Israel In Egypt. Book Fifth. Poem by Edwin Atherstone

On the next morning,--so by heavenly Voice
Instructed,--unto Pharaoh went again
Moses and Aaron; craving to be heard,
Because of wretched Israel. Soon they stood
Before him, and before the frowning priests,
Princes, and rulers: then at once outspake
The ill--pleased monarch. ``What ye have to say,
I doubt not, still the old dull tune will harp,--
Ye would go forth into the wilderness,
Your God to worship; as though room enough
In Egypt were not. Ye my thoughts have heard;
Nor likely are to change them: yet, speak out;
For still my father's sister,--who to thee,
Moses, though leader of this discontent,
Strange favor showeth, even as of yore,--
With earnest prayer hath moved me to give ear:
And, though all vain, I know, will be your words,
Yet, promise given, I listen. Briefly, then,
Say wherefore come ye.'' As by Voice Divine
Commanded, Aaron for his brother spake.

``How strong thine anger 'gainst us, mighty king,
Too well we know: and how the tongues of men
Are loosed against us; so that, though thyself
Justice and truth wouldst listen, yet, with din
Of enemies hating us, thine ears are deaf.
But now the time is nigh, when hear thou must;
Or, on thyself and Egypt, will the hand
Of Israel's God be put forth heavily;
Plagues sending, that in terror ye shall cry
On Israel to depart. By God Himself
Commanded, to thy presence did we come:
His words we spake to thee; his warning gave.
But, when, to worship in the wilderness,
We did entreat that Israel might go forth,
Our prayer thou scornedst; at our God didst mock;
And, for the freedom we did beg of thee,
Bonds heavier, and worse scourgings didst inflict.
Yet still, again commanded, have we come;
Once more to pray of thee that we may go
A three days' journey in the wilderness,
And sacrifice unto the Lord our God.''

With harsh voice, darkly frowning, thus the king;
``And still again do I demand of you,
How prove ye that from God ye hither come,
And His words utter? Show to me a sign,
A miracle, that of surety I may know
Ye speak the truth.'' ``That so thou wouldst demand,
Forewarned were we,'' said Aaron; ``and a sign
Instructed were to show thee.'' From the hand
Of Moses taking then the staff, in midst
Of all the assembly, where large space was left,
Firmly he walked till to the throne--steps near;
Then paused; and, full in view of all,--but, chief,
Of the much wondering king,--the travel--staff
Uplifted, and thus spake. ``This simple rod,
O Pharaoh, shall a sign sufficient be
That from our God we come. Behold it well:
Take it, O king, within thy royal hand:
Weigh it; the floor strike with it; what thou wilt,
That do, or bid be done; ring, bend, or cut,
Or thrust within the fire,--so thou, and all,
Assurance firm as the fixed earth may feel,
That but dead wood it is, dead, solid wood;
And, of itself, no quality, or power,
Of life can have, more than the crumbling bones
From oldest grave pit; or the eternal rock.''

Smiling, that humble staff within his hand
Took Pharaoh; and from crook to point surveyed:
Then to his eldest son, still smiling, gave:
He to his brethren: they unto the priests;
But, frowning, these drew back. To Aaron then
Was it returned: and he, in the open space,
Fronting the king, but distant, taking stand,
Spear--fashion lifted it, and lightly cast.

Wonder and terror then! for, lo! the staff,
Which, ere it left his hand, two fingers' breadth,
At most, had been,--to even a dragon's bulk
Suddenly swelled: the crook a head became,
With quivering, flame--like tongue, and fiery eyes,
And jaws wide gaping, and terrific fangs;
The point, a bony tail that lashed the air.
Down to the floor it fell, a heavy weight;
Its horny talons stamping, like the hoofs
Of a war--steed. King, princes, priests, yelled out,
And sprang upon their feet. But instantly,
The watchful demons in their spirits passed;
And therein courage inspired; and confidence
That even the like could Egypt's sorcerers do;
And so disprove that, aided by his God,
Aaron this wonder had done. Then went command;
And speedily into the presence came
Pharaoh's magicians,--each with rod in hand;
Each by his demon taught, both what had been,
And what was yet to be. But Mascron, first,
Mightiest among them, toward the throne went straight;
Brief reverence made; then, on the ringing floor
Striking vehemently his staff, cried out;

``Vile juggle all! O, Splendor of the Sun,
Heed not this paltry fellow. The poor trick
Of boy--magician is it he hath done;
First lesson in the art.'' While yet he spake,
Cried other sorcerers also, a like note
Of mockery sounding: and, their words to prove,
At once they cast their staffs upon the floor;
And lo! a serpent every staff became,
Writhing and hissing. Then went up a laugh
Of triumph; and the priests on Pharaoh called,
Emboldening him; and for swift punishment
On Aaron and on Moses, crying out.
But, with cadaverous hue gazed now the king
On sight more strange; for, fearful to behold!
Aaron's huge dragon on the serpents fell,
And swallowed them. Speechless awhile he looked
On the vast scaly monster, quiet now,
As snake full gorged: and, with much troubled thoughts,
Then all the assembly looked; silent and awed;
So great the marvel. But in Pharaoh's heart
The arch fiend entered,--body, sense, and soul,
Possessing fully,--so by Power Supreme,
For its own ends, permitted,--and, his tongue
Controlling, proudly thus. ``More cunning skill,
Aaron, hast thou, than have my sorcerers:
Since they, snakes only from their staffs have brought,
Thou, yon huge dragon: yet the same your art;
Thine but the more accomplished: and like power,
Doubtless, could they, as practised, have attained:
No sign, then, may we hold this magic feat,
That, God--instructed, or from God ye come.
Take hence your dragon, therefore, and be gone:
For, while the sun lights Egypt, shall your race,
Be servants to us: ye shall not go forth
To worship in the desert. If true God,
Your God Jehovah,--nigh the city as well
May he be found, as in the wilderness.
The slaves are idle, and would leave their work.
Look to it; for I warn you that their toils
Shall yet be harder, and the whips more keen,
If all their tasks they do not, day by day,
As they are bidden. Hence then; and speak not;
For now my heart is hardened as a stone
Against you; and your words would all be vain.''

Then Aaron silently advanced, and put
His hand upon the dragon, while it lay
As if asleep, one half the open space
Its huge bulk covering; by the bony tail
He grasped it,--and, behold, it was a rod!

Inwardly marvelling, yet with show of mirth,
And laughter, as at some surpassing feat
Of magic cunning, all the assembly looked;
Then freer drew their breath. But Moses now,
Nigher to Pharaoh went; and, undeterred
By his harsh speech, thus calmly him addressed.

``Truly, O king, thou sayëst, that thy heart
Hardened against us is, as even the stone:
Else had this miracle been proof to thee
That of a verity from God we come,
And his command have spoken. By what power
Thy sorcerers wrought, but darkly can I guess;
For, in the secret lore of Egypt, I,
Deeper than they, was taught: and in the face
Of all I look, and challenge give, to tell
How this they did; or if at all they know
Why, or whence, came the marvel they have done....
Spirits there be, O king, who, for bad ends,
Sights most prodigious, either by themselves,
Or through man's hand, exhibit. Such, myself,
But yester--eve, did witness; wonderments
Surpassing all belief; and which to tell,
Were madman to be reckoned. Of like sort,
Though in degree far less, even now, methinks,
By Spirits were wrought; these men, unconsciously,
Their ministers; else would they answer me,
Saying, by rule of magic they had worked;
And reasons had, why so this thing had been,
And still again would be,--same means pursued.
But they are silent all; for nought they know
How from their staffs came serpents; why not wolves,
Lynxes, or bears; or any monstrous thing,
In the old times fabled.'' ``And how knowëst thou,
Bold Israelite,'' cried Mascron, irefully,
``Wherefore from that man's staff a dragon came;
And not a bull, a dog, a crocodile,
Or a poor rat? or why came aught at all?''

In haste then toward the throne his wrath--pale face
Turning, with trembling lips, he thus pursued.
``Light of the Sun, thy servant pardon now,
That to this insolent he answer gives:
For never, sure, in memory of man,
Before a king, so spake a bold--faced slave.''

The bowing head, and smile, approval signed.
Then, upon Moses turning, with a voice
Angry and harsh as hungry leopard's growl,
``Answer,'' cried Mascron, ``man of impudence!
How knowëst thou why from that juggler's staff
A seeming dragon came? Thy magic rules
Explain to us; thy reasons give why thus
The issue was; and, the same means pursued,
For ever still must be; thy reasons too,
Why wolf, or bear, or any monstrous thing,
In the old times fabled, came not. All the force
Of thy keen argument, more upon yourselves
Than us doth fall: unless indeed ye know,--
What by no mortal else hath yet been known,--
How, from dead wood, to fashion living thing:
Nay, from the self--same block, a dragon, now,
And now a wolf, and now a lynx, or bear,
Or dog to make. If such in truth ye know,--
Your rules expound us first, your course of work;
Then from yon staff bring forth the River--Horse,
Or Elephant; so shall we honor much
Your deeper knowledge: but, if reasons none
Ye have to give; no rules by which to work;
Nought showing why a dragon, or a bear,
A wolf, a leopard, and no other thing,
Should, or could be the birth,--such spells in force,--
Then upon you same accusation falls,
Ye charge 'gainst us,--ye are by Spirits ruled,
To wicked ends; to them, ay willingly,
The ministers; for, even as ourselves,
No rules, no reasons have ye, why this thing,
Not that ye made. For us, boldly I say,
No law, no reason, cause, knew any man
Among us wherefore, when his staff he cast,
Should come a serpent: by the will alone
We wrought; we willed, and it was done.
Now give thine answer, Israelite: show proof
That thou,--if we be,--art not minister
To Spirit of Evil. But I warn thee first,
That bold assertion, even with oath on oath,
Will stead thee nought. Deny it as thou may,
Thine own words past will brand thee as the tool
Of Spirits Evil, if the reasons, rules,
Thou render not, why, from yon juggler's staff,
Came forth that dragon; wherefore, in its place,
Came not a wolf, or any thing beside;
And ne'er could come. The argument thine own;
Thyself thou judgest, if thou answer not.''

A proud glance round the hall the sorcerer cast,
After he thus had spoken; and the king
Smiled on him; and the priests and princes smiled,
Approving all his words. Toward Pharaoh then
Looked Moses, and thus spake. ``Doth the king will
That I give answer?'' ``Surely art thou bound,''
Said Pharaoh, the dark frown upon his brow,
``Proof manifest to give, that from a God,
This thing ye did; else will it nought avail.
That do, and we are silenced; for none here
A God's acts will dispute, because the mode
By which he worketh, may not be displayed.
If but by deeper magic ye have wrought,
God--sent ye are not: and your rules, and course
Of working must reveal; else on yourselves
Falls that same charge ye on my sorcerers cast,--
That unto Spirits of Evil have ye been
The ministers for evil. This to escape,
Cunning indeed thou wert.'' Full on the king
His calm, clear eyes then Moses fixed, and thus.
``Proof have I none, O king. Proof none can be,
To him who truth rejects, when, nor through eye,
Ear, touch, nor supernatural aid, can man
Proof force upon him. What in secret thou
Didst yesterday, solely to thee is known:
Its truth thou knowëst, as that day is day;
Yet--couldst thou prove it? If thy solemn word,
Affirming it, be questioned,--in no mode
Couldst thou its truth demonstrate. Yet, not less
A truth it is, though proved not. Even thus
With me in this great matter doth it stand.
That, by the very voice of God Himself
Commanded, hithèr came we, and this sign
Before thee showed,--truth stronger is to me
Than aught which sense can warrant; for, not ear,
The bodily ear alone, but the inmost soul,
Heard it, and felt. 'Twas on the holy hill
Of Horeb, in the stillness of the night,
From a burning bush, unburnt, that came the Voice.
To Egypt was I bidden,--from his bonds
Israel to bring: and in thy presence, first,
This sign to show, as token that from God
My message was. How, from this humble staff,
Came forth the dragon,--ignorant I am,
As wherefore from the sun come light and heat.
That so 'twould be, from the Celestial Voice
Alone I knew. Yet also know I well,
That by no power of magic, in the schools
Of Egypt taught, from things inanimate,
Could man aught animate bring. Thy sorcerers all
This truth will grant. That, His own sign to mock,
And render vain, God would to them have given
Power the like thing to do,--impossible,
Monstrous; 'gainst reason of the veriest fool,
Plainly appeareth. If, then, nor from art
Of magic, nor from power by God bestowed,
Those wonders they performed,--what else remains,
Than that through might of Spirits Evil they wrought,--
Thereof albeit unconscious. Hearken not,
O Pharaoh, to their words; for false they are;
And judgments dire will come upon you all,
If thou by them be ruled. A harmless sign
That we by God are sent, we now have shown:
If thou reject it, and thy heart make hard,--
From God I warn thee,--other signs, even plagues
Unheard of through the earth, will He send forth;
Grievous afflictions over all this land;
Till ye, at last, shall feel that Israel's God
Is God indeed; and that, 'gainst Him to strive,
Perdition were, and madness. His decree
Saith, Israel from his bondage shall be freed;
From Egypt shall go out. Such the sure end,--
Now, or on day not distant. Yet, on thee,
On thy sole word approving, rests the hour:
We crave thee let us go,--nor, till thy voice
Permissive free us, may we hence depart.
But on thyself, and on this land, will fall
The punishment of refusal; for aye worse,
And worse will be the plagues that ye must feel;
Till all unbearable shall they become;
And thou, and all of Egypt, shall cry out,
Imploring us to go. These evil things
Wouldst thou prevent,--even on this day proclaim,
Saying to Israel, `All your bonds are loosed;
Whither ye would, go freely; and no man
The hand shall lay upon you.''' Like the burst
Of fire from naphtha kindled, was the cry
From prince, priest, lord, alike, when these bold words
Smote on their ears. The presence quite forgot,--
Upstarted many--hands clenched,--eyes on fire,
With fury of madness;--some, in chorus strange,
Screaming the bitter curse,--some, with black spite,
Pointing and mocking. But the king his voice
Uplifted angrily; and all were mute,
And to their seats went back. On Moses then
Looked Pharaoh, frowning; and with harsh tone thus.

``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.

``Knowëst thou, Pharaoh, of the fathomless sea
The secret bed, and what therein doth lie?
Couldst thou go down into the uttermost depth,
And bring up all its riches? Less, far less,
Of God aught knowëst thou; or of His ways
Aright can'st judge. There is no God but one;
That Universal God who,--as ye teach,--
With man and things of earth doth meddle not,--
O'er such to lower Gods deputing rule:--
Error pernicious! for all things from Him
First came; and by, and through Him, still exist:
Without Him, nought had been; nought still would be:
Sole ruler He o'er earth, and sea, and sky,
O'er stars, and sun; o'er man, and o'er each thing
That draweth breath of life. Of that One God,
Jehovah is the name,--I Am, the name,--
By His own voice thus spoken; and to Him
Doth Israel bow, adoring. Other gods,
None are there; fictions all! With shadows try
To throw down mountains; yet, the banded might
Of all your gods--Jchovah to o'erthrow,--
Shade of a shadow were! His words to speak
Again before thee, me thou dost forbid:
But, king of Egypt, from Heaven's king I come;
His messenger; and speak I must,--and thou
Must hear me: nor, as subject to a king,
May I speak humbly; but as greatest king
To humblest subject; for all earthly power
And grandeur,--to the majesty of Heaven,
Is dust, to sunbeams. By the Omnipotent sent,
Nought can I fear. Thy threats,--the hate and spite
Of those thy servants, such light pressure have,
As mist on Lebanon. Not as man I come
Before thee, my own thoughts, my own free will,
Alone impelling: a mere instrument I,
Sounding to thee His bidding. Be not deaf,
O king, to His command. My humble voice,
Rough, and offensive, galling to thy pride,
Though it may seem,--like but the small cloud is,
As messenger sent on from coming storm,
And warning thee to shelter. If thou bide,
Defying it,--as straws by whirlwind flung,
Will thou, and all, be scattered. ``I behold
Even now, Sesostris,''--and, while thus he spake,
Death--pale his countenance grew; his eyes were fixed,
As on far distance looking; and his voice,
From lips scarce moving, came, hollow and faint
As his who talks in slumber--``I behold
Even now, Sesostris, what the end will be,
If by repentance changed not. Realm, crown, life,
Are taken from thee! A great gulf I see;
And men, and steeds, and chariots, whelmed therein,
Amid a noise of thunder, and strong winds,
And roar of mighty waters!.... All are gone!''

Trembling, he suddenly ceased; and bowed the head;
And in his mantle covered up his face,
As one who mourneth. Great the marvel was
Throughout the assembly: even the priestly rage
By wonder was borne down. But Pharaoh most
Awe--stricken sat: for scarcely human seemed
The form, the look, the words, the voice of him,
Speaking with power far greater than his own;
With grandeur more than mortal; so that mute
Upon his throne he sat; the threatened doom
Pondering darkly; doubt, and fear, and pride,
Perplexing him. But not to inward war
Long was he left: the great Arch Fiend again
His soul possessed; pride, anger, blowing up,
As winds, a sinking fire. To the height, at length,
Inflamed--thus spake he out. ``That mad thou art,
Proof thou didst give before; but heap on heap
Thou pilëst it,--that chains and darkness now
Best physic for thee seem. Not crazed enough,
Fool that thou art, as messenger from God
To boast thyself,--but as a prophet too,
A seër of the things can ne'er be seen,
Thou'dst top all madness. Yet, the wind to stay,
As wisely might I talk, as thee to check
In thy wild raving. Get ye, therefore, hence,
And see my face no more: for, till the worm
Gnaw through a pyramid,--through my strong soul
Your threats shall pierce not. Israel shall not go,
Three days, or one, into the wilderness.
If sacrifice unto your God ye must,--
In Egypt be it done. Away, away,
I will not hear thee.'' Thus to Moses he,--
Seeing that he would speak: yet, not the less,
Undaunted all, the great law--giver thus.

``King, with sad heart we leave thee; knowing well
How the dread storm is gathering over thee,
And over all thy people. But thy words
To obey, we dare not: still before thy face,
If God the message send, appear we must.
And send He will,--all merciful,--thee and thine
From guilt to warn; from punishment to save.
Let not thy mind be darkened. Thou hast seen
How Spirits of Evil through thy sorcerers wrought,
God's purpose to oppose: through thee still more,--
As being of power far greater,--will they strive
Evil to work: thy heart, by nature soft,
Will they make millstone hard; thy pride lash up
To very madness; as the hurricane
Lasheth the sea to madness: so that ills
Unspeakable will come upon you all,
And ruin everlasting. But, to God,
To Israel's God, wouldst thou incline thy heart,
And His command obey,--for thee then well,
For Israel well, for all of Egypt well,
Might be the issue. Yet alas! O king,
Not thus hath it been spoken! In the dust
Fall then, and pray; and haply, even yet,
The evil thou may 'scape.'' ``Enough, enough,''
Cried Pharaoh,--from his throne upstarting quick,
And down the steps descending; ``Let me now
Some music have, and cheering wine, and mirth,--
This Nightmare in broad daylight to shake off.
All they who will, come with me.'' Saying thus,
With rapid step, out from the hall he strode,--
By many followed. Moses, too, went forth,
And Aaron, grieving: but the elder priests,
And rulers,--restless as the rolling waves
After the storm hath passed,--with voices high,
Hot faces, flashing eyes, and gestures fierce,--
Their rage to vent, remained. 'Gainst Moses, chief,
Their hatred was: and how on him to glut
Vengeance most deep and swift, their thoughts they racked.
At last forth went they; eager in all hearts
To pour their malice; and with fury inflame
'Gainst Israel; and 'gainst him, the foremost, worst,
The hated of old days; who, on his throne,
The very Splendor of the Sun had dared
To insult and threaten; and with magic wrought,
Ruin to bring upon him; and sure loss
To universal Egypt, of her power,
Her fame, her riches. ``Harder be the work,
Sharper the stripes, on that rebellious brood,''
Cried they aloud; ``so surest shall we keep
The fetters on them, and their spirit break;
And make them know that, till the end of time,
Base Israel unto Egypt shall be slaves.''