eye. In the twilight of mere earthly vision, the dim shapes which crowd in confusion around us are feared, and, therefore hated. In the light of religion all things are pleasing, and shed around them calmness and peace. In it all unlovely shapes disappear, and all things float in the glowing ether of love. Not that man devotes himself to the high will of fate, which is unchangeable and unavoidable; in religion there is no fate, but only wisdom and goodness, to which man is not compelled to resign himself, but which embrace him with infinite love."
This work must be acceptable to every deep thinker, as well as to every earnest seeker after truth. The revelations of every high and noble mind should be reverently received as truths. Great minds are the beacons of humanity, illumining its onward and upward path. M. T.
YES, hope for the best, in the world's shifting scene,
Some changes and troubles must ever arise;
The smoothest of seas is not always serene,
And clouds will o'ershadow the loveliest skies:
But the sun sparkles forth and the clouds are dispersed,
The winds die away, and the waves are at rest;
Then why should we ever be dreading the worst,
When nature instructs us to hope for the best?
And even, if we really have cause for our fears,
And are likely in danger's deep waters to sink,
Would the trial be lessened, because through long years
We had mournfully shuddered and sighed on the brink?
Let our friends be untrue, and our fortunes reversed,
Of the wealth of the future we yet are possessed;
And none are so fitted to cope with the worst,
As those who have constantly hoped for the best.
Hope nerves the worn mind, and revives the weak frame,
It lifts us the world's petty malice above,
Removes the rough stones from the pathway of fame,
And plucks the sharp thorns from the roses of love;
Through walls it can pierce, and through chains it can burst,
It strengthens the feeble, it cheers the oppressed,
They bend to the tempest, submit to the worst,-
Then hope through new trials, and hope for the best!
First Hebrew.-See, Moses stands, rapt in some heavenly vision.
Now has descended on his soul again
The spirit of prophecy; and his fixed eye
Seems as deciphering the book of life,
To us invisible.
Second Hebrew.—And mark you not
That light upon his countenance, the sign
Of converse with Jehovah?
First Hebrew.-Hark! he seems
About to speak.
Moses.-Three days the sun hath shone
On us, and not on Egypt. A thick darkness
That may be felt broods over all the land;
And fearful spectres glide before the eyes
Of the Egyptians. They sit motionless,
A mockery of life, like mummies, nitched
In the still chambers of the catacombs.
Hear me, ye elders of the tribes, and men
Of Israel. The God of Abraham
Hath not forgot his promise. See the signs
Which he hath wrought by me, and put to shame
Egypt's magicians, with their foul enchantments.
Nine plages have fallen on that devoted race,
Each heavier than the former. Now nine times
The hand of God hath smitten, to bruise them,
But not crush utterly: for I see light returning,
And the obscurity melting, as the mists
Roll from the mountain.
A Hebrew.-Moses, we believe
That thou art sent, a holy man from God,
Who at the destined hour will free his people.
But our augmented tasks press heavily,
And crush us till we faint beneath the burden.
Moses. Fear not, for God is with us; and I feel
A holy premonition that ere long
The great deliverance will be fully wrought,
I AM hath promised. Pharaoh's stubborn heart
Yet will not soften. Plague succeeding plague
Still hardens him, till his appointed course
Is ended, and the last dread thunderbolt
Falls fatal on him. Children, think not then
Your lot most wretched, nor be envious
When, like a palm, the wicked flourish. Pharaoh,
Of his dark passions the blind slave and victim,
Shall glare a beacon to all future times;
And this our patient suffering, and our triumph,
Shall to the wounded and oppressed give comfort,
When Rameses and Pithom, those great cities
Built by your hands, have mouldered into dust.
Sole king ere worlds or time began,
Thou oft hast trod
The earth, and walked and dwelt with man.
On Canaan's trophied fields are seen
The tracks where Deity hath been;
And many a storied pillar stands
In pathways hallowed by thy feet,
Where, circled by thine angel bands,
Thou didst our wondering fathers meet.
Descend, Omnipotent! again descend!
When wilt thou bid our lingering bondage end?
What godlike forms on Hebron's plaiu
Mingled with Abram's princely train,
And unknown shared the patriarch's cheer!
But, when the parting hour drew near,
A glory round the strangers came,
And Mamre's seraphs rose in flame.
How bright, on La-hai-ro-i's wild,
An Eden in the desert smiled,
When shady palm, and bubbling well,
Rose 'mid the sands, a miracle,
And heaven came down at Hagar's piercing cry,
Nor left the famished fugitive to die.
O'er exiled Jacob's desert bed
What beauteous visions didst thou shed!
Pillowed on stones at close of day,
Asleep the lonely pilgrim lay,
Then down the gloomy vault of night
Streamed a broad path of golden light,
And, gorgeous as the clouds of even,
Thy fiery squadrons rushed from heaven.
Send down again that chariotry;
Kindle thy beacons in the sky.
We wait the meteor signals of thy power:
Is not thy triumph near, and this the hour?
Rejoice! rejoice!
Jehovah's armies, at his nod,
Avenge their God.
The swarming millions hear his voice;
Swift at his call from far repair
Wild legions of the earth and air:
Winds that in mountain caverns sleep;
Fires that in earth's dark entrails glow;
Spirits from Hades' gloomy deep;
Impetuous, rush upon the foe.
The dense battalions come, presaging all,
Egypt's dread doom, and haughty Pharaoh's fall.
THE GREAT SQUARE AT MEMPHIS.
A confused multitude conversing together in groups. Two Egyptians apart from the rest.
First Egyptian.-The world is at an end. These growing plagues Have changed the course of nature, and will soon
Destroy all living things. 'Tis light again;
But I am yet scarce certain that I see,
Or feel, or breathe.
Second Egyptian.-Something must soon be done
To end these horrors.
First Egyptian.-Done! what can we do? This dreadful God is irresistible,
And Pharaoh will not yield.
Second Egyptian.-Force him to yield! We will no longer brook his tyranny.
First Egyptian.-But who shall lead us? Second Egyptian.-Who but Amenophis, Our rightful sovereign of the ancient race? Egypt will rise in transport at his name.
First Egyptian.-Not to the injury of Pharaoh's son; All Egypt loves him.
Second Egyptian.-Well! first down with Pharaoh, And after choose the king that shall succeed him.
First Egyptian.-But where is Amenophis? Let me hear The true tale of these rival families.
Second Egyptian.-Some ages since our lawful Pharaohs held The throne of Egypt, when first Israel came,
But a few families, and dwelt in peace,
Favoured and honoured by all Egypt's sons.
A great one of their race, Joseph by name,
But called in Egypt Zaphnath-Paaneah,
In whom the spirit of the gods was found,
Was second in the kingdom. Israel grew
A mighty nation. Meanwhile came, and conquered,
And reigned o'er Egypt, this accursed race,
These Hycsos, shepherd-kings, who knew not Joseph.
Then all the tribes of Hebrews were made slaves.
For this their God has sent destroying plagues,
That wither up the kingdom. But the stock
Of Egypt's kings escaped, fled, as they say,
To Ethiopia, and lay long concealed.
And a strange tale has been of late reported,
That the true heir of Egypt's throne is here,
Brought up in Memphis; and Prince Amenophis,
Under some other name, waits but his time.
First Egyptian.-'Tis a strange tale. But where or who is he?
Second Egyptian.-I know not, but 'tis known to many nobles;
And, ere ten suns have risen and set, mark me,
Pharaoh will be dethroned.
First Egyptian.-What things will happen,
No living man can tell. Such wonders teem,
That prodigies alone are common things,
And common things would be the wonder now.
A week, a day, may work your purpose out,
And Israel's God may empty Pharaoh's throne,
Without your care.
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