And send the slaves far hither;--but for love he would not yield.

His face was like the carven face upon the basalt door;--
Her beauty could not charm him, her voice had lost its power;
So she wrapped a veil about her and entreated him no more
But sat alone and watched, from out her window in the tower.

She saw the Hebrew leader with uncovered silvery hair
Come with the priest at daybreak to the outer palace gate,
And the rod of woe and wonder they carried with them there,--
Yet Pharaoh bid them enter--for he dared not bid them wait.

But naught prevailed, for sore disease had scourged the low and high,
And the hail of God had fallen and crushed the growing grain,
And a fire no hand had kindled in searing wrath swept by--
Such fire as none had seen before--as none would see again.

Then came the pirate locusts, with a sea-song free and bold;--
The spent and broken people lacked the strength to force them back,
But watched them take the last green blades that never would be gold--
And shut their doors against the foe that turned the meadows black.

Then Pharaoh wavered--more--he called the Hebrews in his haste
Imploring respite--pleading his repentance bitterly--
For there was death on every side, and all the land was waste;--
So the western wind of God blew the locusts out to sea.

Yet not enough. Once more the king denied his given word;
He dared the wrath of Heaven, and he made his heart as steel;
Then all the lights of God went out, and no man even stirred--