Israel in Egypt A Poem. By Edwin Atherstone |
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 | Israel in Egypt |  |
On every Spirit, then, a feeling stole,
Mysterious, of a somewhat nigh at hand,
Unknown, and fearful. To the lofty roof
Uplooking,—as if far off in the sky,
A radiance they beheld; a sphere, as seemed,
Of heaven's own splendor. Terror-struck, they gazed.
Expanding, brightening, it came down; and lo!
Midst of the light, a mighty angel of God!
Down came he, scattering glory, that their eyes
Nigh blinded; and dismay within them shot,
That even the boldest withered. As dry grass
In a dead calm, they lay; that, like to dust,
His foot, in anger, might have trampled them.
Down came he; and beside that contrite one,—
As, by the humble flower, the lofty pine,—
Stood; looked upon him; smiled, and spake.
Mysterious, of a somewhat nigh at hand,
Unknown, and fearful. To the lofty roof
Uplooking,—as if far off in the sky,
A radiance they beheld; a sphere, as seemed,
Of heaven's own splendor. Terror-struck, they gazed.
Expanding, brightening, it came down; and lo!
Midst of the light, a mighty angel of God!
Down came he, scattering glory, that their eyes
Nigh blinded; and dismay within them shot,
387
In a dead calm, they lay; that, like to dust,
His foot, in anger, might have trampled them.
Down came he; and beside that contrite one,—
As, by the humble flower, the lofty pine,—
Stood; looked upon him; smiled, and spake.
“Well done!
Long erring, at the last thou hast well done.
The All Seeing hath beheld thee: all thy thoughts
The Omniscient knoweth: the All Merciful
Thy sin hath pardoned. To receive thee back,
Heaven hath flung wide its gates: to welcome thee,
All the angels of God are gathered. Thine offence
Will no more be remembered. In the choir
Again thy voice will rise. Thou wilt bow down
Mid angels and archangels near the shrine;
Wilt feel the Presence of God.”
Long erring, at the last thou hast well done.
The All Seeing hath beheld thee: all thy thoughts
The Omniscient knoweth: the All Merciful
Thy sin hath pardoned. To receive thee back,
Heaven hath flung wide its gates: to welcome thee,
All the angels of God are gathered. Thine offence
Will no more be remembered. In the choir
Again thy voice will rise. Thou wilt bow down
Mid angels and archangels near the shrine;
Wilt feel the Presence of God.”
With holy joy
Intense, all quivering, the meek Spirit looked up:
And, lo! his countenance shone with glory of heaven,
Bright as before his fall! The mighty one
Stooped; took him by the hand; and, instantly,
Like upward flash of lightning, they arose.
One moment, as they pierced it, the gem-roof
Blazed to the splendor. Darkness then again,
Substantial; iron silence, covered all.
Intense, all quivering, the meek Spirit looked up:
And, lo! his countenance shone with glory of heaven,
Bright as before his fall! The mighty one
Stooped; took him by the hand; and, instantly,
Like upward flash of lightning, they arose.
One moment, as they pierced it, the gem-roof
Blazed to the splendor. Darkness then again,
Substantial; iron silence, covered all.
| Israel in Egypt | |