Jephthah

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