A ROOM IN THE PALACE.

Jannes. Jambres.

Jambres.-Crowds have gone over to the Hebrews' side. If they should leave the land, they draw with them

The half of Egypt. As the time draws near,

I cannot choose but tremble: for we know
Jehovah's power.

Jannes. Thou art a child, my brother;
A superstitious child. Let girls turn pale
With terror, and devour the mysteries
Of every temple. But we know the juggle,
And cannot choose but laugh. We go too far
To let our lie impose upon ourselves.

Jambres.-Be our gods false, some one may yet be true;
And that one Israel's.

Jannes.-Jambres, we may force

Our faith, and bend it to our wishes. I,

Though death were now before me, hand to hand,
Would not believe. Though reasons tenfold strong

Were forced upon me, still I would not.

Hatred fills my whole soul against this God,
Against his people. Moses has despised,

Dishonoured me, in public view. I live

But for revenge.

And first the traitor, Pheron.

Jambres.-I had forgotten. Pheron has escaped, And unmolested. But why stand you rapt?

He'll choke! he'll die! Jannes, you terrify me!

Jannes.-Ten thousand curses! Fiends and furies seize him

I had marked him; doomed him. To escape me thus!

No; though I drag the sea, and hunt the mountains,
Inch by inch-

Jambres.-Brother, be patient.

Jannes.-Patient!

And let him revel in bliss with his loved Rachel,
And laugh to scorn the impotent threats of Jannes.
Jambres.-What will you do?
Jannes.-Do! go on the instant,

And drag him from her arms: slay him before her.
Jambres.-And Pharaoh !

Jannes.-True! I had forgot. At once

Send in pursuit. Choose out the swiftest horses.

Take him alive, if possible; if not,

Kill him. Only be quick, and seize him,
Ere he arrive at Goshen.

GOSHEN. EVENING. THE BANKS OF THE NILE.

Rachel, and Maidens drawing water.

SONG OF THE MAIDENS.

Thus, at evening, Israel's daughters
To the shady palm-trees come;
Thus we bear our treasure home
Of the pure and sparkling waters.
Hour of waning day how sweet!
When the jocund maidens meet,
Forgetting Israel's bonds, and Pharaoh's cruel slaughters.
Ere eve's firstborn star is twinkling,
Oft, with youthful spirits gay,
Round and round, in frolic play,
We pursue, each other sprinkling.
Oft in summer twilight clear,

We our voices mingle here,

And twine the merry dance to our sweet cymbals' tinkling.

But earth's joy is wed with sorrow.
We shall visit thee no more;
Of thy ever-flowing store,
Lovely Nile, no more shall borrow;

Press no more thy springy sod,
Sandalled feet so oft have trod.

From thy wild melodies we shall be far to-morrow,
Oh! we cannot, without weeping,
Leave thee, scene of early joys!

Dear the murmuring, soothing noise
Of thy stream, to ocean sweeping;
Dear thy waving palm-trees be,
Well-known haunt of infancy;

And dear thy placid face, in summer's moonlight sleeping.

But we haste to lands more glowing.
Drink we soon of Kedron's wave;
And our limbs in Jordan lave,
O'er his fringed margent flowing.
Egypt's wells must yield to thine,

Glorious, sacred Palestine!

And Jordan boast o'er Nile, his banks with wild flowers strewing.

"Tis the last eve Israel's daughters

To their native river come,
Bear the last rich burden home
Of its sweet and sparkling waters.
Distant far we go to dwell;

Palm-trees of the Nile, farewell!

We haste from Egypt's bonds, and Pharaoh's ruthles slaughters.

Rachel.-Look this way, Tamar.

Among those distant figures can you see him?
Tamar.-I see him not as yet. But wait in patience;
And meanwhile tell me how you learned to love
A noble of the court. Tell from the first.

Rachel.-Often I paint the well-remembered scene.
I had accompanied a friend to Memphis.
'Twas on a lovely evening I returned,
Beside the river. The bright, burning sun
Far o'er the golden Nile was slowly sinking.
All nature was attired in freshest green,

And jewelled thick with flowers. Vast flocks and herds
Covered the plain. Rich perfumes floating round
From the orange groves, with thousand other flowers
Mingling most sweetly, loaded all the air.

Long time I gazed about me, as I walked,
Musing on many things; and paused at last,
Close on the river's brink. 'Twas a lone spot,
Shut out from view. The tall papyrus rose
In reedy forests round me, and the palm
Lifted his branches like a canopy

Above my head. The spreading lotus leaf
Floated upon the waters, and its blossoms
Clustered together thickly. While I marked,
From the smooth Nile each brilliant bud reflected,
My fancy pictured Moses in his ark,
In his frail reedy cradle, and his face
Smiling in beauty 'mid the lotus flowers.
Just then a strain of distant music rose
From Israel's congregation. I was rapt.
You know my love of music, that dear art,
Pre-eminent in our race, the gift of heaven:
For in a robe of softly-flowing song
Our prophets clothe their new-born oracles.
But never rose the swell of melody,
Since in the groves of Eden angels sang

In concert, like that evening hymn. What time
I was entranced, I know not. When I moved,
A monstrous crocodile, crouched 'mid the reeds,
Glared horribly, as if about to spring.

I stood spell-bound. My blood was frozen. Sound
Did not escape me, and I thought my life

Utterly lost when, whence he came I saw not,
A youth sprang forth upon the scaly monster,
And slew it, and delivered me.

Tamar.-And then?

Rachel.

And then I fainted, and—but all is told.

Thence our acquaintance and our love.

He comes not yet. I tremble for his safety.

Shame on me! When my faith should be most strong,
It fails.

Tamar.-What crowds are passing on to Goshen !
Hundreds and thousands press along the road.
What can it mean?

Rachel. Some seek a place of refuge

From this night's plague: the pious proselytes
To Israel's worship. And thick crowds of Hebrews
Return from Memphis, bending with the gold

Of Egypt's presents. All the streets were thronged;
And every house is beggared. But see one
Who comes this way in haste.

"Tis he.

'Tis Pheron.

Pheron. Rachel. Tamar.

Pheron. I have just escaped, my Rachel, from great dangers.

We must away, while time for flight is left.

My foes are close at hand. On yonder hill

You see a clump of spears: they are sent by Pharaoh

To intercept my flight.

Rachel.-Fear nothing, Pheron:

You are now in Goshen, where you will be safe,

Though kings and armies sought you."

I

A ROOM IN THE PALACE.

Pharaoh. Menes.

'Tis the drop,

Pharaoh.-No. On this theme in vain you importune me. Menes.-'Tis for yourself I fear, lest you should fall A victim to this great and terrible God. Pharaoh.-I know you love me, Menes. The single drop of sweet in my full cup That overflows with bitter. All men hate me ; All loathe the tyrant; all plot and conspire Against my life. And I, in turn, requite Their hatred with revenge. But you, my son, Unlike the mass of human kind, love one,

On whom men look with horror. Why is this?

Menes. Because I feel you love me. Think, dear father,
What deep remorse, what self-accusing anguish,

What hopeless misery, will haunt your steps,
Should the sole son of your affection perish,
As Moses threatens.

Pharaoh. You shall not perish.

There is no danger. 'Tis an empty threat.

Menes.-Yet the past plagues are real. Look at Egypt, Blasted and ruined, and what does it speak?

Pharaoh.-Revenge! Let Israel go? Let go their children? Their cattle? Let the slaves escape my power?

No! not while Pharaoh breathes and holds his sceptre.

No sooner will I see all Egypt perish,
Throne, kingdom, people, cities, palaces,
Fall in one common ruin. 'Tis my final,
Unalterable will, fixed as the counsels
Of the eternal gods.

Menes (alone).-It is then hopeless.
Pharaoh persists to celebrate the feast

That ends in my destruction. This dread night
Closes my short career; and I shall die
'Mid dance and song, my bridal chamber turned
Into my tomb. O fatal, fatal madness!
And O, my bride and widow! We have loved
From childhood; and a more than common tie
Binds our two hearts together. Would we might
Have thrown aside our state, and princely robes,
And led together, on the mountain's brow,
In the Hebrew manner, the calm life of shepherds!
'Tis hard to die so young: to close my eyes
Upon this beauteous world; on the bright sun;
The glittering grandeur of the starry skies;
The pomp of ocean; the sweet bloom of flowers;
No more to hear the music of the woods,

Nor look upon the life and stir of cities.

Yet death has comfort. The next world has scenes
Brighter than earth, and music far more thrilling
Than nature's melodies. To enter early
Into that paradise, is to be made happy
Before my time. Better be blest to-day,

Than spend long years in waiting for my change.
Whom God loves best, they say, he first takes home.
And I have sought thee, Lord, in youth and health;
Have panted for thee more than for the spoils
Of battle; longed and thirsted for thy love,
More than for love of woman, more than friendship,
Gold, or pleasure. I have conversed with thee,
In the sweet calm of night, in nature's silent
Solitudes; and thou hast smiled and answered.
In crowds and cities thou hast been with me,
And kept my youthful garments from pollution.
Merciful Saviour, wilt thou leave me now?
Forsake me not amid the dark unknown,
A helpless stranger in that shadowy world
Which nature dreads to enter. But when heart

RCANTILE

LIBRARY

And flesh shall fail, be Thou my strength and portion!

To be continued.