{ "id": "frances-ellen-watkins-harper/moses", "title": "Moses", "ordinal": null, "subtitle": "A Story of the Nile", "poet": "Frances Ellen Watkins Harper", "poet_slug": "frances-ellen-watkins-harper", "language": "en", "book": "Poetry", "book_slug": null, "book_kind": "compilation", "sequence": null, "container": null, "epigraph": null, "first_published": { "year": 1870, "venue": "Moses: A Story of the Nile (Philadelphia: Merrihew & Son, 1870), third edition", "note": "The printing located is the third edition, whose title page — reproduced in Lehigh’s transcription — reads “MOSES: A STORY OF THE NILE. Mrs. F. E. W. HARPER. THIRD EDITION. PHILADELPHIA: MERRIHEW & SON, PRINTERS, No. 243 Arch Street. 1870.” A third edition implies earlier ones and their year has not been established here, so the year given is later than the poem’s first appearance. The same text was collected in Idylls of the Bible (1901), where the scan on disk opens “A STORY OF THE NILE … THE PARTING.—Chapter I.” and 34 of 40 sampled lines match exactly, the other six failing on OCR damage rather than on any difference of reading.", "uncertain": true, "sources": [ "https://scalar.lehigh.edu/african-american-poetry-a-digital-anthology/frances-ew-harper-moses-a-story-of-the-nile-1870", "https://archive.org/details/idyllsofbible00harp" ] }, "source": { "kind": "standard-ebooks", "repo": "standardebooks/frances-ellen-watkins-harper_poetry", "file": "poetry.xhtml", "upstream": [ "https://scalar.lehigh.edu/african-american-poetry-a-digital-anthology/frances-ew-harper-poems-on-miscellaneous-subjects-1857", "https://archive.org/details/poemsonmiscellan00harp", "https://scalar.lehigh.edu/african-american-poetry-a-digital-anthology/frances-ew-harper-poems-1871", "https://archive.org/details/poems01harp", "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/69249", "https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007491600", "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/69248", "https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/100774124", "https://scalar.lehigh.edu/african-american-poetry-a-digital-anthology/frances-ew-harper-poems-full-text-1895", "https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/100488369", "https://scalar.lehigh.edu/african-american-poetry-a-digital-anthology/frances-ew-harper-idylls-of-the-bible-1901", "https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/100319488", "https://archive.org/details/historyofafrican00payn", "https://archive.org/details/WeeklyAngloAfricanI", "https://archive.org/details/sim_liberator_1858-05-14_28_20", "https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000500702", "https://archive.org/details/undergroundrailr00stil", "https://archive.org/details/frances-ellen-watkins-harper_sketches-of-southern-life-1872", "https://archive.org/details/25th-annual-report-of-the-board-of-managers-of-the-home-etc", "https://archive.org/details/frances-ellen-watkins-harper_light-beyond-the-darkness", "https://archive.org/details/ame-church-review-1900-04" ], "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)" }, "verification": { "level": "structural-only", "last_checked": "2026-08-12" }, "stats": { "n_lines": 1070, "n_stanzas": 25, "n_parts": 9, "longest_line_chars": 62, "max_indent": 8 }, "site_ready": true, "parts": [ { "ordinal": "I", "title": "The Parting", "stanza_range": [ 0, 8 ] }, { "ordinal": "II", "title": null, "stanza_range": [ 8, 9 ] }, { "ordinal": "III", "title": "Flight Into Midian", "stanza_range": [ 9, 10 ] }, { "ordinal": "IV", "title": null, "stanza_range": [ 10, 11 ] }, { "ordinal": "V", "title": null, "stanza_range": [ 11, 15 ] }, { "ordinal": "VI", "title": null, "stanza_range": [ 15, 20 ] }, { "ordinal": "VII", "title": null, "stanza_range": [ 20, 21 ] }, { "ordinal": "VIII", "title": null, "stanza_range": [ 21, 22 ] }, { "ordinal": "IX", "title": "The Death of Moses", "stanza_range": [ 22, 25 ] } ], "stanzas": [ [ { "text": "Kind and gracious princess, more than friend,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I’ve come to thank thee for thy goodness,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And to breathe into thy generous ears", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My last and sad farewell. I go to join", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The fortunes of my race, and to put aside", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All other bright advantages, save", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The approval of my conscience and the meed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of rightly doing.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "What means, my son, this strange election?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What wild chimera floats across thy mind?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What sudden impulse moves thy soul? Thou who", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hast only trod the court of kings, why seek", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Instead the paths of labor? Thou, whose limbs", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have known no other garb than that which well", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Befits our kingly state, why rather choose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The badge of servitude and toil?", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Let me tell thee, gracious princess; ’tis no", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sudden freak nor impulse wild that moves my mind.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I feel an earnest purpose binding all", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My soul unto a strong resolve, which bids", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Me put aside all other ends and aims,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until the hour shall come when God⁠—the God", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our fathers loved and worshipped⁠—shall break our chains,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And lead our willing feet to freedom.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Listen to me, Moses: thou art young,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the warm blood of youth flushes thy veins", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like generous wine; thou wearest thy manhood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like a crown; but what king e’er cast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His diadem in the dust, to be trampled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down by every careless foot? Thou hast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bright dreams and glowing hopes; could’st thou not live", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Them out as well beneath the radiance", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of our throne as in the shadow of those", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bondage-darkened huts?", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Within those darkened huts my mother plies her tasks,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My father bends to unrequited toil;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And bitter tears moisten the bread my brethren eat.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And when I gaze upon their cruel wrongs", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The very purple on my limbs seems drenched", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With blood, the warm blood of my own kindred race;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then thy richest viands pall upon my taste,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And discord jars in every tone of song.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I cannot live in pleasure while they faint", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In pain.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "How like a dream the past floats back: it seems", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But yesterday when I lay tossing upon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My couch of pain, a torpor creeping through", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Each nerve, a fever coursing through my veins.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And there I lay, dreaming of lilies fair,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of lotus flowers and past delights, and all", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The bright, glad hopes, that give to early life", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its glow and flush; and thus day after day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dragged its slow length along, until, one morn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The breath of lilies, fainting on the air,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Floated into my room, and then I longed once more", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To gaze upon the Nile, as on the face", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of a familiar friend, whose absence long", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had made a mournful void within the heart.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I summoned to my side my maids, and bade", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Them place my sandals on my feet, and lead", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Me to the Nile, where I might bathe my weary", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Limbs within the cooling flood, and gather", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Healing from the sacred stream.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I sought my favorite haunt, and, bathing, found", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "New tides of vigor coursing through my veins.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Refreshed, I sat me down to weave a crown of lotus leaves", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And lilies fair, and while I sat in a sweet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Revery, dreaming of life and hope, I saw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A little wicker-basket hidden among", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The flags and lilies of the Nile, and I called", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My maidens and said, “Nillias and Osiria", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bring me that little ark which floats beside", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The stream.” They ran and brought me a precious burden.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Twas an ark woven with rushes and daubed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With slime, and in it lay a sleeping child;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His little hand amid his clustering curls,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And a bright flush upon his glowing cheek.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He wakened with a smile, and reached out his hand", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To meet the welcome of the mother’s kiss,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When strange faces met his gaze, and he drew back", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With a grieved, wondering look, while disappointment", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shook the quivering lip that missed the mother’s", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wonted kiss, and the babe lifted his voice and wept.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then my heart yearned towards him, and I resolved", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That I would brave my father’s wrath and save", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The child; but while I stood gazing upon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His wondrous beauty, I saw beside", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A Hebrew girl, her eyes bent on me", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With an eager, questioning look, and drawing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Near, she timidly said, “shall I call a nurse?”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I bade her go; she soon returned, and with her", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came a woman of the Hebrew race, whose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sad, sweet, serious eyes seemed overflowing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With a strange and sudden joy. I placed the babe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Within her arms and said, “Nurse this child for me;”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the babe nestled there like one at home,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "While o’er the dimples of his face rippled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The brightest, sweetest smiles, and I was well", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Content to leave him in her care; and well", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Did she perform her part. When many days had", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Passed she brought the child unto the palace;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And one morning, while I sat toying with", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His curls and listening to the prattle of his", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Untrained lips, my father, proud and stately,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Saw me bending o’er the child and said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Charmian, whose child is this? who of my lords", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Calls himself father to this goodly child?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He surely must be a happy man.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then I said, “Father, he is mine. He is a", "indent": 5 }, { "text": "Hebrew child that I have saved from death.” He", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Suddenly recoiled, as if an adder", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had stung him, and said, “Charmian, take that", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Child hence. How darest thou bring a member", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of that mean and servile race within my doors?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nay, rather let me send for Nechos, whose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ready sword shall rid me of his hateful presence.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then kneeling at his feet, and catching", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hold of his royal robes, I said, “Not so,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Oh! honored father, he is mine; I snatched", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Him from the hungry jaws of death, and foiled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The greedy crocodile of his prey; he has", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Eaten bread within thy palace walls, and thy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Salt lies upon his fresh young lips; he has", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A claim upon thy mercy.” “Charmian,” he said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“I have decreed that every man child of that", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hated race shall die. The oracles have said", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The pyramids shall wane before their shadow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And from them a star shall rise whose light shall", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Spread over earth a baleful glow; and this is why", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I root them from the land; their strength is weakness", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To my throne. I shut them from the light lest they", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bring darkness to my kingdom. Now, Charmian,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Give me up the child, and let him die.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then clasping the child closer to my heart,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I said, “the pathway to his life is through my own;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Around that life I throw my heart, a wall", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of living, loving clay.” Dark as the thunder", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Clouds of distant lands became my father’s brow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And his eyes flashed with the fierce lightnings", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of his wrath; but while I plead, with eager", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Eyes upturned, I saw a sudden change come", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Over him; his eyes beamed with unwonted", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tenderness, and he said, “Charmian, arise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy prayer is granted; just then thy dead mother", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came to thine eyes, and the light of Asenath", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Broke over thy face. Asenath was the light", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of my home; the star that faded out too", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Suddenly from my dwelling, and left my life", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To darkness, grief and pain, and for her sake,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not thine, I’ll spare the child.” And thus I saved", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thee twice⁠—once from the angry sword and once", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From the devouring flood. Moses, thou art", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Doubly mine; as such I claimed thee then, as such", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I claim thee now. I’ve nursed no other child", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon my knee, and pressed upon no other", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lips the sweetest kisses of my love, and now,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With rash and careless hand, thou dost thrust aside that love.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There was a painful silence, a silence", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So hushed and still that you might have almost", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Heard the hurried breathing of one and the quick.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Throbbing of the other’s heart: for Moses,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He was slow of speech, but she was eloquent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With words of tenderness and love, and had breathed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her full heart into her lips; but there was", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Firmness in the young man’s choice, and he beat back", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The opposition of her lips with the calm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Grandeur of his will, and again he essayed to speak.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Gracious lady, thou remembrest well", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Hebrew nurse to whom thou gavest thy foundling.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That woman was my mother; from her lips I", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Learned the grand traditions of our race that float,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With all their weird and solemn beauty, around", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our wrecked and blighted fortunes. How oft!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With kindling eye and glowing cheek, forgetful", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of the present pain, she would lead us through", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The distant past: the past, hallowed by deeds", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of holy faith and lofty sacrifice.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How she would tell us of Abraham,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The father of our race, that he dwelt in Ur;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of the Chaldees, and when the Chaldean king", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had called him to his sacrifice, that he", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had turned from his dumb idols to the living", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "God, and wandered out from kindred, home and race,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Led by his faith in God alone; and she would", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tell us⁠—(we were three,) my brother Aaron,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Hebrew girl thou sentest to call a nurse,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I, her last, her loved and precious child;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She would tell us that one day our father", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Abraham heard a voice, bidding him offer", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Up in sacrifice the only son of his", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beautiful and beloved Sarah; that the father’s", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Heart shrank not before the bitter test of faith,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But he resolved to give his son to God", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As a burnt offering upon Moriah’s mount;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That the uplifted knife glittered in the morning", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sun, when, sweeter than the music of a thousand", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Harps, he heard a voice bidding him stay his hand,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And spare the child; and how his faith, like gold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tried in the fiercest fire, shone brighter through", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its fearful test. And then she would tell us", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of a promise, handed down from sire to son,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That God, the God our fathers loved and worshiped,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would break our chains, and bring to us a great", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Deliverance; that we should dwell in peace", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beneath our vines and palms, our flocks and herds", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Increase, and joyful children crowd our streets;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then she would lift her eyes unto the far", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Off hills and tell us of the patriarchs", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of our line, who sleep in distant graves within", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That promised land; and now I feel the hour", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Draws near which brings deliverance to our race.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "These are but the dreams of thy young fancy;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I cannot comprehend thy choice. I have heard", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of men who have waded through slaughter", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To a throne; of proud ambitions, struggles", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fierce and wild for some imagined good; of men", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who have even cut in twain the crimson threads", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That lay between them and a throne; but I", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Never heard of men resigning ease for toil,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The splendor of a palace for the squalor", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of a hut, and casting down a diadem", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To wear a servile badge. Sadly she gazed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon the fair young face lit with its lofty", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Faith and high resolves⁠—the dark prophetic eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which seemed to look beyond the present pain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unto the future greatness of his race.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As she stood before him in the warm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Loveliness of her ripened womanhood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her languid eyes glowed with unwonted fire,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the bright tropical blood sent its quick", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Flushes o’er the olive of her cheek, on which", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Still lay the lingering roses of her girlhood.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Grief, wonder, and surprise flickered like shadows", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O’er her face as she stood slowly crushing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With unconscious hand the golden tassels", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of her crimson robe. She had known life only", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By its brightness, and could not comprehend", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The grandeur of the young man’s choice; but she", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Felt her admiration glow before the earnest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Faith that tore their lives apart and led him", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To another destiny. She had hoped to see", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The crown of Egypt on his brow, the sacred", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Leopard skin adorn his shoulders, and his seat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The throne of the proud Pharaoh’s; but now her", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dream had faded out and left a bitter pang", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of anguish in its stead. And thus they parted,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She to brood in silence o’er her pain, and he", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To take his mission from the hands of God", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And lead his captive race to freedom.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With silent lips but aching heart she bowed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her queenly head and let him pass, and he", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Went forth to share the fortune of his race,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Esteeming that as better far than pleasures", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bought by sin and gilded o’er with vice.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And he had chosen well, for on his brow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "God poured the chrism of a holy work.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And thus anointed he has stood a bright", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ensample through the changing centuries of time.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "It was a great change from the splendor, light", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And pleasure of a palace to the lowly huts", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of those who sighed because of cruel bondage. As he passed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the outer courts of that proud palace,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He paused a moment just to gaze upon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The scenes ’mid which his early life had passed⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The pleasant haunts amid the fairest flowers,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The fountains tossing on the air their silver spray⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The statues breathing music soft and low", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To greet the first faint flushes of the morn⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The obelisks that rose in lofty grandeur", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From their stony beds⁠—the sphinxes gaunt and grim,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With unsolved riddles on their lips⁠—and all", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The bright creation’s painters art and sculptors", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Skill had gathered in those regal halls, where mirth,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And dance, and revelry, and song had chased", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With careless feet the bright and fleeting hours.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He was leaving all; but no regrets came", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like a shadow o’er his mind, for he had felt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The quickening of a higher life, as if his", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Soul had wings and he were conscious of their growth;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And yet there was a tender light in those", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dark eyes which looked their parting on the scenes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of beauty, where his life had been a joyous", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dream enchanted with delight; but he trampled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On each vain regret as on a vanquished foe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And went forth a strong man, girded with lofty", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Purposes and earnest faith. He journeyed on", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till palaces and domes and lofty fanes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And gorgeous temples faded from his sight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the lowly homes of Goshen came in view.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There he saw the women of his race kneading", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their tale of bricks; the sons of Abraham", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Crouching beneath their heavy burdens. He saw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The increasing pallor on his sister’s cheek,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The deepening shadows on his mother’s brow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The restless light that glowed in Aaron’s eye,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As if a hidden fire were smouldering", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In his brain; and bending o’er his mother", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In a tender, loving way, he said, “Mother,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I’ve come to share the fortunes of my race⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To dwell within these lowly huts⁠—to wear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The badge of servitude and toil, and eat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The bitter bread of penury and pain.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A sudden light beamed from his mother’s eye,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And she said, “How’s this, my son? but yesterday", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Two Hebrews, journeying from On to Goshen,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Told us they had passed the temple of the Sun", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But dared not enter, only they had heard", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That it was a great day in On; that thou hadst", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Forsworn thy kindred, tribe and race; hadst bowed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy knee to Egypt’s vain and heathen worship;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hadst denied the God of Abraham, of Isaac,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And of Jacob, and from henceforth wouldst", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be engrafted in Pharaoh’s regal line,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When thy father Amram heard the cruel news", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He bowed his head upon his staff and wept.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But I had stronger faith than that. By faith", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I hid thee when the bloody hands of Pharaoh", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were searching ’mid our quivering heart strings,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dooming our sons to death; by faith I wove", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The rushes of thine ark and laid thee ’mid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The flags and lilies of the Nile, and saw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The answer to that faith when Pharaoh’s daughter", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Placed thee in my arms, and bade me nurse the child", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For her; and by that faith sustained, I heard", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As idle words the cruel news that stabbed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy father like a sword.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“The Hebrews did not hear aright; last week", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There was a great day in On, from Esoan’s gate", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unto the mighty sea; the princes, lords", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And chamberlains of Egypt were assembled;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The temple of the sun was opened. Isis", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Osiris were unveiled before the people;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Apis and Orus were crowned with flowers;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Golden censers breathed their fragrance on the air;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The sacrifice was smoking on the altar;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The first fruits of the Nile lay on the tables", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of the sun: the music rose in lofty swells,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then sank in cadences so soft and low", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till all the air grew tremulous with rapture.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The priests of On were there, with sacred palms", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Within their hands and lotus leaves upon their", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Brows; Pharaoh and his daughter sat waiting", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In their regal chairs; all were ready to hear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Me bind my soul to Egypt, and to swear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Allegiance to her gods. The priests of On", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Drew near to lay their hands upon my head", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And bid me swear, ‘Now, by Osiris, judge", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all the dead, and Isis, mother of us", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All,’ that henceforth I’d forswear my kindred,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tribe and race; would have no other gods", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than those of Egypt; would be engrafted", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into Pharaoh’s royal line, and be called", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Then, mother", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dear, I lived the past again. Again I sat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beside thee, my lips apart with childish", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wonder, my eager eyes uplifted to thy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Glowing face, and my young soul gathering", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Inspiration from thy words. Again I heard", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thee tell the grand traditions of our race,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The blessed hopes and glorious promises", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That weave their golden threads among the sombre", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tissues of our lives, and shimmer still amid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The gloom and shadows of our lot. Again", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I heard thee tell of Abraham, with his constant", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Faith and earnest trust in God, unto whom", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The promise came that in his seed should all", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The nations of the earth be blessed. Of Isaac,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Blessing with disappointed lips his first born son,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From whom the birthright had departed. Of Jacob,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With his warm affections and his devious ways,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Flying berore the wrath of Esau; how he", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Slumbered in the wild, and saw amid his dreams", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A ladder reaching to the sky, on which God’s", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Angels did descend, and waking, with a solemn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Awe o’ershadowing all, his soul exclaimed, ‘How", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dreadful is this place. Lo! God is here, and I", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Knew it not.’ Of Joseph, once a mighty prince", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Within this land, who shrank in holy horror", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From the soft white hand that beckoned him to sin;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose heart, amid the pleasures, pomp and pride", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Egypt, was ever faithful to his race,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And when his life was trembling on its frailest chord", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He turned his dying eyes to Canaan, and made", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His brethren swear that they would make his grave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among the patriarchs of his line, because", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Machpelah’s cave, where Abraham bowed before", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The sons of Heth, and bought a place to lay", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His loved and cherished dead, was dearer to his", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dying heart than the proudest tomb amid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The princely dead of Egypt.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then, like the angels, mother dear, who met", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Our father Jacob on his way, thy words", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came back as messengers of light to guide", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My steps, and I refused to be called the son", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Pharaoh’s daughter. I saw the priests of On", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Grow pale with fear, an ashen terror creeping", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O’er the princess’ face, while Pharaoh’s brow grew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Darker than the purple of his cloak. But I", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endured, as seeing him who hides his face", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Behind the brightness of his glory.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And thus I left the pomp and pride of Egypt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To cast my lot among the people of my race.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "The love of Moses for his race soon found", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A stern expression. Pharaoh was building", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A pyramid; ambitious, cold and proud,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He scrupled not at means to gain his ends.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When he feared the growing power of Israel", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He stained his hands in children’s blood, and held", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A carnival of death in Goshen; but now", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He wished to hand his name and memory", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down unto the distant ages, and instead", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of lading that memory with the precious", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fragrance of the kindest deeds and words, he", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Essayed to write it out in stone, as cold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And hard, and heartless as himself. And Israel was", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The fated race to whom the cruel tasks", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were given. Day after day a cry of wrong", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And anguish, some dark deed of woe and crime,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came to the ear of Moses, and he said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“These reports are ever harrowing my soul;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I will go unto the fields where Pharaoh’s", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Officers exact their labors, and see", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If these things be so⁠—if they smite the feeble", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At their tasks, and goad the aged on to toils", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beyond their strength⁠–⁠if neither age nor sex", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is spared the cruel smiting of their rods.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Moses went to see his brethren. ’Twas eventide,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the laborers were wending their way", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unto their lowly huts. ’Twas a sad sight⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The young girls walked without the bounding steps", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of youth, with faces prematurely old,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As if the rosy hopes and sunny promises", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of life had never flushed their cheeks with girlish", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Joy; and there were men whose faces seemed to say,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "We bear our lot in hopeless pain, we’ve bent unto", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our burdens until our shoulders fit them,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And as slaves we crouch beneath our servitude", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And toil. But there were men whose souls were cast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In firmer moulds, men with dark secretive eyes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which seemed to say, to-day we bide our time,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And hide our wrath in every nerve, and only", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wait a fitting hour to strike the hands that press", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Us down. Then came the officers of Pharaoh;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They trod as lords, their faces flushed with pride", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And insolence, watching the laborers", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sadly wending their way from toil to rest.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Moses’ heart swelled with a mighty pain; sadly", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Musing, he sought a path that led him", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From the busy haunts of men. But even there", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The cruel wrong trod in his footsteps; he heard", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A heavy groan, then harsh and bitter words,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, looking back, he saw an officer", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Pharaoh smiting with rough and cruel hand", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An aged man. Then Moses’ wrath o’erflowed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His lips, and every nerve did tremble", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With a sense of wrong, and bounding forth he", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cried unto the smiter, “Stay thy hand; seest thou", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That aged man? His head is whiter than our", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Desert sands; his limbs refuse to do thy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bidding because thy cruel tasks have drained", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Away their strength.” The Egyptian raised his eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With sudden wonder; who was this that dared dispute", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His power? Only a Hebrew youth. His", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Proud lip curved in scornful anger, and he", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Waved a menace with his hand, saying, “back", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To thy task base slave, nor dare resist the will", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Pharaoh.” Then Moses’ wrath o’erleaped the bounds", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of prudence, and with a heavy blow he felled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The smiter to the earth, and Israel had", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One tyrant less. Moses saw the mortal paleness", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Chase the flushes from the Egyptian’s face,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The whitening lips that breathed no more defiance,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the relaxing tension of the well knit limbs;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And when he knew that he was dead, he hid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Him in the sand and left him to his rest.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Another day Moses walked", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Abroad, and saw two brethren striving", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For mastery; and then his heart grew full", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of tender pity. They were brethren, sharers", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of a common wrong: should not their wrongs more", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Closely bind their hearts, and union, not division,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be their strength? And feeling thus, he said, “ye", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are brethren, wherefore do ye strive together?”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But they threw back his words in angry tones", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And asked if he had come to judge them, and would", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mete to them the fate of the Egyptian?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then Moses knew the sand had failed to keep", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His secret, that his life no more was safe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In Goshen, and he fled unto the deserts", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Arabia and became a shepherd", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For the priest of Midian.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Men grow strong in action, but in solitude", "indent": 5 }, { "text": "Their thoughts are ripened. Like one who cuts away", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The bridge on which he has walked in safety", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To the other side, so Moses cut off all retreat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Pharaoh’s throne, and did choose the calling", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Most hateful to an Egyptian; he became", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A shepherd, and led his flocks and herds amid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The solitudes and wilds of Midian, where he", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nursed in silent loneliness his earnest faith", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In God and a constant love for kindred, tribe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And race. Years stole o’er him, but they took", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No atom from his strength, nor laid one heavy weight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon his shoulders. The down upon his face", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had ripened to a heavy beard; the fire", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That glowed within his youthful eye had deepened", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To a calm and steady light, and yet his heart", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was just as faithful to his race as when he had", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stood in Pharaoh’s courts and bade farewell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unto his daughter.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There was a look of patient waiting on his face,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A calm, grand patience, like one who had lifted", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Up his eyes to God and seen, with meekened face,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The wings of some great destiny o’ershadowing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All his life with strange and solemn glory.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But the hour came when he must pass from thought", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To action⁠—when the hope of many years", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Must reach its grand fruition, and Israel’s", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Great deliverance dawn. It happened thus:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One day, as Moses led his flocks, he saw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A fertile spot skirted by desert sands⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A pleasant place for flocks and herds to nip", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The tender grass and rest within its shady nooks;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And as he paused and turned, he saw a bush with fire", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aglow; from root to stem a lambent flame", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sent up its jets and sprays of purest light,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And yet the bush, with leaves uncrisped, uncurled,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was just as green and fresh as if the breath", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of early spring were kissing every leaf.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then Moses said I’ll turn aside to see", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This sight, and as he turned he heard a voice", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bidding him lay his sandals by, for Lo! he", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stood on holy ground. Then Moses bowed his head", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon his staff and spread his mantle o’er", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His face, lest he should see the dreadful majesty", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of God; and there, upon that lonely spot,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By Horeb’s mount, his shrinking hands received", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The burden of his God, which bade him go", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Egypt’s guilty king, and bid him let", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The oppressed go free. Commissioned thus", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He gathered up his flocks and herds and sought", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The tents of Jethro, and said “I pray thee", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let me go and see if yet my kindred live;”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Jethro bade him go in peace, nor sought", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To throw himself across the purpose of his soul.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet there was a tender parting in that home;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There were moistened eyes, and quivering lips,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And lingering claspings of the parting hand, as Jethro", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And his daughters stood within the light of that", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Clean morn, and gave to Moses and his wife", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And sons their holy wishes and their sad farewells.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For he had been a son and brother in that home", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Since first with manly courtesy he had filled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The empty pails of Reuel’s daughters, and found", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A shelter ’neath his tent when flying from", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The wrath of Pharaoh. They journeyed on,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Moses, Zipporah and sons, she looking back", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With tender love upon the home she had left,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With all its precious memories crowding round", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her heart, and he with eager eyes tracking", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His path across the desert, longing once more", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To see the long-lost faces of his distant home,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The loving eyes so wont to sun him with their", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Welcome, and the aged hands that laid upon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His youthful head their parting blessing. They", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Journeyed on till morning’s flush and noonday", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Splendor glided into the softened, mellowed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Light of eve, and the purple mists were deep’ning", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On the cliffs and hills, when Horeb, dual", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Crowned, arose before him; and there he met", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His brother Aaron, sent by God to be", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His spokesman and to bear him company", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Pharaoh. Tender and joyous was their greeting.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They talked of home and friends until the lighter", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ripple of their thoughts in deeper channels flowed:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then they talked of Israel’s bondage,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the great deliverance about to dawn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon the fortunes of their race; and Moses", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Told him of the burning bush, and how the message", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of his God was trembling on his lips. And thus", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They talked until the risen moon had veiled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The mount in soft and silvery light; and then", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They rested until morn, and rising up, refreshed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From sleep, pursued their way until they reached", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The land of Goshen, and gathered up the elders", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of their race, and told them of the message", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of their Father’s God. Then eager lips caught up", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The words of hope and passed the joyful news", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Around, and all the people bowed their heads", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And lifted up their hearts in thankfulness", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To God.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That same day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Moses sought an audience with the king. He found", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Him on his throne surrounded by the princes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of his court, who bowed in lowly homage", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At his feet. And Pharaoh heard with curving lip", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And flushing cheek the message of the Hebrew’s God", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then asked in cold and scornful tones, “Has", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Israel a God, and if so where has he dwelt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For ages? As the highest priest of Egypt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I have prayed to Isis, and the Nile has", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Overflowed her banks and filled the land", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With plenty, but these poor slaves have cried unto", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their God, then crept in want and sorrow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To their graves. Surely Mizraim’s God is strong", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Israel’s is weak; then wherefore should", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I heed his voice, or at his bidding break", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A single yoke?” Thus reasoned that proud king,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And turned a deafened ear unto the words", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Moses and bis brother, and yet he felt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Strangely awed before their presence, because", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They stood as men who felt the grandeur", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of their mission, and thought not of themselves,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But of their message.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "On the next day Pharaoh called a council", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of his mighty men, and before them laid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The message of the brethren: then Amorphel,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Keeper of the palace and nearest lord", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unto the king, arose, and bending low", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before the throne, craved leave to speak a word.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Amorphel was a crafty, treacherous man,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With oily lips well versed in flattery", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And courtly speech, a supple reed ready", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To bend before his royal master’s lightest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Breath⁠—Pharaoh’s willing tool. He said", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Gracious king, thou has been too lenient", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With these slaves; light as their burdens are, they", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fret and chafe beneath them. They are idle", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the blood runs riot in their veins. Now", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If thou would’st have these people dwell in peace,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Increase, I pray thee, their tasks and add unto", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their burdens; if they faint beneath their added", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tasks, they will have less time to plot sedition", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And revolt.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then Rhadma, oldest lord in Pharaoh’s court,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Arose. He was an aged man, whose white", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And heavy beard hung low upon his breast,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet there was a hard cold glitter in his eye,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And on his face a proud and evil look.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He had been a servant to the former king,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And wore his signet ring upon his hand.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He said, “I know this Moses well. Fourscore", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Years ago Princess Charmian found him", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By the Nile and rescued him from death, and did", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Choose him as her son, and had him versed in all", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The mysteries and lore of Egypt. But blood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will tell, and this base slave, with servile blood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Within his veins, would rather be a servant", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than a prince, and so, with rude and reckless hand,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He thrust aside the honors of our dear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Departed king. Pharaoh was justly wroth,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But for his daughter’s sake he let the trespass", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pass. But one day this Moses slew an Egyptian", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In his wrath, and then the king did seek his life;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But be fled, it is said, unto the deserts", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Arabia, and became a shepherd for the priest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Midian. But now, instead of leading flocks", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And herds, he aspires to lead his captive race", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To freedom. These men mean mischief; sedition", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And revolt are in their plans. Decree, I pray thee,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That these men shall gather their own straw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And yet their tale of bricks shall be the same.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And these words pleased Pharaoh well, and all his", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lords chimed in with one accord. And Pharaoh", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wrote the stern decree and sent it unto Goshen⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That the laborers should gather their own straw,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And yet they should not ’minish of their tale of bricks.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Twas a sad day in Goshen;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The king’s decree hung like a gloomy pall", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Around their homes. The people fainted ’neath", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their added tasks, then cried unto the king,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That he would ease their burdens; but he hissed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A taunt into their ears and said, “ye are", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Idle, and your minds are filled with vain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And foolish thoughts; get you into your tasks,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And ye shall not ’minish of your tale of bricks.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then they turned their eyes", "indent": 8 }, { "text": "Reproachfully on Moses and his brother,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And laid the cruel blame upon their shoulders.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Tis an old story now, but then ’twas new", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unto the brethren⁠—how God’s anointed ones", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Must walk with bleeding feet the paths that turn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To lines of living light; how hands that bring", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Salvation in their palms are pierced with cruel", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nails, and lips that quiver first with some great truth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are steeped in bitterness and tears, and brows", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now bright beneath the aureola of God,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have bent beneath the thorny crowns of earth.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There was hope for Israel,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But they did not see the golden fringes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of their coming morn; they only saw the cold,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Grey sky, and fainted ’neath the cheerless gloom.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Moses sought again the presence of the king:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Pharaoh’s brow grew dark with wrath,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And rising up in angry haste, he said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Defiantly, “If thy God be great, show", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Us some sign or token of his power.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then Moses threw his rod upon the floor,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And it trembled with a sign of life;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The dark wood glowed, then changed into a thing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of glistening scales and golden rings, and green,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And brown and purple stripes; a hissing, hateful", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thing, that glared its fiery eye, and darting forth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From Moses’ side, lay coiled and panting", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At the monarch’s feet. With wonder open-eyed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The king gazed on the changed rod, then called", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For his magicians⁠—wily men, well versed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In sinful lore⁠—and bade them do the same.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And they, leagued with the powers of night, did", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Also change their rods to serpents; then Moses’", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Serpent darted forth, and with a startling hiss", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And angry gulp, he swallowed the living things", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That coiled along his path. And thus did Moses", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Show that Israel’s God had greater power", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than those dark sons of night. But not by this alone", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Did God his mighty power reveal: He changed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their waters; every fountain, well and pool", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was red with blood, and lips, all parched with thirst,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shrank back in horror from the crimson draughts.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then the worshiped Nile grew full of life:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Millions of frogs swarmed from the stream⁠—they clogged", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The pathway of the priests and filled the sacred", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fanes, and crowded into Pharaoh’s bed, and hopped", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into his trays of bread, and slumbered in his", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ovens and his pans.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then came another plague, of loathsome vermin;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They were gray and creeping things, that made", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their very clothes alive with dark and sombre", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Spots⁠—things so loathsome in the land they did", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Suspend the service of the temple; for no priest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dared to lift his hand to any god with one", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of these upon him. And then the sky grew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dark, as if a cloud were passing o’er its", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Changeless blue; a buzzing sound broke o’er", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The city, and the land was swarmed with flies.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The murrain laid their cattle low; the hail", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cut off the first fruits of the Nile; the locusts,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With their hungry jaws, destroyed the later crops,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And left the ground as brown and bare as if a fire", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had scorched it through. Then angry blains", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And fiery boils did blur the flesh of man", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And beast; and then for three long days, nor saffron", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tint, nor crimson flush, nor soft and silvery light", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Divided day from morn, nor told the passage", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of the hours; men rose not from their seats, but sat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In silent awe. That lengthened night lay like a burden", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On the air⁠—a darkness one might almost gather", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In his hand, it was so gross and thick. Then came", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The last dread plague⁠—the death of the first born.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Twas midnight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And a startling shriek rose from each palace,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Home and hut of Egypt, save the blood-besprinkled homes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Goshen; the midnight seemed to shiver with a sense", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of dread, as if the mystic angel’s wing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had chilled the very air with horror.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Death! Death! was everywhere⁠—in every home", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A corpse⁠—in every heart a bitter woe.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There were anxious fingerings for the pulse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That ne’er would throb again, and eager listenings", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For some sound of life⁠—a hurrying to and fro⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then burning kisses on the cold lips", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of the dead, bitter partings, sad farewells,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And mournful sobs and piercing shrieks,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And deep and heavy groans throughout the length", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And breadth of Egypt. ’Twas the last dread plague,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But it had snapped in twain the chains on which", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The rust of ages lay, and Israel was freed;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not only freed, but thrust in eager haste", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From out the land. Trembling men stood by, and longed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To see them gather up their flocks and herds,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And household goods, and leave the land; because they felt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That death stood at their doors as long as Israel", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lingered there; and they went forth in haste,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To tread the paths of freedom.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But Pharaoh was strangely blind, and turning", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From his first-born and his dead, with Egypt’s wail", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Scarce still upon his ear, he asked which way had", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Israel gone? They told him that they journeyed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Towards the mighty sea, and were encamped", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Near Baalzephon.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then Pharaoh said, “the wilderness will hem them in,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The mighty sea will roll its barriers in front,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And with my chariots and my warlike men", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I’ll bring them back, or mete them out their graves.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then Pharaoh’s officers arose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And gathered up the armies of the king,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And made his chariots ready for pursuit.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With proud escutcheons blazoned to the sun,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In his chariot of ivory, pearl and gold,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pharaoh rolled out of Egypt; and with him", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rode his mighty men, their banners floating", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On the breeze, their spears and armor glittering", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In the morning light; and Israel saw,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With fainting hearts, their old oppressors on their", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Track: then women wept in hopeless terror;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Children hid their faces in their mothers’ robes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And strong men bowed their heads in agony and dread;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then a bitter, angry murmur rose⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Were there no graves in Egypt, that thou hast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Brought us here to die?”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then Moses lifted up his face, aglow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With earnest faith in God, and bade their fainting hearts", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be strong and they should his salvation see.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Stand still,” said Moses to the fearful throng", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose hearts were fainting in the wild, “Stand still.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ah, that was Moses’ word, but higher and greater", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came God’s watchword for the hour, and not for that", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alone, but all the coming hours of time.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Speak ye unto the people and bid them", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Forward go; stretch thy hand across the waters", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And smite them with thy rod.” And Moses smote", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The restless sea; the waves stood up in heaps,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then lay as calm and still as lips that just", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had tasted death. The secret-loving sea", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Laid bare her coral caves and iris-tinted", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Floor; that wall of flood which lined the people’s", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Way was God’s own wondrous masonry;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The signal pillar sent to guide them through the wild", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Moved its dark shadow till it fronted Egypt’s", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Camp, but hung in fiery splendor, a light", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Israel’s path. Madly rushed the hosts", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Pharaoh upon the people’s track, when", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The solemn truth broke on them⁠—that God", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For Israel fought. With cheeks in terror", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Blenching, and eyes astart with fear, “let", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Us flee,” they cried, “from Israel, for their God", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Doth fight against us; he is battling on their side.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They had trusted in their chariots, but now", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That hope was vain; God had loosened every", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Axle and unfastened every wheel, and each", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Face did gather blackness and each heart stood still", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With fear, as the livid lightnings glittered", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the thunder roared and muttered on the air,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And they saw the dreadful ruin that shuddered", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O’er their heads, for the waves began to tremble", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the wall of flood to bend. Then arose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A cry of terror, baffled hate and hopeless dread,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A gurgling sound of horror, as the waves", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came madly dashing, wildly crashing, seeking", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Out their place again, and the flower and pride", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Egypt sank as lead within the sea", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till the waves threw back their corpses cold and stark", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon the shore, and the song of Israel’s", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Triumph was the requiem of their foes.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Oh the grandeur of that triumph; up the cliffs", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And down the valleys, o’er the dark and restless", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sea, rose the people’s shout of triumph, going", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Up in praise to God, and the very air", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Seemed joyous, for the choral song of millions", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Throbbed upon its viewless wings.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then another song of triumph rose in accents", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Soft and clear; ’twas the voice of Moses’ sister", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rising in the tide of song. The warm blood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of her childhood seemed dancing in her veins;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The roses of her girlhood were flushing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On her cheek, and her eyes flashed out the splendor", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of long departed days, for time itself seemed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pausing, and she lived the past again; again", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Nile flowed by her; she was watching by the stream,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A little ark of rushes where her baby brother lay;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The tender tide of rapture swept o’er her soul again", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She had felt when Pharaoh’s daughter had claimed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Him as her own, and her mother wept for joy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Above her rescued son. Then again she saw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Him choosing “ ’twixt Israel’s pain and sorrow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Egypt’s pomp and pride.” But now he stood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their leader triumphant on that shore, and loud", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She struck the cymbals as she led the Hebrew women", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In music, dance and song, as they shouted out", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Triumphs in sweet and glad refrains.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "A wail in the palace, a wail in the hut,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The midnight is shivering with dread,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And Egypt wakes up with a shriek and a sob", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To mourn for her first-born and dead.", "indent": 1 } ], [ { "text": "In the morning glad voices greeted the light,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As the Nile with its splendor was flushed;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "At midnight silence had melted their tones,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And their music forever is hushed.", "indent": 1 } ], [ { "text": "In the morning the princes of palace and court", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To the heir of the kingdom bowed down;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "’Tis midnight, pallid and stark in his shroud", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He dreams not of kingdom or crown.", "indent": 1 } ], [ { "text": "As a monument blasted and blighted by God,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through the ages proud Pharaoh shall stand,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "All seamed with the vengeance and scarred with the wrath", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That leaped from God’s terrible hand.", "indent": 1 } ], [ { "text": "They journeyed on from Zuphim’s sea until", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They reached the sacred mount and heard the solemn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Decalogue. The mount was robed in blackness⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Heavy and deep the shadows lay; the thunder", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Crashed and roared upon the air; the lightning", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Leaped from crag to crag; God’s fearful splendor", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Flowed around, and Sinai quaked and shuddered", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To its base, and there did God proclaim", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unto their listening ears, the great, the grand,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The central and the primal truth of all", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The universe⁠—the unity of God. Only one God⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This truth received into the world’s great life,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not as an idle dream nor speculative thing,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But as a living, vitalizing thought,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Should bind us closer to our God and link us", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With our fellow man, the brothers and co-heirs", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With Christ, the elder brother of our race.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before this truth let every blade of war", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Grow dull, and slavery, cowering at the light,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Skulk from the homes of men; instead", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of war bring peace and freedom, love and joy,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And light for man, instead of bondage, whips", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And chains. Only one God! the strongest hands", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Should help the weak who bend before the blasts", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of life, because if God is only one", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then we are the children of his mighty hand,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And when we best serve man, we also serve", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our God. Let haughty rulers learn that men", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of humblest birth and lowliest lot have", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rights as sacred and divine as theirs, and they", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who fence in leagues of earth by bonds and claims", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And title deeds, forgetting land and water,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Air and light are God’s own gifts and heritage", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For man⁠—who throw their selfish lives between", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "God’s sunshine and the shivering poor⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have never learned the wondrous depth, nor scaled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The glorious height of this great central truth,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Around which clusters all the holiest faiths", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of earth. The thunder died upon the air,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The lightning ceased its livid play, the smoke", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And darkness died away in clouds, as soft", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And fair as summer wreaths that lie around", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The setting sun, and Sinai stood a bare", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And rugged thing among the sacred scenes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of earth.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "It was a weary thing to bear the burden", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of that restless and rebellious race. With", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sinai’s thunders almost crashing in their ears,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They made a golden calf, and in the desert", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Spread an idol’s feast, and sung the merry songs", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They had heard when Mizraim’s songs bowed down before", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their vain and heathen gods; and thus for many years", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Did Moses bear the evil manners of his race⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their angry murmurs, fierce regrets and strange", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Forgetfulness of God. Born slaves, they did not love", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The freedom of the wild more than their pots of flesh.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And pleasant savory things once gathered", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From the gardens of the Nile.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If slavery only laid its weight of chains", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon the weary, aching limbs, e’en then", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It were a curse; but when it frets through nerve", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And flesh and eats into the weary soul,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Oh then it is a thing for every human", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Heart to loathe, and this was Israel’s fate,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For when the chains were shaken from their limbs,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They failed to strike the impress from their souls.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "While he who’d basked beneath the radiance", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of a throne, ne’er turned regretful eyes upon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The past, nor sighed to grasp again the pleasures", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Once resigned; but the saddest trial was", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To see the light and joy fade from their faces", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When the faithless spies spread through their camp", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their ill report; and when the people wept", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In hopeless unbelief and turned their faces", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Egyptward, and asked a captain from their bands", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To lead them back where they might bind anew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their broken chains, when God arose and shut", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The gates of promise on their lives, and left", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their bones to bleach beneath Arabia’s desert sands.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But though they slumbered in the wild, they died", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With broader freedom on their lips, and for their", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Little ones did God reserve the heritage", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So rudely thrust aside.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "His work was done; his blessing lay", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like precious ointment on his people’s head,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And God’s great peace was resting on his soul.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His life had been a lengthened sacrifice,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A thing of deep devotion to his race,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Since first he turned his eyes on Egypt’s gild", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And glow, and clasped their fortunes in his hand", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And held them with a firm and constant grasp.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But now his work was done; his charge was laid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In Joshua’s hand, and men of younger blood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were destined to possess the land and pass", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through Jordan to the other side. He too", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had hoped to enter there⁠—to tread the soil", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made sacred by the memories of his", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Kindred dead, and rest till life’s calm close beneath", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The sheltering vines and stately palms of that", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fair land; that hope had colored all his life’s", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Young dreams and sent its mellowed flushes o’er", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His later years; but God’s decree was otherwise.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And so he bowed his meekened soul in calm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Submission to the word, which bade him climb", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Nebo’s highest peak, and view the pleasant land", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From Jordan’s swells unto the calmer ripples", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of the tideless sea, then die with all its", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Loveliness in sight.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As he passed from Moab’s grassy vale to climb", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The rugged mount, the people stood in mournful groups,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some, with quivering lips and tearful eyes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Reaching out unconscious hands, as if to stay", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His steps and keep him ever at their side, while", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Others gazed with reverent awe upon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The calm and solemn beauty on his aged brow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The look of loving trust and lofty faith", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Still beaming from an eye that neither care", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor time had dimmed. As he passed upward, tender", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Blessings, earnest prayers and sad farewells rose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On each wave of air, then died in one sweet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Murmur of regretful love; and Moses stood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alone on Nebo’s mount. Alone! not one", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all that mighty throng who had trod with him", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In triumph through the parted flood was there.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aaron had died in Hor, with son and brother", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By his side; and Miriam too was gone.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But kindred hands had made her grave, and Kadesh", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Held her dust. But he was all alone; nor wife", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor child was there to clasp in death his hand,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And bind around their bleeding hearts the precious", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Parting words. And yet he was not all alone,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For God’s great presence flowed around his path", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And stayed him in that solemn hour.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He stood upon the highest peak of Nebo,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "And saw the Jordan chafing through its gorges,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its banks made bright by scarlet blooms", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And purple blossoms. The placid lakes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And emerald meadows, the snowy crest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of distant mountains, the ancient rocks", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That dripped with honey, the hills all bathed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In light and beauty; the shady groves", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And peaceful vistas, the vines opprest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With purple riches, the fig trees fruit-crowned", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Green and golden, the pomegranates with crimson", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Blushes, the olives with their darker clusters,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rose before him like a vision, full of beauty", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And delight. Gazed he on the lovely landscape", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till it faded from his view, and the wing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of death’s sweet angel hovered o’er the mountain’s", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Crest, and he heard his garments rustle through", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The watches of the night. Then another, fairer, vision", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Broke upon his longing gaze; ’twas the land", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of crystal fountains, love and beauty, joy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And light, for the pearly gates flew open,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And his ransomed soul went in. And when morning", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O’er the mountain fringed each crag and peak with light,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cold and lifeless lay the leader. God had touched", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His eyes with slumber, giving his beloved sleep.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Oh never on that mountain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was seen a lovelier sight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than the troupe of fair young angels", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That gathered ’round the dead.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With gentle hands they bore bim,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That bright and shining train,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From Nebo’s lonely mountain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To sleep in Moab’s vale.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But they sung no mornful dirges,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No solemn requiems said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the soft wave of their pinions", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made music as they trod.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But no one heard them passing,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "None saw their chosen grave;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It was the angels’ secret", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where Moses should be laid.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And when the grave was finished,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They trod with golden sandals", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Above the sacred spot,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the brightest, fairest flowers", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sprang up beneath their tread.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor broken turf, nor hillock", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Did e’er reveal that grave,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And truthful lips have never said", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "We know where he is laid.", "indent": 0 } ] ] }