 | A New Year's Eve, and Other Poems |  |
105
THE BATTLE OF GIBEON.
VERSES ILLUSTRATIVE OF MARTIN'S JOSHUA.
“For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise and garments rolled
in blood; but this with burning and fuel of fire.”—Isaiah ix. 5.
I
From Gilgal's camp went forth, at dead of night,The host of Israel: with the rising sun
They stood arrayed against the Amorite,
Beneath the regal heights of Gibeon,
Glorious in morning's splendour! Lebanon,
Dim in the distance, reared its lofty head;
Light clouds o'erhung the vale of Ajalon,
And the Five Armies, by their monarchs led
Not to mere mortal fight, but conflict far more dread.
106
II
How beautiful, at matin's early prime,Valley, and mountain, and that city fair!
Magnificent, yet fearfully sublime,
In few brief hours the scene depicted there!
Below the battle raged, and high in air
The gathering clouds, with tempest in their womb,
A supernatural darkness seemed to wear;
As heralding, by their portentous gloom,
Victory to Israel's host, her foes' impending doom!
III
Upon a jutting crag, below the heightWhere stands the royal city in its pride,
The ark is rested! in the people's sight
The priests and Joshua standing by its side;
Awhile the chief the sea of battle eyed,
Which heaved beneath:—in accents undismayed,
“Sun, stand thou still on Gibeon!” he cried,
“And thou, O Moon, o'er Ajalon be stayed!”
And holiest records tell the mandate was obeyed.
107
IV
Look on the horrid conflict; mark the streamOf lurid and unnatural light that falls,
Like some wild meteor's bright terrific gleam,
On Gibeon's steep and battlemented walls;
Her royal palace, and her pillared halls,
Seeming more gorgeous in its vivid blaze!
While o'er proud Lebanon the storm appals,
In jagged lines the arrowy lightning plays,
Softened to Israel's sight by intervening haze.
V
But o'er the Amoritish camp the cloudBursts in its fury! on the race abhorred
The parting heavens, as from a pitchy shroud,
Their desolating hail-storm's wrath out-poured,
More vengeful in its ire than Israel's sword!
Thus was deliverance unto Gibeon shown;
And by the fearful battle of the Lord,
The army of the Amorites o'erthrown,
And the almighty power of Israel's God made known.
108
VI
Made known by marvels awfully sublime!Yet far more glorious in the Christian's sight
Than these stern terrors of the olden time,
The gentler splendours of that peaceful night,
When opening clouds displayed, in vision bright,
The heavenly host to Bethlehem's shepherd train,
Shedding around them more than cloudless light!
“Glory to God on high!” their opening strain,
Its chorus, “Peace on earth!” its theme Messiah's reign!
| A New Year's Eve, and Other Poems | |