Therefore, the least Our messengers among, SIR EDWIN ARNOLD ΙΟ ABRAHAM AND HIS GODS Beneath the full-eyed Syrian moon, The Patriarch, lost in reverence, raised His consecrated head, and soon He knelt, and worshipped while he gazed: "Surely that glorious orb on high Must be the Lord of earth and sky!" Slowly towards its central throne The glory rose, yet paused not there, But seemed by influence not its own Drawn downwards through the western air, Until it wholly sank away, And the soft stars had all the sway. Then to that hierarchy of light, With face upturned the sage remained,— "At least ye stand forever bright,— Your power has never waxed or waned!" E'en while he spoke, their work was done, Drowned in the overflowing sun. Eastward he bent his eager eyes— 66 Creatures of Night! false gods and frail! Take not the worship of the wise; There is the Deity we hail; Fountain of light and warmth and love; Yet was that One-that radiant One, Then like one laboring without hope Still Abraham prayed by night and day, Nor long in vain; an inward Light Arose, to which the Sun is pale; The knowledge of the Infinite, The sense of Truth that must prevail;— The presence of the only Lord, By angels and by men adored. LORD HOUGHTON (RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES) II HYMN Genesis xii. 2-3 Where'er the Patriarch pitched his tent, With faith and prayer, the ground he trod. Through all the East, for riches famed,Heaven's gifts, he set his heart on none; Nor, when the dearest was reclaimed, Withheld his son, his only son. Wherefore, in blessing, he was blest; My God, what Thou hast made my home, My God, if called by Thee to roam, Thy law, Thy love be my delight; Be a true child of Abraham. JAMES MONTGOMERY 12 THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH Genesis xix. 24 O dread was the night when o'er Sodom's wide plain The fire of heaven descended; For all that then bloomed, shall ne'er bloom there again, For man hath his Maker offended. The midnight of terror and woe hath passed by, But the sun, as it beams clear and brilliant on high, Here lies but that glassy, that death-stricken lake, As in mock'ry of what had been there; The wild bird flies far from the dark nestling brake Which waves its scorched arms in the air. In that city the wine-cup was brilliantly flowing, Joy held her high festival there; Not a fond bosom dreaming (in luxury glowing), Of the close of that night of despair. For the bride her handmaiden the garland was wreathing; At the altar the bridegroom was waiting; But vengeance impatiently round them was breath ing, And Death at that shrine was their greeting. But the wine-cup is empty, and broken it lies; For the red wing of Death o'er Gomorrah now flies, The bride now is wedded-the bridegroom is Death, And near to that cold, that desolate sea, Not a fresh-blooming flower, not one budding tree LUCRETIA DAVIDSON 13 HAGAR IN THE WILDERNESS Genesis xxi. 14-19 The morning broke. Night stole upon the clouds With a strange beauty. Earth received again Its garment of a thousand dyes; and leaves, And delicate blossoms, and the painted flowers, And everything that bendeth to the dew And stirreth with the daylight, lifted up Its beauty to the breath of that sweet morn. All things are dark to sorrow; and the light And loveliness and fragrant air were sad To the dejected Hagar. The moist earth Was pouring odors from its spicy pores, |