The king sat still as Fate. "Most High," she said, "I come for truth
Of this new threat of vengeance. There is horror in the air;—
The Ethiopian runner hath brought word to me in sooth
Blood is sprinkled on the door-posts of the Hebrews everywhere!"
"There are rumours—so he sayeth—of an Angel who will slay
The first-born sons of Egypt—should these bondsmen not depart.
Thy people weep in anguish—I myself must hear thee say—
The Hebrew leader threatens no such danger to my heart—
"He is my heart—my inner heart;—0 straight he is and strong!
To me he meaneth Egypt—Egypt meaneth but my son—
So I would take him swiftly toward the land where I belong
To return to thee in safety when these troubles all are done."
"The streets are filled with mourners;—every day more tears are shed;
The embalmers have grown weary—they will not work for gold—
And everywhere the eye doth see processions of the dead,
Till they seem but mocking phantoms, we watch unmoved and cold."
"Thou wilt not let the Hebrews go—I read it in thine eyes—
There are no gods in Egypt—there is nothing but thy Will—
That sets itself against some force that yet in Strength will rise
But to silence all thine answers and bid thy voice be still."
Then Pharaoh leaned down toward her: "0 most beautiful!" he said,
"There is not a man who liveth dare say so to my face;
And truly were there such a one 'twere better he were dead,
For dead men suffer nothing.—Yet I pray thee of thy grace
"Have patience now to hear me. 'Tis as the Ethiope heard.
They threatened all the first-born;—but the tower is brass and stone;
There my son shall stay to-night, guarded well, I give thee word.—
Where armies could not enter—can one angel pass alone?
"Thinkst thou that I am one to be affrighted by the dark?
A weakling to be played upon—a coward or a fool?
Nay!—I defy the Israelites!—Their weapons miss their mark,
They have roused my utmost anger: it taketh long to cool.
"But thou!" he said; "but thou! Methinks had they but threatened thee
I should perchance have known the very quality of fear;—
Thou thing of perfect loveliness! Content mine eyes will be
Though in the land of Egypt is no blossom for a year.
"But thou art queen, and thou art free;—free now to go or stay,
I would not bind thee to my side—not by one golden hair.—
Leave thou this land of peril e'er the breaking of the day,
Or give thy life to my dark life—and bear what it doth bear."