Then I put my hand Into my bosom: when I took it out, "And have I not done signs and wonders Yet art thou harden'd still in unbelief, The dust? and fill'd the air with swarms of flies ? All save the land of Goshen, where abide Only entreat for me unto your God That he may stay his hand'? And, after that, ness ? And art thou harden'd still, and proud of heart, And wilt not let th' oppressed people go?" Then with a stern, hoarse voice the king replied: "Wily impostor! hence!-out of my sight! Think not with cunning lies to blind the king! Thee and thy boasted God of Israel I do defy haste, sorcerer! from my sight! Then Moses spake: Thy cattle, and thy sheep, and all thou hast : Then on the morrow unto Moses spake The Lord, and said: "Stretch forth thine hand towards the heaven, That upon every man, and beast, and herb, Throughout the land of Egypt, may come hail." Then Moses stretchèd forth his rod towards the heaven, And o'er the sky came darkness, that the sun, As with a furnace-smoke, quench'd utterly. Blackness and death-like silence all the land Made like a tomb: astonish'd, every tongue Was mute, and every limb with terror shook. But soon a sound far off was heard in heaven, A sound as of a coming multitude, Horses and chariots, rushing furiously; Then, like a trumpet opening on the ear Came down a terrible and mighty wind. Wide scattering, fell anon, with heavy stroke, As of a stone from a strong slinger's arm, The solitary hail; dark fires at length Amid the black clouds wander'd to and fro; Earth shook, and heaven with terror seem'd to quake And all the plague was loosed.-The voice of God Spake in ten thousand thunders; fire and hail Shot howling down, and lightning in a flood, Mix'd with the hail, and ran upon the ground; And with the hail, and thunder, and the fire, A mighty wind, that the huge hailstones smote Like rocks the quivering ground-like shattering rocks, Hurl'd from the mountain to the groaning plain Smoking and whirling, rush'd the awful hail, Hailstones and fires, tempests and thunders mix'd, Fell on the land, that all the people cried, And every herb and every tree brake down Then Pharaoh, trembling, unto Moses sent, Then to hin Then Moses went from out the city straight, And spread abroad his hands unto the Lord: The thunders, and the fire, and hailstones ceased. Edwin Atherstone. 1566 a.-NINEVEH. But joyous is the stirring city now: The moon is clear, the stars are coming forth, The evening breeze fans pleasantly. Retired Like to one solid diamond quivering stands, Sun-splendours flashing round. In woman's garb The sensual king is clad, and with him sit sing, They And roll the wanton eye, and laugh, and sigh, But, far away, The proud and melancholy queen sits lone Her noble soul to share his orgies foul; Yet once hath loved him, once hath been beloved; And now she thinks upon the years gone by, And sighs, and sheds some passionate tears, and looks On that gigantic city, spread below Young Dara, flush'd with love, With eager eye along the chequer'd path, Through all the city sounds the voice of joy Timbrel, and lute, and dulcimer, and song; And many feet that tread the dance are seen, And arms upflung, and swaying heads plume crown'd. So is that city steep'd in revelry. Edwin Atherstone. 1566 b.-SARDANAPALUS. He spake, and raised the goblet to his lips, And pour'd the nectar down: and, when he drank, His concubines drank also, every one; Then went the king, and in his pride of Glorying; and with his own strong arm upraised From out its rest the Assyrian banner broad, Purple and edged with gold; and, standing then Upon the utmost summit of the mount, Round, and yet round-for two strong men a task Sufficient deem'd-he waved the splendid flag, Bright as a meteor streaming. At that sight The plain was in a stir: the helms of brass Were lifted up, and glittering spear-points waved, And banners shaken, and wide trumpet mouths Upturn'd; and myriads of bright-harness'd steeds Were seen uprearing, shaking their proud heads; And brazen chariots in a moment sprang, And from the city rose the mingled cry, With fellies of strong brass; the naves were brass, With burnish'd gold o'erlaid, and diamond rimm'd; Steel were the axles, in bright silver case; Of ivory part, part silver, and part gold; Whom most the monarch worshipt; she whom, since, Astarte or Derceto men have named, And Venus, queen of love. Around her waist Himself in dazzling armour stands aloft, And rules the fiery steeds. His shield of gold, His spear, his helm, his bow and quiver hang Within the roomy car. Thus, like a god, From forth the gates he comes; and every knee Bends to the ground, and every voice cries out, Long live Sardanapalus, king of kings! May the king live for ever!" Thrice he smiles, And waves his hand to all; and thrice the shouts To heaven go up. Then on his starting horse Springs every rider; every charioteer Leaps to his car; and through the sounding streets The pageant flames, and on the dusty plain Pours forth; and evermore, from street to street, Runs on the cry, "The king! the king comes forth! The king of kings in his war-chariot comes; To the walls The cry flies on, they hear it on the plains, High over all conspicuous, the bright crown, Edwin Atherstone. 1566 d.-NEHUSHTA'S BOWER. Meantime, within the oft-frequented bower, Nehushta sat, and Dara. 'Twas a spot Herself had chosen, from the palace walls Farthest removed, and by no sound disturb'd. And by no eye o'erlook'd; for in the midst Of loftiest trees, umbrageous, was it hidYet to the sunshine open, and the airs, That from the deep shades all around it breathed, Cool and sweet-scented. Myrtles, jessamine, And trees of slender body, fruit, and flower; Down hanging lavishly, the taste to please; sense Of beauty that in forms and colours rare Doth take delight. With fragrant moss the floor Was planted, to the foot a carpet rich, Stories of love to listen, or the deeds Of heroes of old days: the harp, sometimes, Herself would touch, and with her own sweet voice Fill all the air with loveliness. But, chief, When to his green-wave bed the wearied sun Had parted, and heaven's glorious arch yet shone, A last gleam catching from his closing eye, The palace, with her maidens, quitting then, Through vistas dim of tall trees would she pass Cedar, or waving pine, or giant palmThrough orange groves, and eitron, myrtle walks, Alleys of roses, beds of sweetest flowers, come; At early morn sometimes, while every flower, In diamonds glittering, with its proud weight bow'd; When through the glistering trees the golden beams Aslant their bright flood pour'd, and every bird In his green palace sitting sang aloud, Edwin Atherstone. 1566 e.-THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF SARDANAPALUS. On sight more gorgeous never sun look'd down. A myriad gonfalons of bright hue stream'd, Beneath their flaming riders, proudly trode; Flash'd helm, and shield of gold, and dazzling mail, And, with unnumber'd martial instruments Her brazen gates wide flung the city then, Expecting stood, and on her lofty towers. Assyria's damsels there, and peerless dames, Like tulip beds, in richest vesture clad, Made sunshine seem more bright, and, to the breath Of the sweet south, a sweeter fragrance breathed. But, beautiful amidst the beautiful, Amid a bright heaven the one brightest star, Assyria's goddess queen, in regal state Magnificent, to pomp imparting grace, To triumph majesty, her lord to meet, From the great central eastern gate came forth. High throned upon a car, with gold and gems Refulgent, slowly rode she. Diamond wreaths Amid her ebon locks luxuriant gleam'd, Like heaven's lamps through the dark; her ample robe, Sky-hued, like to a waving sapphire glow'd; And round one graceful shoulder wreathed, one arm Of rose-tinged snow, a web-like drapery, Bright as a ruby streak of morning, hung. Beneath her swelling bosom, chastely warm, A golden zone, with priceless gems thick starr'd, Flash'd gentle lightnings. The unresting fire Of diamond, and the ruby's burning glow, With the pure sapphire's gentle beam mix'd there; The flamy topaz, with the emerald cool, Like sunshine dappling the spring meadows, play'd; Gold was the clasp, and diamond. Bracelets light, Of emerald, and diamond, and gold, On each fine taper'd, pearly wrist she wore; With eye oft downcast, yet with swelling heart Proudly exultant, on her gorgeous seat By clouds of fire upborne, with smile of love, Her lord to meet, and ether-brightening brow, With gems and gold were hung; and, far before, Behind, and round his chariot, glittering bright As the bright vision pass'd, and silence deep But, when the royal chariots, meeting, paused, Then first, with blushing cheek, stood up the queen, And welcome proud unto the conqueror gave. Edwin Atherstone. 1567.-NASEBY. O! wherefore come ye forth in triumph from the North, With your hands and your feet, and your raiment all red? And wherefore do your rout send forth a joyous shout? And whence are the grapes of the wine-press that ye tread? O evil was the root, and bitter was the fruit, And crimson was the juice of the vintage that we trod; For we trampled on the throng of the haughty and the strong, Who sate in the high places and slew the saints of God. It was about the noon of a glorious day of June, That we saw their banners dance and their cuirasses shine, And the Man of Blood was there, with his long essenced hair, And Astley, and Sir Marmaduke, and Rupert of the Rhine. Like a servant of the Lord, with his Bible and his sword, The General rode along us to form us for the fight; When a murmuring sound broke out, and swell'd into a shout Through heaven's wide open'd portals proudly Among the godless horsemen upon the tyrant's rode. In shining cars, behind Assyria's queen, The sons and daughters also of the king, To grace the triumph of the conqueror, came. He in his blazing chariot, like a god, Exulting rode. His helm and mail laid by, The sunlike crown upon his head, in robes Attired, that like one waving gem appear'd, Amid the thunder of applauding hosts, Onward he came. His coursers' arching necks right. And hark! like the roar of the billow on the shore, The cry of battle rises along their charging line: For God! for the Cause! for the Church! for the Laws! For Charles, King of England, and Rupert of the Rhine! |