
He felt,—as by man's soul the shadow is felt
Of evil threatening. Nor the spirit-touch
Wrongly informed him: for, beside the moon,
In her dark shadow, looking on him, stood
Gabriel, and Zophiel,—of his bad intent
Forewarned; and ready, from Satanic harm,
The chosen maid to guard. Though thus far off,
Yet, by the Power of hell, some adverse Power,
Heavenly, was feared on watch; so that in awe,
Silent, and anxious,—as with myriad eyes,
All parts of space transpiercing, whence might come
The adversary,—hell's dread king rode on.
| Israel in Egypt | |