I brought him forth in woe,
But thought it joy
To see him to my bosom clinging so.
But thought it joy
To see him to my bosom clinging so.
Byron
--Let the coming chaos chafe
With all its elements! Heed not their din!
A brighter world than this, where thou shalt breathe 820
Ethereal life, will we explore:
These darkened clouds are not the only skies.
[AZAZIEL _and_ SAMIASA _fly off, and disappear
with_ ANAH _and_ AHOLIBAMAH.
_Japh. _ They are gone! They have disappeared amidst the roar
Of the forsaken world; and never more,
Whether they live, or die with all Earth's life,
Now near its last, can aught restore
Anah unto these eyes.
_Chorus of Mortals_.
Oh son of Noah! mercy on thy kind!
What! wilt thou leave us all--all--_all_ behind?
While safe amidst the elemental strife, 830
Thou sitt'st within thy guarded ark?
_A Mother_ (_offering her infant to_ JAPHET).
Oh, let this child embark!
I brought him forth in woe,
But thought it joy
To see him to my bosom clinging so.
Why was he born?
What hath he done--
My unweaned son--
To move Jehovah's wrath or scorn?
What is there in this milk of mine, that Death 840
Should stir all Heaven and Earth up to destroy
My boy,
And roll the waters o'er his placid breath?
Save him, thou seed of Seth!
Or cursed be--with him who made
Thee and thy race, for which we are betrayed!
_Japh. _ Peace! 'tis no hour for curses, but for prayer!
_Chorus of Mortals_.
For prayer! ! !
And where
Shall prayer ascend, 850
When the swoln clouds unto the mountains bend
And burst,
And gushing oceans every barrier rend,
Until the very deserts know no thirst?
Accursed
Be he who made thee and thy sire!
We deem our curses vain; we must expire;
But as we know the worst,
Why should our hymns be raised, our knees be bent
Before the implacable Omnipotent, 860
Since we must fall the same?
With all its elements! Heed not their din!
A brighter world than this, where thou shalt breathe 820
Ethereal life, will we explore:
These darkened clouds are not the only skies.
[AZAZIEL _and_ SAMIASA _fly off, and disappear
with_ ANAH _and_ AHOLIBAMAH.
_Japh. _ They are gone! They have disappeared amidst the roar
Of the forsaken world; and never more,
Whether they live, or die with all Earth's life,
Now near its last, can aught restore
Anah unto these eyes.
_Chorus of Mortals_.
Oh son of Noah! mercy on thy kind!
What! wilt thou leave us all--all--_all_ behind?
While safe amidst the elemental strife, 830
Thou sitt'st within thy guarded ark?
_A Mother_ (_offering her infant to_ JAPHET).
Oh, let this child embark!
I brought him forth in woe,
But thought it joy
To see him to my bosom clinging so.
Why was he born?
What hath he done--
My unweaned son--
To move Jehovah's wrath or scorn?
What is there in this milk of mine, that Death 840
Should stir all Heaven and Earth up to destroy
My boy,
And roll the waters o'er his placid breath?
Save him, thou seed of Seth!
Or cursed be--with him who made
Thee and thy race, for which we are betrayed!
_Japh. _ Peace! 'tis no hour for curses, but for prayer!
_Chorus of Mortals_.
For prayer! ! !
And where
Shall prayer ascend, 850
When the swoln clouds unto the mountains bend
And burst,
And gushing oceans every barrier rend,
Until the very deserts know no thirst?
Accursed
Be he who made thee and thy sire!
We deem our curses vain; we must expire;
But as we know the worst,
Why should our hymns be raised, our knees be bent
Before the implacable Omnipotent, 860
Since we must fall the same?
