Collected Works (Vol. I)

70 JEPHTHAH Sere leaves before its fury: then the city With arrows darkened all the air 5 and luck Smote down some few pursuing; but their captain, Riding his horse against the gate, drove in His spear, and cried to them that followed him : Who plucks my spear out shall be chief of all That ply the short spear: and who breaks the gate Shall lead) my horsemen into Mizpeh: then, Rushing, their spearmen battered in the gate and overpowered the youths and agéd men, That put up trembling spears, and drew slack bows, And flung weak stones that struck for laughter’s sake. So now the city is the spoil of them, And all our women-folk are slain or violate, And all our young men murderously slain, And children spitted on their coward spears. CHORUS. How heavy is Thy hand upon us, Lord ! MESSENGER. Nor stayed they there ; but, firing Mahanaim, Sweep toward Mizpeh like a locust-cloud. ELEAZAR. Get thee to horse and carry me this message: The Elders unto Jephthah, greeting: Help! No single cry beyond that Help! Be gone! [#x7z¢t Messenger. CHORUS. I fear me our necessity is sure. But they come hither. Shall we rather flee? ELEAZAR. I stand here manly, and will die a man. CHORUS. For cowardice not pleases God, nor fear. Shall we not take up weapons? Or shall IIe Rather defend us with Ilis oly Arm, We not presuming in our arrogance To come with cunning, and defend ourselves ? IeLEAZAR. Nay, but God smites with sharpness of our swords. CIroRUs. The sword is made sharp in our hands, but the point IIe shall guide; We grasp the tough ash of the spear, but ITis hand is beside ; We drive in a cloud at the foe, chariots ride Before us to sunder the spears. but His We trust in Tis arms, and His prowess shall fledge our song’s wing ; Our triumph we give to Ilis glory, our spoil to the Ning ; Our battles He fights as we fight them, our victories bring For Ilis temple a tribute of tears. Enter JEPATHAU anid hes Soldters, with many young men of Israel. JEPUTHAH., Yea, for a man’s sword should not turn again To his own bosom, and the sword of fear Smites not in vain the heart of cowardice. But who hath called me hither to what end? ILEAZAR. For these, and for the sake of Israel. JEPHTHAH. And who are these? And who are Israel? CHORUS. Turn not thy face from us in wrath, for we Are thine own father’s children, and his loins With double fervour gat a double flower ; And we indeed were born of drudging wives,