Blood is sprinkled on the door-posts of the Hebrews everywhere!"

"There are rumours--so he sayeth--of an Angel who will slay
The first-born sons of Egypt--should these bondsmen not depart.
Thy people weep in anguish--I myself must hear thee say--
The Hebrew leader threatens no such danger to my heart--

"He is my heart--my inner heart;--0 straight he is and strong!
To me he meaneth Egypt--Egypt meaneth but my son--
So I would take him swiftly toward the land where I belong
To return to thee in safety when these troubles all are done."

"The streets are filled with mourners;--every day more tears are shed;
The embalmers have grown weary--they will not work for gold--
And everywhere the eye doth see processions of the dead,
Till they seem but mocking phantoms, we watch unmoved and cold."

"Thou wilt not let the Hebrews go--I read it in thine eyes--
There are no gods in Egypt--there is nothing but thy Will--
That sets itself against some force that yet in Strength will rise
But to silence all thine answers and bid thy voice be still."

Then Pharaoh leaned down toward her: "0 most beautiful!" he said,
"There is not a man who liveth dare say so to my face;
And truly were there such a one 'twere better he were dead,
For dead men suffer nothing.--Yet I pray thee of thy grace

"Have patience now to hear me. 'Tis as the Ethiope heard.
They threatened all the first-born;--but the tower is brass and stone;
There my son shall stay to-night, guarded well, I give thee word.--