University of Virginia Library

“That thou art mad, is, for thine insolence,
Fondest excuse to make. A patient ear
I vowed to give thee, and have given; but, mark!
A point there is at which, with load opprest,
Even hardest rock must crack: and limit is,
Beyond which tried, patience more strong than steel,
Like glass must break. In ear of mortal king,
Surely were never yet such words as thine,
And with such boldness, uttered. Not again,—
I warn thee,—dare the threatenings of thy God
Before the king to speak: for, what is he?
A God of yesterday,—as ye yourselves
Of yesterday a people. Ages back,—
Long ere thine Israel, or that Israel's God,
Was known upon the earth,—this Egypt stood
Highest among the nations; and her Gods
Throughout all time were worshipped, even as now.
Our Gods, to thine, as oaks to mushrooms are;
Both in their might, and durance. If thy God
Us threaten, he may find, perchance, that Gods,
His greater far, will us protect; and strike
Even on himself. The Universal God,
God of all Gods,—with man, or things of earth,
Nought meddleth; unto Gods inferior
The rule deputing: of those lower Gods,
Your God, Jehovah, haply may be one;
One of the younger. Great ye boast his power;
But, with Osiris, Amun, on our side;
Pthah, Neph, Khem, Buto, Neith,—Jehovah's might,
Or anger, nought afears us. Then, no more
With message, or with threat from him, presume
To come before me: for the babbling wind
More vainly would not talk, than thou,—his threats,
As senseless, babbling.”

At those words, on high
Moses his arm uplifted, as to stay
The blasphemy, ere yet the thunder-stone
Should strike the speaker; and, with voice subdued,
Yet in authority terrible,—his eyes
Like living fire, his countenance like cloud
That brings the tempest, thus, reproving, spake.