In whom didst thou thyself confide when by the raging sea The host of Pharaoh came in sight?" Then Moses said, "In Thee! In Thee, O Lord, I now confide, as I confided then." And God replied, "Go to the shore; lift up thy staff again." Then Moses lifted up his rod; the sea rolled wide away, And in the midst a mighty rock, black and uncovered, lay. "Smite thou the rock!" said God again. The rock was rent apart, And then appeared a little worm, close nestled to its heart. The worm cried, " Praise to God on high, who hears His creatures' moan, Nor did forget the little worm concealed within the stone!" "If I remember," said the Lord, "the worm beneath the sea, Shall I forget thy children, who love and honor Me?" JOHANN GOTTFRIED VON HERDER He said unto the Lord: "Shall I never be done? Where wilt Thou still that I my footsteps turn? Am I to live for aye, great, powerful, and alone? Give me, ah, give me leave to sleep the sleep of earth! What did I to Thee, to be chosen Thy elect? Let now some other stand 'twixt Thee and Thine! I gladly make him heir to book and brazen rod. I am the Great; my feet tread nations' necks; Alas! my Lord! I am great-I am alone; Give me, ah, give me leave to sleep the sleep of earth!" ALFRED DE VIGNY 35 THE DEATH OF MOSES Led by his God, on Pisgah's height, Behind him lay the desert ground Still guarded by their God. With joy the agèd Moses smiled While thus he poured his accents mild "I see them all before me nowThe city and the plain, From where bright Jordan's waters flow, To yonder boundless main. "Oh! there the lovely promised land. With milk and honey flows; Now, now my weary murmuring band "There groves of palm and myrtle spread O'er valleys fair and wide; The lofty cedar rears its head THE DEATH OF MOSES "For them the rose of Sharon flings And there the golden lily springs,— "Amid the olive's fruitful boughs Is heard the song of love, For there doth build, and breathe her vows "For them shall bloom the clustering vine, "For them, for them, but not for me; ""Tis well, 'tis well, my task is done, Alone he bade the world farewell, To God his spirit fled. Now to your tents, O Israel, And mourn your prophet dead! 99 JESSIE G. M'CARTEE 36 JERICHO Joshua vi I. Around the walls of Jericho, With steady tramp, their spears in hand, Six days, six journeys, now are past; Scarce had the first flush of the dawn When forth from every well-known tent Thus early start they on their way; II. Within the walls of Jericho, In stern indifference wait the foe. What care they for these haggard men How can they hope to overthrow |