86
JEPHTUAH
ELEAZAR,
Go ye, make ready for the happy march.
[Zveunt ADULAH and Afardens.
And we too, changing these funercal vest-
ments
Will clothe in moonlike splendour, candid
robes
Of priestly purity, our joyous selves.
O fortunate day! O measured steps of
noon,
Quicken, if once ye stayed for Joshua,
To keep sweet music to our hearts. Away !
[Bxennt all but JARED.
JARED.
I will await, and hide myself away
Behind yon bushes, to behold the plot
Bud to fulfilment. Then, Leviathan,
I am thy master. Mockery of a God
That seest this thing prosper—Ha! thine
altar !
Let me give thanks, Jehovah !
God
That rulest Israel as sheep and slaves,
But over me no ruler; thou proud God
That marshallest these petty thunder-clouds
That blacken over the inane abyss
But canst not tame one fierce desire of
mine,
Nor satiate my hatred, nor destroy
This power of mine over thy devil-brood,
The hatchment of thine incest, O thou
God
Who knowest me, me, mortal me, thy master,
Thy master—and I laugh at thee, the
slave !
Down from Thy throne, impostor, down,
down, down
To thine own Hell, immeasurable—
O
thou
A VOICE.
Strike|
[The storm, gathering to a climax,
bursts in a tremendous flash of
lightning, and JARED zs killed.
Enter JePUTHAI and Soldiers.
JuPHTIAIL
A terrible peal of thunder! And the sky
Seems for an hour past to have been in
labour
And, safely now delivered, smiles again.
For see, the sun! O happy sunlight hours—
What is this blackened and distorted thing?
A SOLDIER.
Some fellow by the altar that kept watch,
Some faithful fellow—he is gone to God.
JePHTHAH.
ITow is’t the cattle have been driven home?
I trusted we had found a tender lamb,
A lamb of the first year, unblemished, white,
To greet me, that we do meet sacrifice,
Fulfilling thus my vow, and all our duty.
[A noise of timbrels and singing.
Surely some merriment—-our news hath
reached.
Glad news and welcome: God is very good.
Enter ADULAH, ranntiug, followed by
sensing Maidens.
ADULAH.
Father !
JEPHTHAH.
My daughter !
[He suddenly stops, and
blanches, understanding.
Alas my daughter !
[Ae continues in a dazed, toneless voice.
Thou hast brought me very low, and thou
art one of them that trouble me; for I have
opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I
cannot go back.
ADULAH.
My father, O my father !