University of Virginia Library

Description of the Egyptian Darkness

from the Book of Wisdom.

Once more th' Oppressor o'er the Sons of Heaven
Lifts the stern Eye-brow, and the scourging Arm.
When, lo! Amazement! the black Veil of Night
Fell instant o'er the World, and one dread Gloom
Imprison'd Nature. Ah! where then the Hope
To hide the conscious Crime! Guilt sunk appall'd,
By the blue Torch of griesly Horror led,
When the pale Spectre and the vengeful Fiend
Thro' tenfold Darkness frown'd—In vain they sought
The well-known Corner, or secure Retreat,
By conscious Fear pursued—Now the long Noise
Of sounding Cataracts shook the Ear; and now
At the dire vision starts the trembling Eye.
No Light emitted from the kindled Flame
Pierc'd the thick-woven Gloom; the golden Stars,
As frighted at the strange opaque, retir'd,
Nor shed one twinkling Ray. Yet Fancy saw,
Or thought She saw, thro' Fear's illusive Eye
Strange Fires of unknown Blaze, glow terrible,
Self-kindled where the Mock-Magician now
Boastful to charm the troubled Brain, and lay
The Spectres of the Mind—sick, sick he lies,
Ridiculous—And, tho' no Danger near,
Shrinks at the Sound of passing Savages,
Or hears the Hiss of Serpents—thinking now
The passive Air remov'd, and in it's stead
Material Darkness—Darkness to be felt.
'Tis Vice—'tis Guilt that, self-convicted feels
The Scourge of Fear—of Fear that renders vain
The Aid of Reason. When depriv'd of Hope,
Painful Uncertainty suspends the Mind,
And adds new Horrors to approaching Evils.
They slept that dreadful Night—but such their Sleep
As issued from the inmost Caves of Hell,
Pale Apparitions in his ghastly Train,
And Fiends, and Dæmons dire. Then the Heart fail'd,
And Reason, Fortitude and Manhood fled.
Still Darkness reign'd, in whose firm fetters bound
A Nation groan'd—strange Prison without Bar!
The black Night gloom'd: the Peasant stopt his Plough
In the half-finish'd Furrow—from his Lip
The Shepherd's Pipe fell tuneless, and, dismay'd,
The Traveller stood still—'Twas Terror all:
Each whispering Breeze, the Voice of Beast or Bird,
The murmuring Water-fall & waving Tree
Were heard with Horror: but if haply fell
Some Tower with thundering Ruin to the Ground,
If heard the rapid Steps of Beasts unseen,
The Roar of Savages, or Echo's Voice
Rebounding from the Mountain's hollow Side,
'Twas Death, or mute Amazement—Yet o'er these,
O'er Egypt's Sons alone had Darkness spread
Her sable Wing—all else had shining Day.
Dread Darkness! Image of that dismal Night,
Reserv'd for Guilt; and of it's own dire hue.