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Softened to tears, hereat old Lamech wept:
‘Elihu, still hast thou a prophet been,
Though youngest of my sons, and now the sole.
More wisdom yet this day hath dwelt in thee,
Than in all former days, though ever wise.
And who am I, that should contend with God?
Nay, shall I answer him who speaks in thee?
Once have I spoken, and again: but now,
I lay my hand upon my mouth. I know,
Thou canst do every thing, O Lord, my God;
And that no thought from thee can be withheld.
Grief from my heart hath utterance wrung of things
Not understood, too wonderful for me:
But even herein I find, that it was good
For me to be afflicted: wiser hence,
Now know I what I cannot know; and where
Experience ends; and whence Faith upward soars.
Faith? even by hearing of the ear it hath
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Come hitherto; but now, as with the eye,
It sees the Eternal. Dazzled with the gaze,
How vile seem I; abhorrent to myself—
Great God; in dust, and ashes I repent.’
‘And God’ . . Elihu said . . ‘hath looked on thee,
And seen thy sorrow, to compassionate—
The Merciful. Hence was I sent to thee;
To utter words of comfort, to reveal
The purposes of Wisdom. He forgives
What grief imagines lest the heart should break;
Climbing for solace to the Throne of God,
In daring question; and meet answer finds.
Thy sins are pardoned, and thine end shall be
That of the righteous. But behoves it first,
That Noah should return. And lo, he comes.
A blessèd death shall thine, O Lamech, be.’
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