Addressing, then, his wife, he said: “My shame is great!
I’ve acted as a heathen, ah! I’m ready to entreat!
’Gainst thee I’ve trespassed, prithee, pardon to me grant;
Upon me vengeance wreak not, root not up the plant!
An infidel, however old, if he confess his sin,
And make amends, God’s sheepfold opes and takes him in. 200
Thy heart is full of pity, goodness, kindness, grace;
All being, eke nonentity, ’s in love with thy sweet face.
True faith, e’en blasphemy, adores thy majesty;
With that elixir all to gold turns instantly.”
In Moses and in Pharaoh parables we see.
’Twould seem that Moses’ faith was right; Pharaoh’s sin’s fee.
By day would Moses pray unto the Lord of Hosts;
At midnight Pharaoh, too, bewailed his impious boasts,
And said: “Thou, Lord, this yoke upon my neck didst lay;
Were’t not for yoke imposed, the egotist who’d play? 205
’Tis Thou’st enlightened Moses’ mind, of Thy free grace;
And hence hast left me blindly groping on my face.
The countenance of Moses Thou’st lit up, like day;
My heart, like moon eclipsed, Thou’st darkened with dismay.
My star was never brighter than the full-faced moon;
When darkened with eclipse, it surely sets too soon.
True, kings and princes sound my praises in their routs;
My star eclipsed, the rabble raise their clamorous shouts:
With cleavers, marrowbones, tongs, pokers, hideous ’larm,
They seek to fright some monster; really, shame all charm. 210
Alas for Pharaoh, with those fearful yells and noise!
Alas his ‘Lord Supreme,’[294] drowned in that discord’s voice!
Both I and Moses servants are of Thee, our King;
Like woodman’s axe on tree, Thy wrath on me takes swing.
Some boughs Thou loppest, to plant. They quickly grow again.
Some others but as firewood burn, or moulder on the plain.
What can the bough, to cope with axe’s severing edge?
Can bough resist, return the blow, as blacksmith’s sledge?
I call on Thy omnipotence! Thy axe withhold!
Thy mercy manifest! These wrongs set right! Behold!” 215