Idylls and Lyrics of The Nile By H. D. Rawnsley |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLIII. |
| XLIV. |
| XLV. |
| XLVI. |
| XLVII. |
| XLVIII. |
| XLIX. |
| L. |
| LI. |
| LII. |
| LIII. |
| LIV. |
| LV. |
| LVI. |
| LVII. |
| LVIII. |
| LIX. |
| LX. | LX AT KOM OMBO |
| LXI. |
| LXII. |
| LXII. |
| LXIV. |
 | Idylls and Lyrics of The Nile |  |
137
LX AT KOM OMBO
Beyond the mountain gateway ‘of the chain,’
That held in bonds the surly-flowing river,
Till Pharaoh paid to Hâpi vows again,
And 'stablished feasts for ever.
That held in bonds the surly-flowing river,
Till Pharaoh paid to Hâpi vows again,
And 'stablished feasts for ever.
There lies a bank of yellow-golden sand,
Where-from a tower falls crumbling to the tide,
Above, half hid, two sanctuaries stand,
Twin temples side by side.
Where-from a tower falls crumbling to the tide,
Above, half hid, two sanctuaries stand,
Twin temples side by side.
In one was Evil honoured, in one Good,
Hymns to Light there, and here to Dark were raised,
In both that subtle dragon of the flood,
The crocodile, was praised.
Hymns to Light there, and here to Dark were raised,
In both that subtle dragon of the flood,
The crocodile, was praised.
138
And looking forth from 'neath the portico,
Where overhead the wingèd sun-disc flew,
I could not wonder Light was worshipped so,
It was so fair a view.
Where overhead the wingèd sun-disc flew,
I could not wonder Light was worshipped so,
It was so fair a view.
But when the gleaming river changed to grey,
And stars upon the shallows glistened bright,
I felt that unto Darkness I could pray,
So glorious was the night.
And stars upon the shallows glistened bright,
I felt that unto Darkness I could pray,
So glorious was the night.
Who knows, within the breast of those who built,
Was some fore-knowledge that the human heart
Perplexed by possibilities of guilt,
Must choose the better part.
Was some fore-knowledge that the human heart
Perplexed by possibilities of guilt,
Must choose the better part.
That powers of darkness, venomous and great,
With powers of light must be at endless strife,
If Man would grow the master of his fate,
And win the higher life.
With powers of light must be at endless strife,
If Man would grow the master of his fate,
And win the higher life.
Or had the souls who set this double shrine
Some vision of that Hebrew prophet's sight,
‘The day and night, O Lord! they both are Thine,
Alike, the dark and light.’
Some vision of that Hebrew prophet's sight,
‘The day and night, O Lord! they both are Thine,
Alike, the dark and light.’
| Idylls and Lyrics of The Nile | |