Whether the thing was green or blue. "Sirs," cries the umpire, " cease your pother— The creature's neither one nor t'other. I caught the animal last night, I marked it well-'twas black as jet- Pray, sir, do; I'll lay my life the thing is blue." "And I'll be sworn, that, when you've seen The reptile, you'll pronounce him green." 'Well, then, at once to ease the doubt," Replies the man, "I'll turn him out: "And when before your eyes I've set him, If you don't find him black, I'll eat him." He said; then full before their sight Produced the beast, and lo!-'twas white. Both stared, the man looked wondrous wise"My children," the Chameleon cries, (Then first the creature found a tongue,) When next you talk of what you view, MERRICK. ELISHA IN DOTHAN. 'TIS eve; and the tempest By the lightnings are riven; Falls heavy and chill, In the bed of the rill. In the forest below. 'Tis midnight, deep midnight! On the revel of Judah To strike the death blow. His march is but lit By the tempest's red glare: No ear hears his tramp The hunters have driven "Now, now, for the slaughter!" And woe to the throne ! No lance has been flung. Through the gust and the haze The watch-fires still blaze; But the warriors of Israel Like shadows are gone! Then spake the king's sorcerer: "King, wouldest thou hear, How those Israelite wolves Have escaped from thy spear; Know, their prophet Elisha Has spells to unbind The words on thy lip, Nay, the thoughts in thy mind. Though thy secret were deep As the grave, 'twould be known; The serpent has stings And the Vulture has wings; But he's serpent and vulture To thee and thy throne." "Sound the trumpet!" They rush Over mountain and plain. "Tis noon, but no chieftain Has slacken'd the rein. "Tis eve; and the valleys Are dropping with wine; To Dothan the horseman On the ramparts of Dothan, There fell the fierce hail Of the lance and the bow. And men rent their garments, But Elisha came forth From his chamber of prayer;— Like thunder his voice O'er the multitude roll'd : "Jehovah, arise; Pour thy light on our eyes; Shew this people the shepherds Who watch o'er thy fold." The mountain horizon Was burning with light; On its brow stood the Syrian In glory and might. Proud toss'd to the sunbeam The banner's rich fold, Proud blazed the gemm'd turbans And corslets of gold. And loud rose the taunt Of the infidel's tongue :— "Ho! Israelite slaves! This night sees your graves; And first from your walls At the word rush'd a cloud From the crown of the sky; In its splendours the sun Seem'd to sicken and die. From its depths pour'd a host Upon mountain and plain. There was seen the starr'd helm, And the sky-tinctured vane; And the armour of fire, And the seraph's broad wing; |