Rameses. My daughter- Pharaoh. And soon shall be revenged, Rameses. I'm a bereft and broken-hearted father. The joy of life is gone. I seek no vengeance. Speak but one word-say you have changed your purpose; I read too well that silence; And too well also read your awful doom. Pharaoh.-By all the gods, you trifle with your life. It is in danger. Rameses.-That I reckoned on Before I ventured in the lion's den. Proud monarch, thou shalt hear the truth for once. They hate thee. Prayers from widowed wives, and orphans, Thy murdered victims, cries aloud for vengeance. Look where thou wilt, the soil is steeped and drenched With bitter tears; and reeking with the gore Shed by thy tyranny. Hard-hearted man! Thou hast a human form; but the blood-thirstiness Pharaoh.-Spare me, I beseech thee. Rameses.-Spare thee? Whom didst thou ever spare ? My cup is full. Pharaoh (alone).-There wanted only this. Some mighty evil.-Well, I must fulfil And night, I hate you :—and I dare not sleep. That comest thus in likeness of the dead? Did there but now a disembodied spirit Stand here before me? All my members quake; Enter Attendant. Attendant. Did the king speak? Pharaoh.-Again! who art thou ?—No, I called thee not. Yet stay. Went no one from the tent? Attendant.-What means My lord, the king? Pharaoh.-Passed there none by you now; Now, as you entered? Attendant.-No one passed, my lord. Pharaoh.-You may be gone. But keep strict watch. This is another warning That menaces my life. It may be true. What then? the less of life that's left, more reason I must be busy.-I'll set forth to-night: And let death come, it will go hard with Pharaoh, MORNING. ETHAM. A VAST PLAIN. The Hebrews encamped. Moses, Joshua, and other Hebrews. Moses.-Here to the confines of our land of bondage Our God hath safely brought us: endless praise Be to our Saviour and our leader! God, To comfort and assure us, hath vouchsafed His visible presence, as is manifest In this dense cloudy pillar; which by night Your families a longer, but a safer Journey. You are not used to war; and fear Joshua.-See that you keep In compact order, and in ranks of five, As you left Egypt. Let none leave his place, Nor wander, lest you fall into confusion. Now give the word to march, through all the tribes. The pass of Pihahiroth between rugged masses of rock. In the foreground the watch tower of Migdol. At a distance, through the pass, the Red Sea. The Israelites encamped. Rachel in the opening of a tent. (Sings.) Far o'er the cloud-tipped mountains, Spreads a blest world all pure and bright, And, 'mid perennial bloom, the trees supply There heaven's fair city towers Its walls of precious stones are laid; To guard those holy bowers Where saints their banquets hold. A sapphire throne, with emerald rainbow crowned, Whence came this happy nation? From earth, and sin, and fears; From dungeon's gloom, and martyr's flame; From poverty, and tears. But they have conquered, and their robes are white; O may I shout Hosanna Among that happy throng; A fair and noble spirit stand, With crown on head, and harp in hand; Pour the untiring song; And, high enthroned among the heavenly peers, (Looking at the sun.) Beautiful! beautiful! slow-sinking orb, Sunless and shadowless, lighted by thee! I feel thee now, my rapturous spirit feels Thy presence and thy smiles. Even now thou shinest Is jocund with delight and transport. Rachel. Pheron. Pheron, look with me on this glorious sight. It seems A new creation. See those lovely clouds Spread like an ocean, studded everywhere With island gems, and woods, and cities, fairer Than those of earth. Surely, heaven's pearly gates And jewelled walls, and towers, and trees of life, And angels' many-coloured wings, compose Pheron.-It is a splendid sight. Rachel.-You still are sad. You grieve too much, my Pheron. Pheron.-I mourn the fondest and most faithful friend Heaven ever gave to mortal. O his love To me was wonderful; that purest love, A league between two souls that know no sex; Rachel.-Pheron, I will be to you what your Menes was. And Menes is not lost: he is but gone To that bright world where he awaits your coming. Pheron. And, but for thee, would I might join him soon! O'tis the charm of paradise, it holds All was most precious here; and, when we enter, (Rachel sings.) Say not that bliss is only found Bliss visits every mortal's lot; The beggar's lair, and monarch's throne; Love! the sweet music of that name The choirs that hymn the eternal throne, When the lost world was veiled in night, Tinging the ruins with soft light, Pledge of a coming day. Love brings down angels from the skies, To life and God again. |