Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-03-07
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"'Know thysslf, misguided mortal.
and light will come Thou art deserted
By thy false CODA Did / not tell thee
Israels Yahveh lJshovAhl reigns alonef'
= knew at once The voice OF Adah.
the Hebrew woman.
"Ouce. long ago. ON feast day, | was
riding by tile bricS ards in my chariot.
wearing the crown Of upper aud lower
Egypt; the brickmakers forgot their
labor, even the oserseers were daExled
by my exceeding spiendor. All fell on
their knees as my chariot drove slowly
by. the priests in my procession chant
ing hymn to RI and to me. While
students came FROM abroad to con-
suit our magi. aud the mobiles OF
Egypt feasted riotously, these captives
must needs labor in the brickyards, such
was their fortune appointed by the gods.
lt were folly TO make their task too easy.
and give them straw, too ready at hand
for their bricks; then would the chill
dren Of Israel get from under the hand
of Pharaoh, and the land again be over
run by wandering tribes Nigh unto
my chariot that day stood a comely
young woman; she seemed of kin TO
some workman in the brckyard, for she
carried ON her arm basket, as IL bring
ing food. and when she stretched her
neck to look at the procession her veil
fell back. saw her face and it found
favor in my sight; they told me her
name was Adah. TIE next morning
commanded that A lah be brought into
-. -.
at once unto the handmaids, aud the
kings messenger bade them treat her no
more as q captive, but like unto a guest
worthy of all honor; SO the handmade.
ems did battle her feet in silver basin,
aud clothed her i'm fine linen ia the
place of her coarse garments; they an
nointed her hair with sweet smelling oil
aud wreathed her shoulder with gar
land of choice roses. After refresh
ment she was led into my presence.
Il dismissed my attendants; IL was
the kings will to be alone with this fair
lsraelite. A tame lion crOuched at the
side Of the couch on which was ro-
clining. The woman's face bIanched;
she gave a terrified cry; but with one
hasty signal from me the beast fawned
at her feet i'm welcome; then saw tho
rose return unto her cheek, aud it was
beautiful.
Thou hast naught to fear in the
house Of Pharaoh. said; thou hast a
spell truly to subdue the lion himself.
The Lord of Dad ms and Dispenser OF
Life invites thee from this hour to make
thy home in his palace among his hand
maidehs He shall be thy sun to give
thee light; forgotten shall be the gloom
of this captivity
"A swift shadow fell upon her fea-
lures. Mighty and most gracious king,
wouldst thou have me desert mine own
people?
"'Thou shalt drink of the wine OF joy
that bringeth oblivion. Twill have thee
remain with me, Adah.'
"'But thy servant has husband in
yonder brickyard; daughter of Israel
must be faithful to her husband and her
God
Il laughed with fine scorn. There
was no sign of yielding in the woman's
face. Then i WAS angered, and l raised
my voice, threatening her furiously with
Of her foul ingratitude. The lion at my
feet knew well his masters tone; his
savage nature woke; lie gave one low,
meaning growl and showed his teeth.
One gesture more from me and lie had
sprung upon her; but would not this
horror, so / strove to bride mine own
wrath and / laid also my hand on the
lions neck. An answering gieam OF
fire leaped from the black eyes Of the
Hebrew; she fixed them without quail
ing on the beast and then on me, as IL
she dared despise US both, and then,
freezing all at once like uAto statue,
she gazed beyond me at place in the
air over my head, as though she saw
something invisible 70 other eyes: il was
even as IL some power mightier than
PharaoL's did govern her.
@'Thou mayest chain my body to your
dungeon. she said, but my spirit will
take flight 10 its love and its duty In
yonder brickyard, thou oppressOr Of
Israelr-fiinging. as she spoke, the gar
land Of 10 ers from of her shoulders
10 the floor. i spurn the delights Of
this palace; give me rather the hardships
CT captivity, which will be but for .
season. Then. Egypt herself shall
be q captive, her gods shall be
silent, and the gates Of their temples
closed forever. Yahveh shall reign
alone on the earth. The dynasty shall
be clean wiped out Of the land, stran-
gers shall reign IN her high places until
even the longing for liberty which is
deathless in tie Israelite shall be no
more in the heart Of the Egyptian.
Thou, Oh Pharaohl shalt be laid low;
even in thy sepulcher thy bones shall
find no rest. aud the days Of thy puri-
fication shall not be accomplished until
the daughters Of Israel come to gaze
upon thee and thou art spectacle unto
the curious.'
Il glared at her, speechless, wonder
ing. Verify this woman must be OF un.
sound mind thus TO defy the lord Of the
earth with the senseless babbIe OF her
priestsl Would it behoove me TO take
revenge upon this daring, but weak and
helpless thingl She stood there silent
now, still beautiful. How easy for ms
to crush herl One intent. then another.
swayed my will; her reckless courage
was Of the same fiber as my own. feIt
this kinship through my anger-it pre-
vailed at last Better to win her by
mercy than to punish her; let her 20
hence in safety now, and send for her
again.