With that he fell to weeping. "Son," said he, "Long have I hid mine eyes from stalwart men, For it is hard to lose the majesty And pride and power of manhood: but to-day, Stand forth into the light, that I may look Upon thy strength, and think, EVEN THUS DID I, IN THE GLORY OF MY YOUTH, MORE LIKE TO GOD THAN LIKE HIS SOLDIERS, FACE THE VASSAL WORLD." Then Noah stood forward in his majesty, Shouldering the golden billhook, wherewithal He wont to cut his way, when tangled in The matted hayes. And down the opened roof Fell slanting beams upon his stately head, And streamed along his gown, and made to shine The jewelled sandals on his feet. And, lo, The Elder cried aloud: "I prophesy. Behold, my son is as a fruitful field When all the lands are waste. The archers drew,-- They drew the bow against him; they were fain To slay: but he shall live,--my son shall live, And I shall live by him in the other days. Behold the prophet of the Most High God: Hear him. Behold the hope o' the world, what time She lieth under. Hear him; he shall save A seed alive, and sow the earth with man. O, earth! earth! earth! a floating shell of wood Shall hold the remnant of thy mighty lords Will this old man be in it? Sir, and you My daughters, hear him! Lo, this white old man He sitteth on the ground. (Let be, let be: Why dost Thou trouble us to make our tongue Ring with abhorred words?) The prophecy Of the Elder, and the vision that he saw, They both are ended." Then said Noah: "The life Of this my lord is low for very age: Why then, with bitter words upon thy tongue, Father-of Lamech, dost thou anger Him? Thou canst not strive against Him now." He said: "Thy feet are toward the valley, where lie bones Bleaching upon the desert. Did I love The lithe strong lizards that I yoked and set To draw my car? and were they not possessed? Yea, all of them were liars. I loved them well. What did the Enemy, but on a day When I behind my talking team went forth, They sweetly lying, so that all men praised Their flattering tongues and mild persuasive eyes,-- What did the Enemy but send His slaves, Angels, to cast down stones upon their heads And break them? Nay, I could not stir abroad But havoc came; they never crept or flew Beyond the shelter that I builded here. But straight the crowns I had set upon their heads Were marks for myrmidons that in the clouds Kept watch to crush them. Can a man forgive That hath been warred on thus? I will not. Nay, I swear it,--I, the man Methuselah." The Master-shipwright, he replied, "'Tis true, Great loss was that; but they that stood thy friends, The wicked spirits, spoke upon their tongues, And cursed the God of heaven. What marvel, sir, If He was angered?" But the Elder cried, "They all are dead,--the toward beasts I loved; My goodly team, my joy, they all are dead; Their bones lie bleaching in the wilderness: And I will keep my wrath for evermore Against the Enemy that slew them. Go,