Collected Works (Vol. I)

JEPHTHAH 79 CHORUS OF SOLDIERS. - Out of the waters of the sea Our father Abraham beheld The lamp of heaven arise to be The monarch quenchless and unquelled ; But we on this far Syrian shore See dawn upon the mountains pour.’ The limit of the snows is bright ; As spears that glitter shine the hills ; The foaming forehead of the light All air with cloudy fragrance fills ; And, born of desolation blind, The young sweet summer burns behind. The Altar of the Lord is set With salt and fire and fervid wine, And toward the east the light is let For shadow for the holiest shrine : One moment hangs the fire of dawn Until the sacrament be sworn. Behold, the priest, our captain, takes The sacred robes, the crown of gold, The light of other sunlight = breaks Upon his forehead calm and cold ; And other dawns more deep and wise Burn awful in his holy eyes. A moment, and the fire is low - Upon the black stone of the altar, The spilt blood eagerly doth glow, And lightnings lick the ight, and falter, Feeling the vast Shekinah * shine Above their excellence divine. The Lord is gracious to His own, And hides with glory as a mist The sacrifice and smitten stone, And on the lips His presence kissed Burn the high vows with ample flame That He shall swear to by the Name. 1 Abraham before his migration saw dawn risc over the Persian Gulf; but to the east of Palestine are mountains. 2 @.e. the hght of the Divine Presence. % The presence of God. JEPHTHAH. Highest of Highest, most Concealed of all, Most Holy Ancient One, Unnamable, Receive for these Thy servants this our oath To serve none other gods but Thee alone. And for my own part who am judge of these I vow beyond obedience sacrifice, And for the victory Thou shalt give, I vow To sacrifice the first of living things That with due welcome shall divide the doors Of my house, meeting me, an offering Burnt before Thee with ceremony meet . To give Thee thanks, nor take ungratefully This first of favours from the Hand Divine. SOLDIERS. A noble vow : and God is glad thereat. PROPHET. I charge you in the name of God, go not! I see a mischief fallen on your souls Most bitter. Aye! an evil day is this If ye go forth with such a sacrifice, And vows most hideous in their consequence. SOLDIERS. It is the prophet of the Lord. JEPHTHAH. Possessed By Baal ; scourge him hence ; he lies, for God With powerful proof and many lightnings came Devouring up the offering at the altar. PROPHET. O Jephthah, it is thou on whom it falls, The sorrow grievous as thy life is dear. A SOLDIER. IIe is the prophet of the Baalim. We have enough of such: in God’s name, home ! [Stabbeng hint.