JEPHTHAH. 209
JEPHTHAH.
Leave prophecy until I come again.
CHORUS.
A prophet told us thou shouldst fight for us
And save thy people from the Ammonites.
JEPHTHAH.
Why look you so? He told you other thing.
CHORUS.
Nay, lord, no saying that we understood.
JEPHTHAH.
Speak thou its purport ; I may understand.
For, know you, in the desert where I dwelt
I had strange store of books obscure ; books written
Not openly for fools, but inwardly
Toward the heart of wise men. And myself
Studied no little while upon these things,
And, seeking ever solitude, I went
Nightly upon a rock that stood alone
Threatening the sandy wilderness, and prayed.
Where many visions came before mine eyes
So strange—these eyes have started from my head,
And every hair, grown fearful, like a steed
Reared in its frenzy ; see, these lips of mine
Have blanched, these nails have bitten through my
flesh
For sundry things I saw—and these informed