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Then I put my hand

Into my bosom: when I took it out,
Behold my hand was leperous as snow!
Then said the Lord: 'Put now again thine hand
Into thy bosom.' Then I put my hand
Again into my bosom, and behold!
When I pluck'd forth my hand, it had become
Even as my other flesh! Then said the Lord,
Surely they may believe their fathers' God,
The God of Abraham, and Isaac's God,
The God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee!
And if they will not hearken to the voice
Of the first sign, yet in the second sign
They will believe: but if they still are deaf,
Then shalt thou take this rod into thy hand,
Wherewith thou shalt do signs before the
king.'

"And have I not done signs and wonders
then ?-

Yet art thou harden'd still in unbelief,
And wilt not let th' oppressèd people go ?-
Have I not turn'd your waters into blood?
Cover'd the land with frogs? and changed to
lice

The dust? and fill'd the air with swarms of flies ?

All save the land of Goshen, where abide
The chosen race, the children of Israel ?-
And didst thou not, O king! say: 'Ye shall
go;

Only entreat for me unto your God

That he may stay his hand'? And, after that,
Didst thou not harden still thy heart and say:
"The people shall not go'? Then sent I not
A murrain on your cattle, that they died?
Horses, and asses, camels, oxen, sheep?-
But in the land of Goshen died there one ?-
Last, sent I not this plague upon you all,
Boils, blains, and blotches, upon man and beast,
That the land stinketh with your loathsome-

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!
I will not let the accursed people go;
But will oppress them with a heavier hand,
And they shall cry unto their God in vain."
He said, and started from his glittering throne,
And hurl'd his sceptre down.

Then Moses spake:
"Harden'd and proud! the God of Israel
Again shall stretch his rod upon the land,
And thou shalt let the afflicted people go.
Behold, to-morrow, even about this time,
The Lord shall send a very grievous hail,
Such as in Egypt never hath been seen.
Send therefore now, and gather from the
fields

Thy cattle, and thy sheep, and all thou hast :
For upon every man and beast found there
The hail shall come, that they shall surely die.
So shalt thou know that Israel's God is God,
And shalt repent, and bid the people go."
But yet the king was harden'd in his heart,
And mock'd at Moses and at Israel's God.

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 trembled at the anger of the Lord.
And every man, and every beast that stood
Within the fields, the hailstones smote and
slew;

And every herb and every tree brake down
In all the land of Egypt.-But the sun
Shone in the fields of Goshen pleasantly:
Thunder, nor wind, nor fire, nor hailstones fell
For there the sons of Israel abode,
The favour'd people, chosen of the Lord.

Then Pharaoh, trembling, unto Moses sent,
And Aaron, and besought them bitterly:
"Oh! I have sinn'd! righteous is the Lord,
I and my people wicked. Haste ye now,
And pray unto your God that he will hold
His mighty thunderings, and his dreadful hail.
And I will let the chosen people go,
And ye shall stay no longer."

Then to hin
Spake Moses, saying: "When I shall be gone
Out of the city, I will spread my hands
Abroad unto the Lord, and he will stay
The thunder and the hail, and they shall cease
So mayst thou know that all the earth is his;
And that Jehovah is the God of Gods.
But as for thee, and thine, I know that still
Ye will not fear the Lord, nor let us go."

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
Within his gorgeous hall, Assyria's king
Sits at the banquet, and in love and wine
Revels delighted. On the gilded roof
A thousand golden lamps their lustre fling,
And on the marble walls, and on the throne
Gem-boss'd, that high on jasper steps up-
raised,

Like to one solid diamond quivering stands, Sun-splendours flashing round. In woman's garb

The sensual king is clad, and with him sit
A crowd of beauteous concubines.

sing,

They

And roll the wanton eye, and laugh, and sigh,
And feed his ear with honey'd flatteries,
And laud him as a God. All rarest flowers,
Bright-hued and fragrant, in the brilliant light
Bloom as in sunshine: like a mountain stream,
Amid the silence of the dewy eve

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But, far away,

The proud and melancholy queen sits lone
In her high chamber, breathing the cool air
That fans in vain her hot, indignant brow.
She loathes the sensual monarch; can not
stoop

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
Far as the eye can reach, and says,
"Alas!
Thou mighty city, am I queen of thee,
Yet desolate ?

Young Dara, flush'd with love,
Through the perfumed shades steals fearfully
Of the proud palace gardens; for his soul
Is with Nehushta, daughter of the king..
Along the broad, dim, moonlight-dappled path
Lightly trips he; oft stops, and looks around;
And flings his dark hair back, and listens oft.
She with two trusted maidens, in a bower
Fragrant with all delicious flowers that breathe
Their richness to the eve, impatient waits,
And blames the murmur of a fountain nigh
That drowns his stealthy footstep; and oft
looks

With eager eye along the chequer'd path,
And says, "Oh, Dara, hasten to me, love!"

Through all the city sounds the voice of joy
And tipsy merriment. On the spacious walls,
That, like huge sea-cliffs, gird the city in,
Myriads of wanton feet go to and fro :
Gay garments rustle in the scented breeze,
Crimson and azure, purple, green, and gold;
Laugh, jest, and passing whisper are heard
there;

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;
And joy was in all eyes.
Flush'd with the wine,
power

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 clash'd together. In a moment more
Up came the monstrous universal shout,
Like a volcano's burst. Up, up to heaven
The multitudinous tempest tore its way,
Rocking the clouds: from all the swarming
plain

And from the city rose the mingled cry,
"Long live Sardanapalus, king of kings!
May the king live for ever!" Thrice the flag
The monarch waved; and thrice the shouts

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With fellies of strong brass; the naves were brass,

With burnish'd gold o'erlaid, and diamond rimm'd;

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Steel were the axles, in bright silver case;
The pole was cased in silver high aloft,
Like a rich throne, the gorgeous seat was
framed,

Of ivory part, part silver, and part gold;
On either side a golden statue stood:
Upon the right-and on a throne of gold-
Great Belus, of the Assyrian empire first,
And worshipp'd as a god; but, on the left,
In a resplendent car by lions drawn,
A goddess; on her head a tower; and, round,
Celestial glory: this the deity

Whom most the monarch worshipt; she whom, since,

Astarte or Derceto men have named,

And Venus, queen of love. Around her waist
A girdle, glittering with all radiant gems,
Seem'd heaving to her breath. Behind the car,
Full in the centre, on the ebon ground,
Flamed forth a diamond sun; on either side,
A horned moon of diamond; and beyond
The planets, each one blazing diamond.
Such was the chariot of the king of kings.

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,

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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;
Long live Sardanapalus, king of kings!
May the king live for ever!"

To the walls

The cry flies on, they hear it on the plains,
The plains cry out, they hear it in the heavens.
On through the bowing host the monarch
drives;

High over all conspicuous, the bright crown,
Like an etherial fire, through all the field
Flashing perpetual light. From rank to rank,
From nation unto nation goes he on;
And still all knees are bent, all voices raised
As to a deity.

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,
Roses of varied hues-all climbing shrubs,
Green-leaved and fragrant, had she planted
there,

And trees of slender body, fruit, and flower;
At early morn had water'd, and at eve,
From a bright fountain nigh, that ceaselessly
Gush'd with a gentle coil from out the earth,
Its liquid diamonds flinging to the sun
With a soft whisper. To a graceful arch
The pliant branches, intertwined, were bent;
Flowers some, and some rich fruits of gorgeous
hues,

Down hanging lavishly, the taste to please;
Or, with rich scent, the smell; or that fine

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,
Or, for the languid limbs, a downy couch,
Inviting slumber. At the noontide hour,
Here, with some chosen maidens would she
come,

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,
Their richest incense to the dewy breeze
Breathing profusely all; and having reach'd
The spot beloved, with sport, or dance awhile
On the small lawn to sound of dulcimer,
The pleasant time would pass; or to the lute
Give ear delighted, and the plaintive voice
That sang of hapless love; or, arm in arm,
Amid the twilight saunter, listing oft
The fountain's murmur, or the evening's sigh,
Or whisperings in the leaves, or, in his pride
Of minstrelsy, the sleepless nightingale
Flooding the air with beauty of sweet sounds;
And, ever as the silence came again,
The distant and unceasing hum could hear
Of that magnificent city, on all sides
Surrounding them. But oft with one alone,
One faithful, favoured maiden, would she

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,
And all the air with youthful fragrance teem'd,
Fresh as at Nature's birth: her pastime then,
The flowers to tend, to look upon the sky,
And on the earth, and drink the perfumed air,
And in the gladness of all things be glad.
But in the placid twilight hour of eve
Not seldom came they: Dara then the harp
Or dulcimer would touch; or, happier still,
His words of love into her listening ear
Distil with sweeter music than from string,
Or breathing pipe, though sweet.

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,
A myriad silver trumpets spake to heaven ;
Blazed the bright chariots, the gold-spangled
steeds

Beneath their flaming riders, proudly trode; Flash'd helm, and shield of gold, and dazzling mail,

And, with unnumber'd martial instruments
Accompanied, unto the mighty Bel,
And to Sardanapalus, king of kings,
Triumphal hymns the host together sang.

Her brazen gates wide flung the city then,
And on the plain, with acclamations loud
The conqueror hailing, countless multitudes,
Dense thronging, pour'd, and on her walls the
throngs

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;
And, round her pillar'd neck, majestical,
A slender chain of diamond, the weight
Sustaining of one priceless diamond,
Like dawn faint blushing, radiant as the morn,
That on her creamy bosom, like a spark
Of sun-fire on rich pearl embedded, lay.
With graceful ease and perfect dignity,
Yet womanly softness, like a shape of heaven,
In majesty of beauty, pale, serene,

With eye oft downcast, yet with swelling heart

Proudly exultant, on her gorgeous seat
Reclined, of Tyrian purple, golden fringed,
Of all eyes mutely worshipp'd, she rode on.
So, when, victorious o'er the giant brood,
Back to Olympus came the Thunderer,
Imperial Juno, on her golden car,

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
With gold and gems, like a phosphoric sea,
His choicest captains, and his royal guard,
On their proud treading steeds rode gallantly.
The chariot of the queen at hand beheld,
To right and left disparting, ample space
In midst the horsemen left. Low bow'd each
head,

As the bright vision pass'd, and silence deep
Of admiration weigh'd upon all lips.

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!

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