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Hymns and Poems

Original and Translated: By Edward Caswall ... Second Edition

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XV. AJALON.
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XV. AJALON.

Benedicite, sol et luna, Domino.

A gorge of green,
That downward slopes two mountain crests between,
Tranquil and hush'd in evening's lap serene!—
Betwixt the heights the sun is sinking slow;
While in the vale below

404

The moon begins her silver orb to show,
Brightening each moment into clearer glow.
Like mists of night descending,
In mingled masses blending,
What swarms are these that hither downward pour?
Conflicting hosts they seem;
I catch their serried gleam,
I hear, I hear, the distant battle's roar.
And now far down the plain
In one broad flow,
A living sea they go;
Pursuers and pursued, the slayers and the slain.
Ah, 'tis the Amorrhite host,
Beneath th' Almighty's sword
By Israel's red hand into destruction pour'd!
O quickly sink, thou Sun;
Let darkness dun
Wrap the world up in night,
And hide from wrath divine the perishing Amorrhite!
Why standest thou so still,
O Sun, on Gabaon's hill;
And thou, O Moon, in Ajalon's far vale;
Each in your habitation of calm space
Transfix'd? While time his race
Suspends, and in his stead
Eternity its solemn pall hath spread;
Forestalling that great Day which brings the Judgment dread.
And still the slaughter'd fall, the slayers still pursue,
In the broad open day,
Where midnight else had sway,
Reaping the harvest ripe of deadly vengeance due.
Josue, thy glory bright
Excels all glory's height!

405

O force of prayer!
The sun upon his stair
Pauses midway, as fearing to descend;
The moon hangs motionless in air,
As it were painted there,
Till prayer hath wrought its end;
Till Israel's foes
In heaps of death repose.
Then night and darkness to their place again
Return, and silent reign;
Proving by confirmation strong
To all the ages all along,
That whom Jehovah loves all nature must befriend;
Whom the Creator hates no creature may defend.