Thy vales are robed with corn; Pours oil and wine, that face and heart may glow. Drop choicest fruits and flowers; Thy laughing fields rejoice; The living landscape chaunts to praise its King. And, ranged in choir-like bands, Though on thy blessed plains Their impious orgies howl, And fanes to hell's accursed demons rise: Soon, soon shall Israel's song, In chorus deep and long, O'er their crushed fields and smoking cities ring; With thundering voice resound, A ROOM IN THE PALACE. Nitocris sleeping. Rameses, Physician, Arsinoe, and another Lady. Physician.-How fares the princess? Arsinoe.-Like a broken lily, She fades and withers. Parted from her stem, Rameses. She has slept long And sweetly. Is it not a happy sign? Physician. What was her state before she slept? Drooping and melancholy as you've seen her, Living, yet deathlike; nor had moved her eye Is doubtful. Haply, consciousness and reason Rameses and Physician go out. Arsinoe.-Happy she Who finds a refuge from these troublous times Poor lady! In that awful night were made And nought remains behind, save the poor wreck Is one vast tomb, o'ercrowded with the dead. Arsinoe.-'Twas but your fancy. See! She lies quite still.-Know you of this new war Lady. They say he gathers All force together to pursue the Hebrews. He In Arsinoe.-'Tis destruction. who destroyed the flower and pride of Egypt one short hour, will laugh at swords and spears, Lady.-See, the noise has reached the princess, And she is waking: may it be to health! Nitocris.-Where am I? Tell me, dearest, what's the matter. Methought I was asleep in a cool grot By the sea-shore, bright nymphs dancing around me. Then a wild troop of hideous sea-monsters Till their red blood dyed all the sands.-Ha! look! How wild she looks! Her mind yet wanders. Lady, Nitocris.-Hush! Speak softly.-He's asleep. I feel my head is wrong-but yet I know you. Lady. Poor sufferer. She still thinks of the prince. And see that vacant stare, that idiot-like, Unconscious look. Her reason is unseated. Arsinoe. She sleeps again. Lady. No, her lips move. She speaks. Nitocris.-Is the feast ready? Ladies, bring my robes. Quick, quick, quick, quick-we must not keep them waiting. Now to the hall of banquet. Lend me your arm. And bid them light the torches-All is dark. Arsinoe 'Tis her last breath. There lies the sweetest of all Egypt's beauties, All Egypt into tears, Lady.-O what is life? It has no farther joy-and I will go And wait for death to rid me of my burden. WITHOUT THE GATES OF MEMPHIS: THE ENTRANCE Vast crowds pressed A multitude of funeral processions meeting. together, uttering loud outcries. First Egyptian. Meet with what man you will, he is a mourner. There is no house death hath not entered.-All, From high to low; the prince, the slave; man, beast; All have alike been stricken. The ravenous grave, Till now insatiate, loathes its proffered food, And cries, "Too much!" Death, wearied out with slaughter, And pitying human woes, lies down inactive. Second Egyptian.-Children should mourn their fathers. Parents now Bury their children: and death reaps a green And unripe harvest. O my son! my son! Would I had died instead of thee! Third Egyptian.—And I! My darling child! How many years I waited, And longed, and prayed! The blessing came at last. My cherished one! The terrible Destroyer Seized on his victim; and I saw it gasp, And writhe, and stiffen; saw its eye-balls start, My pride, my hero, grown to manly age, Wooed, wed: and ere the day was closed, he died. First Egyptian.-Hear the continuous cry, one piercing, long, Such griefs as we have, burden every house First Egyptian.-Tyrant! Madman! He rushes on his fate. Hear! It begins! A voice.-Down with the tyrant! Long live Amenophis! First Egyptian.-The shout increases. A multitude together.-Down with the tyrant! Long live Amenophis! PHARAOH'S TENT AT NIGHT. Pharaoh (alone).-The dangers multiply; and threatnings come From every side at once.-Why, let them come! They say the omens all are inauspicious; The soothsayers forbid this expedition; And messengers come thick from the magicians, Enter magicians and priests. What says the oracle? Priest.-A sad response: Denouncing woes on Pharaoh and on Egypt; Pharaoh.-So! It is well! The universe against me- Let no man seek to turn me. First Priest (apart.)-This is madness. Second Priest.-That the gods have doomed him. Fools! Do they think to make me bend or falter ? No, I am resolute and fixed. Nor man, Nor god can turn me-no, not even this load That weighs my spirit down into the earth. Enter Rameses. Pharaoh-Rameses! Why that haggard countenance ? |