 | [The Israelites crossing the Red Sea, in] The Odd-Fellows' offering, for 1850 |  |
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THE ISRAELITES CROSSING THE RED SEA.
Night had passed in the pomp
Of her splendor away,
And Morning unbarred
The gold portals of day:
On the banners of Egypt,
Far floated the flame
Of the sunrise, that witnessed
Her glory and shame:
But darkening before them
The cloud-pillar rose,
And hid from their vision
The camp of their foes,—
That column which towered
Sublimely to heaven,
That wonderful guide,
To the wanderer given,
Which frowned upon Egypt,
Terrific in wrath,
But shone, with soft light,
O'er the Israelites' path:
Yet onward they poured,
In their grandeur and pride,
The omen unheeded,
The danger defied;
To the sound of their cymbals
Wild, musical clash,
In their gem-illumed armor,
On—onward they dash!
With their chariots of gold,
And their steeds of rare might,
They rush to their ruin,
In music and light,
More madly, more swiftly,
As nearer they came,
Like a tempest, that gathers
With thunder and flame.
Of her splendor away,
And Morning unbarred
The gold portals of day:
On the banners of Egypt,
Far floated the flame
Of the sunrise, that witnessed
Her glory and shame:
But darkening before them
The cloud-pillar rose,
And hid from their vision
The camp of their foes,—
That column which towered
Sublimely to heaven,
That wonderful guide,
To the wanderer given,
Which frowned upon Egypt,
Terrific in wrath,
But shone, with soft light,
O'er the Israelites' path:
Yet onward they poured,
In their grandeur and pride,
The omen unheeded,
The danger defied;
To the sound of their cymbals
Wild, musical clash,
In their gem-illumed armor,
On—onward they dash!
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And their steeds of rare might,
They rush to their ruin,
In music and light,
More madly, more swiftly,
As nearer they came,
Like a tempest, that gathers
With thunder and flame.
Too late! They have paused,
In unspeakable fear—
The cymbal is silent,
“What marvel is here?”
Lo! chanting an anthem,
Serenely and slow,
'Mid the waters dividing,
The Israelites go!
And stayed by God's word,
The great floods in their might
Stand firm “like a wall,
On the left and the right.”
A moment they gaze,
Then, with shouts of fierce pride
The cohorts of Egypt
Dash on 'mid the tide;
But the war-cry is changed
To a moan of dismay,
As the wild waters meet,
O'er that splendid array;
And they perish by thousands,
In rage and despair,
While the Hebrews' glad anthem
Floats by on the air!
In unspeakable fear—
The cymbal is silent,
“What marvel is here?”
Lo! chanting an anthem,
Serenely and slow,
'Mid the waters dividing,
The Israelites go!
And stayed by God's word,
The great floods in their might
Stand firm “like a wall,
On the left and the right.”
A moment they gaze,
Then, with shouts of fierce pride
The cohorts of Egypt
Dash on 'mid the tide;
But the war-cry is changed
To a moan of dismay,
As the wild waters meet,
O'er that splendid array;
And they perish by thousands,
In rage and despair,
While the Hebrews' glad anthem
Floats by on the air!
“Sing to the Lord of Hosts,
High and victorious!
Clash the glad cymbal,
For freedom so glorious!
High and victorious!
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For freedom so glorious!
“Sing to the Lord of Hosts,
Israel's daughters;
Egypt's proud army
Lies whelmed in the waters.
Israel's daughters;
Egypt's proud army
Lies whelmed in the waters.
“O'er the sea breathing,
The floods he divided,
Safely we passed,
By his mighty hand guided.
The floods he divided,
Safely we passed,
By his mighty hand guided.
“Strike the wild timbrel,
To Him—our Salvation!
He hath delivered,
From peril, his nation.
To Him—our Salvation!
He hath delivered,
From peril, his nation.
“Sing for the Lord of Hosts!
Tell the proud story,
Egypt is shorn
Of her grandeur and glory.
Tell the proud story,
Egypt is shorn
Of her grandeur and glory.
“Lo! where before us,
Majestic and solemn,
Moveth serenely,
The God-lighted column!
Majestic and solemn,
Moveth serenely,
The God-lighted column!
“Sing to the Lord of Hosts,
Great and victorious!
Praise him for ever,
For freedom so glorious!”
Great and victorious!
Praise him for ever,
For freedom so glorious!”
| [The Israelites crossing the Red Sea, in] The Odd-Fellows' offering, for 1850 | |