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THE FALL OF EGYPT: AN ORATORIO. As it is performed at the THEATRE ROYAL In DRURY-LANE. Written by the late JOHN HAWKESWORTH, LL.D. And Set to MUSICK by JOHN STANLEY, M.B.
LONDON, Printed: And Sold by Mr. CONDELL, in Croſs-Court, Bow-Street, Covent-Garden. MDCCLXXIV. [Price One Shilling.]
Dramatis Perſonae.
[]EGYPTIANS.
- PHARAOH King of Egypt.
- SEPHRES his Son.
- MENYTIS Siſter to Pharaoh.
- Officers of the Court, Chorus of Egyptians, &c.
ISRAELITES.
- MOSES.
- Firſt and Second Iſraelite.
- Chorus of Iſraelites.
THE FALL OF EGYPT: AN ORATORIO.
[]PART I.
SCENE I.
The Land of Goſhen; an Iſraelitiſh Man and Woman.
RECITATIVE.
Man.
Again the Tyrant, cruel and perfidious,
Retracts his Promiſe, and defies th' Almighty;
In vain ſucceſſive Wonders plead our Wrongs,
And deſolated Egypt groans in vain.
Woman.
Yes, Pharaoh's ruthleſs Hand, that has ſo long
Bow'd Iſrael's Neck to ſtern Oppreſſion's Yoke,
Now waſtes, with various Plagues, his own Domains,
And ſpreads o'er Egypt, Want, Diſeaſe, and Death.
AIR, by the Man and Woman alternately.
Woman.
The gliding Stream, whoſe ſilver Wave
To thirſty Lips Refreſhment gave,
The thirſty Lip refreſh'd no more,
But ſtain'd with Blood its wond'ring Shore.
[4]Flocks, Herds, and Fields, and Men complain,
All Nature mourns, but mourns in vain.
Man.
The faithful Steer untimely died;
The Morn her genial Dews denied;
And Wrath ordain'd the Skies to pour,
Of Flame and Froſt a mingled Show'r:
Flocks, Herds, and Fields, and Men complain,
All Nature mourns, but mourns in vain.
Woman.
The Hind looks round with boding Fears,
The riſing Corn his Anguiſh cheers;
The Locuſt comes, his Hopes are fled,
And unavailing Tears are ſhed.
Flocks, Herds, and Fields, and Men complain,
All Nature mourns, but mourns in vain.
RECITATIVE.
Man.
Theſe Plagues are paſt, and now, tremendous Sight!
Where late the golden Spires of haughty Memphis
With dazzling Brightneſs ſparkled to the Eye,
Darkneſs alone is viſible; there ſeems
A Wall of Darkneſs rais'd from Earth to Heav'n!—
It looks like Nature's Limits, and beyond
Th' affrighted Fancy, feigns the waſte Dominions
Of Chaos and of Night.
Woman.
Now let us fly;
What now forbids, that, careleſs of his Will
Whom Darkneſs binds, and Hunger muſt deſtroy,
We quit for ever this deteſted Land,
And ſeek the promis'd Heritage of Heav'n?
Man.
[5]What can forbid! and lo! in happy Hour
The hoary Elders of our Tribes approach.
AIR by the Man.
Freedom's Charms alike engage,
Blooming Youth, and hoary Age;
Time itſelf can ne'er deſtroy
Freedom's pure and laſting Joy:
Love and Friendſhip never gave
Half their Bleſſings to the Slave;
None are happy but the Free,
Bliſs is born of Liberty.
Enter the Elders of Iſrael.
RECITATIVE.
Man.
O! Fathers! wherefore ſhould theſe golden Hours
Serve but like common Time to meaſure Life?
Why not improved to bleſs that Life with Freedom?
1ſt Elder.
Taught from above the Prophet is our Guide;
Him let us follow, patient and reſign'd:
So ſhall the Simple, and the Weak, be found
Strong in his Strength, and in his Wiſdom wiſe.
2d Elder.
Behold he comes: with Joy and Rev'rence greet
The Friend of Iſrael, and the Sent of Heav'n.
CHORUS.
Hail! belov'd of Man and God!
Born to ſway the myſtic Rod!
Born proud Tyrants to abaſe,
Still befriend thy kindred Race!
[6]Glorious, where thy Life began,
Hail! belov'd of God and Man!
Moſes.
Ceaſe, or the Strains from Gratitude that flow
Direct to Heav'n, and give JEHOVAH Praiſe.
1ſt Elder.
For thee we praiſe him; in his choſen Hour,
And ſure that Hour is come, we follow thee;
Wilt thou not lead us forth while now the Tyrant,
Involv'd in Darkneſs, knows not what we do?
Moſes.
Not yet; this Hour the dreadful Glooms diſperſe,
And Light returns to Pharaoh.
Woman.
Ah! not ſo—
Revenge will then make Tyranny more dreadful;
Waſte not the Lives one Day's Delay may coſt,
Nor add one Day to Bondage worſe than Death!
Though Time has crown'd thy hoary Brow with Wiſdom,
Still let thy Pity feel for Youth and Beauty!
AIR.
In blooming Youth the gentle Maid,
For tender Joys and Cares deſign'd,
Is doom'd by rudeſt Toils to fade,
By Summers Suns, and Winters Wind:
Thoſe Eyes in ſilent Tears are drown'd,
Where Love ſhou'd light his conſtant Flame,
And pale the languid Cheek is [...]ound,
Which Pleaſure's roſy Hue ſhou'd claim.
[7]RECITATIVE.
Man.
Think of our Youth who waſte their early Strength
In ſordid Labours, and ſcarce reach to Manhood:
Woman.
Think of the Babe whoſe Tears in vain require
The Hand that, driv'n to other Toils, fulfils
A Mother's Duty with Delight no more:
1ſt Elder.
Think of the hoary Heads that bow beneath
Opprobrious Burdens; think of waſted Egypt,
Her ſuff'ring Children, cruel by Compulſion,
Like us the Victims of a Tyrant's Crimes.
Moſes.
What mean your Words? what would ye that I do?
2d Elder.
Prolong this Darkneſs till our Tribes eſcape.
Moſes.
Forbear—Alas! ye know not what ye aſk!
The ſtubborn Will of Egypt's haughty Prince
Muſt ſtand ſubdu'd, and his own Word diſmiſs ye:
This Land of Bondage ſhall ye quit with Glory,
And paſs in Triumph by the Gates of Memphis.
I go to prove him; truſt in Heav'n, and live.
CHORUS.
We hear thee, and with Tranſport truſt,
Thy Rod ſhall make the Tyrant juſt,
And all our Wrongs atone;
Where'er the circling Sun diſplays
His riſing or his ſetting Rays,
Our Triumph ſhall be known.
SCENE II.
[8]The Palace at Memphis, during the Darkneſs.
Pharaoh, Sephres, and Attendants.
RECITATIVE.
Pharaoh.
If there be any near me let him ſpeak;
Sephres.
May Pharaoh live for ever!
Pharaoh.
O, my Son!
Ill ſuits ſuch greeting with this dreadful Gloom;
This Gloom, impervious to the Noon-tide Beam,
If the bleſt Sun ſtill riſes on the World—
Speak yet again, that I may hear thy Voice,
And Darkneſs may be Solitude no more.
Sephres.
I ſpeak, but yet my Voice almoſt affrights me,
Three Times the circling Hours have brought the Morn
To other Realms, if other Realms there are
Which yet the Morn reviſits, ſince theſe Eyes
Were bleſt with chearful Light; nor yet has Sound
Divided once the long, deep, death-like Silence.
AIR, by Pharaoh.
O Darkneſs! dreaded not in vain,
My Soul admits thy awful Train;
With me thy kindred Terrors dwell,
And Joy, and Peace, and Hope expel.
AIR, by Sephres.
O chearing Light! of Life and Joy
Fair Emblem! wilt thou ne'er return!
No more thy golden Shafts employ!
No more with genial Radiance burn!
[9] RECITATIVE.
Pharaoh.
This Darkneſs is to Death.—Great Nature dics,
And we but periſh with her—Hark!
A Symphony, a confuſed Expreſſion of Joy, as of Shouts at a Diſtance.
Again—
Sephres.
It ſeem'd a diſtant Shout—behold the Cauſe!
Tranſporting Sight! a dim, but bright'ning Ray
Shoots Eaſtward hence, and ſtruggles through the Gloom.
Pharaoh.
It does! increaſing and prevailing ſtill!
Sephres.
A wild tumultuous Joy throbs at my Heart,
From Terror ſcarce diſtinguiſh'd; ſtill I tremble.
Pharaoh.
I am again myſelf, and ſcorn the Fears,
The vain fantaſtic Fears, that Darkneſs breeds;
Let the loud Trumpets ſound, that if the Sun
Still combats with a Foe not yet ſubdu'd,
The Sound may lend him Aid, and let your Song
Conjure the Pow'rs of Darkneſs from the Sky.
SONG and CHORUS.
Hence! ye Pow'rs of Death and Night!
Hence! the Living claim the Light!
By your dreary Realm that lies
Stretch'd beneath infernal Skies,
By the Ghoſts that own your Sway,
Ghoſts that hate the chearful Day,
Hence! ye Pow'rs of Death and Night!
Hence! the Living claim the Light.
[10] Enter Moſes.
RECITATIVE.
Pharaoh.
Enter not here, thou Enemy of Man.
Moſes.
Here I muſt enter, for again commiſſion'd
By him whoſe Hand has been ſo oſt upon thee,
I come to claim an injur'd Nation's Freedom.
Pharaoh.
Dareſt thou again, with that ill-omen'd Voice,
Urge thy Demand, and tempt again my Mercy!
Moſes.
What ſhou'd I fear from thee! I truſt in God.
Sever theſe Limbs in Fragments ſmall as Duſt,
And give them ſcatter'd to the Winds of Heav'n,
If he commands, united in a Moment,
Again, as now, they ſhall appear before thee,
To work his Pleaſure, and denounce his Vengeance.
Enter Menytis.
Menytis.
O Friend! O Brother! wherefore are ye thus?
Change theſe fierce Looks of Anger and Defiance
For ſuch as heretofore ye took and gave—
Remember, Pharaoh, he who ſtands before thee
Our Father's Siſter cheriſh'd as her child;
Remember, Moſes, what thou waſt to Pharaoh,
His Friend, the favour'd Brother of his Choice—
[11]AIR, by Menytis.
Friendſhip is the Joy of Reaſon,
Dearer yet than that of Love;
Love but laſts a tranſient Seaſon,
Friendſhip makes the Bliſs above:
Who would loſe the ſacred Pleaſure
Felt when Soul with Soul unites!
Other Bleſſings have their Meaſure,
Friendſhip without Bound delights.
Pharaoh.
In vain you urge me, outrag'd and defy'd—
Henceforth the Wretch ſhall ſee my Face no more.
Moſes.
Well haſt thou ſaid; this Object of thy Scorn
Henceforth indeed ſhall ſee thy Face no more.
DUET.
Pharaoh and Moſes.
Phar.
Fly, and ſee my Face no more;
Moſes.
I will ſee thy Face no more:
Phar.
Dread my Rage,
Moſes.
Thy Rage I ſcorn,
Dread thyſelf the riſing Morn:
Phar.
Vain thy Menace—hence! away—
Moſes.
Tyrant, I diſdain to ſtay.
CHORUS.
Hence! and try thy Arts again,
Vain the paſt, the future vain;
Pharaoh ſhall thy Pow'r defy,
And with Glory live, or die.
PART II.
[12]SCENE I.
Goſhen; the Time, Evening.
Firſt and Second Iſraelite, and Chorus.
RECITATIVE.
1ſt Iſraelite.
When ſhall our Labours and our Wrongs be paſt!
The Riſing Sun beholds our Toils commenc'd,
The Setting comes, and ſees them ſtill unfiniſh'd.
2d Iſraelite.
O! that untroubled by deccitful Hopes
Content ſtill ſweeten'd Toil, and welcome Reſt
Still crown'd our Evening when the Day was paſt!
Enter Moſes.
Moſes.
Ceaſe to repine, nor with ungrateful murmurs
Accuſe the wiſe Benevolence of Heav'n.
1ſt Iſraelite.
'Tis not in Mortals to endure the Pains
That Rage now adds to Bondage, and be ſilent.
AIR.
At early Dawn the lab'ring Hind
With ruſtic Song his Toil beguiles,
Who hopes at duſky Eve to find
In homely Cot domeſtic Smiles.
But he whoſe ſad Reward is Pain,
Whom Sorrow meets at his Return,
Can ne'er the Load of Life ſuſtain,
To hide his Anguiſh ne'er can learn.
[13]RECITATIVE.
Moſes.
Mark me; by me your Strength JEHOVAH ſpeaks,
E'er yet To-morrow's Dawn ſhall tinge the Skies,
The Sons of Iſrael ſhall depart from Egypt.
2d Iſraelite.
If this were certain, all our Toils and Pains
Would in a Moment be, like Dreams, forgotten.
Moſes.
That this is certain, let the Signs atteſt,
Which he who ſpeaks by me, by me has wrought.
AIR.
By Doubts and Fears no more depreſt,
To Hope we give the joyful Breaſt,
To Hope and all her ſmiling Train;
Great Nature's Lord, our Guard and Guide,
Our Hearts in Nature's Lord confide,
And Egypt's haughty Pow'r diſdain.
SCENE II.
The outward Court of the Palace at Memphis: the Time, two Hours after Midnight.
An Officer of the Guard. To him another Officer of the Palace.
RECITATIVE.
2d Officer.
Thy Looks are wild, and Terror's in thy Eye:
What of this dreadful Night upon thy Watch
Has Rumour brought thee?
1ſt Officer.
Nothing have I learnt;
What my own Thoughts ſuggeſt I fear to tell thee.
2d Officer.
[14]What haſt thou heard or ſeen while others ſlept?
1ſt Officer.
As here I kept my Watch, ſome two Hours ſince,
At Depth of Midnight, when the World around
Was huſh'd in awful Silence, next to Death,
A ſudden Blaſt, impetuous from the South,
Shook the proud Palace to its Baſe, and ſoon
A gen'ral Groan on all Sides coho'd round me;
Loud Shrieks of Terror, and the languid Moans
Of Grief ſucceded; ever and anon
A ghaſtly Face ruſh'd by me, full of Haſte,
And Terror and Diſtraction: Oft I aſk'd
What had befall'n 'em, but gain'd no Reply,
Save broken Words and frantic Exclamations.
2d Officer.
Where will Deſtruction ſtop! the eldeſt Hope
Of ev'ry Houſe, as far as yet we learn,
This Night expir'd; and Egypt's proudeſt Boaſt,
Heir to her Empire, now lies cold in Death.
AIR.
Death where'er we turn we meet,
Death has broke through Nature's Bounds,
Death the ſighing gales repeat,
Death from ev'ry Echo ſounds.
RECITATIVE.
1ſt Officer.
See where the Siſter of our King approaches,
With all the weeping Virgins of her Train!
2d Officer.
[15]They hoped to grace the Nuptials of the Prince:
A ſofter Band had bound him, had not Heav'n
Giv'n up our Land to Darkneſs and to Death.
Enter Menytis, and a Chorus of Egyptian Virgins.
AIR by Menytis.
Alas! in blooming Youth he died,
E'er hallow'd Love his Virtue bleſt;
When conſcious Bluſhes warm'd the Bride,
And tender Tumults fill'd her Breaſt:
Ye Virgins now no Myrtles twine,
No Roſes for his Bed prepare;
In Silence o'er his Grave incline,
And ſtrew the ſading fragrance there.
CHORUS.
No more our Hands ſhall Myrtles twine,
Nor Roſes for his Bed prepare;
Our Heads ſhall o'er his Grave incline,
And fading ſweets be ſcatter'd there.
RECITATIVE.
Menytis.
O! that my Tears had yet in Time prevail'd,
And Iſrael's Tribes had been diſmiſs'd from Egypt!
1ſt Virgin.
What unknown Woes may Pharaoh yet incur,
If yet he grants not the Demand of Moſes!
Menytis.
Your Fears, if yet there can be ought to fear,
Are vain, for all that Iſrael aſks is giv'n:
Now on their March they leave this waſted Land,
[16]And ſhake the Duſt of Egypt from their Feet;
So will'd the King, who, deaf to Comfort's Voice,
On the bare Earth lies ſtretch'd in ſilent Sorrow.
AIR, by Menytis.
How vain is Grandeur's purple Pride!
And Guards and Roofs of Gold how vain!
Through circling Guards can Sorrow glide!
And golden Roofs are claim'd by Pain.
Give me, ye Pow'rs, unknown to dwell,
Remote from Pomp, and Care, and Strife,
Secure from Paſſions that rebel,
And ſhelter'd from the Storms of Life.
RECITATIVE.
1ſt Officer.
But ſee the King—Contending Paſſions ſhake him.
Enter Pharaoh.
Pharaoh.
Accurſed Sorcerer!—But in vain I curſe him;
I am myſelf the Murderer of my Child!—
Why did I fear to take a forfeit Life!
A Life twice forfeit!—He was once an Outcaſt
Of a vile Slave, preſerv'd with erring Pity!
And once a Murderer, flying unpurſu'd.
My Thoughts are wilder than a Whirlwind's Rage—
Yes, I will follow him to Nature's Verge,
And wou'd to bottomleſs Perdition's Gulph
Leap after him.—
Menytis.
My gracious Lord!
Pharaoh.
No more.—
[17]DUET.
Menytis and Pharaoh.
Men.
O! let my Voice Attention gain!
Pha.
Thy Suit the World ſhould urge in vain:
Men.
Let then my Tears thy Pity move!
Pha.
Thy Tears, tho' Blood, would fruitleſs prove.
Men.
O! for thy Life—
Pha.
Forbear—
Men.
O! ſtay—
Pha.
My Life I ſcorn—
Men.
For mine!—
Pha.
Away.
[Exit Pharaoh, the reſt following.
SCENE III.
The Borders of the Red Sea.
Moſes and the Iſraelites on their March.
RECITATIVE.
1ſt Iſraelite.
The Joy of ſudden Freedom is too great;
Th' expanding Heart is pain'd to give it Room.
2d Iſraelite.
My Spirits all mount upward, and I feel
As I could tread on Air; even Nature's Wants
Almoſt I could forget, and Toil, and Hunger,
Loſe their Effects upon me as I march.
AIR.
Leſs are youthful Charms to Love,
Leſs is Danger to the Brave,
Leſs to Miſers Gold muſt prove,
Leſs than Freedom to the Slave.
[18]CHORUS.
This is ſacred Truth's Decree,
Truth, the Friend of human Race;
Death is Honour to the Free,
Life is to the Slave Diſgrace.
Enter Meſſenger.
RECITATIVE.
Meſſenger.
Ceaſe the loud Triumph of your joyful Strains:
Egypt's ſtern Tyrant, dreadful and reſiſtleſs,
As the blue Peſtilence that rides the Wind,
Enrag'd purſues us with prevailing Speed;
The rapid Chariot plows the ſmoking Ground,
And the proud Courſer ſcorns our tardy flight.
CHORUS.
O! Words of Horror! dreadful Sound!
A thouſand Deaths beſet us round!
Our Hope is vain, and vain our Pray'r,
'Tis Anguiſh all! 'tis all Deſpair.
Enter Moſes.
RECITATIVE.
Moſes.
So ſoon, ye Faithleſs! can ye ſear ſo ſoon!
Turn not your Eye to yonder idle Pomp
Of mortal Foes, the Children of the Duſt;
But look before ye, where the cloudy Pillar,
That marks your deſtin'd Way to Peace and Safety,
Veils the dread Pow'r who from himſelf began,
And fills Eternity! before whoſe Eye
All Nature ſtands rebuk'd.
1ſt Iſraelite.
[19]Forgive th' involuntary Fears that riſe
From Dangers ſuch as theſe, ſo great, ſo ſudden;
Behind us drives the Foe, whoſe Iron Hand
Our ſuffering Tribes have felt, and mourn'd ſo long;
Before us, with inexorable Wave,
The Sea, far ſounding, beats the ſullen Shore.
Moſes.
Let me, while thus I lift my Hand to Heav'n,
Teach ye, once more, to truſt eternal Truth.
[As he lifts up his Rod, the Sea is ſuppoſed to be ſuddenly divided.
A Symphony expreſſing the Commotion of the Waters.
CHORUS.
It parts! it parts! the liquid Walls behold,
Of Wave on Wave in foaming volumes roll'd!
In Terror fix'd, the Sea forgets to flow,
And leaves unveil'd the hoary Gulph below;
In Safety paſs, ye choſen Tribes, along,
And let the parted Deep reſound your Song.
PART III.
[20]SCENE I.
The Red Sea; the Iſraelites paſſing on before the Egyptians.
Firſt and Second Iſraelite.
RECITATIVE.
1ſt Iſraelite.
Still I rejoice with trembling; when I gaze
On this ſtupendous Precipice above,
And paſs this yet untrodden Gulph below,
My Heart dies in me, and my Fears prevail.
2d Iſraelite.
Fear not; the Hand that guides us, will protect,
Till we have paſs'd in Safety to the Shore:
In Times to come, when we ſhall reſt in Peace,
Beneath the Shade of our own Vine and Fig-tree,
Rememb'rance of our Dangers paſt will raiſe
Repoſe to Pleaſure, Pleaſure to Delight.
AIR.
How bleſt is he whoſe tranquil Mind,
When Life declines, recalls again
The Years that Time has caſt behind,
And wins Delight from Toil and Pain!
So, when the tranſient Storm is paſt,
The ſudden Gloom, and driving Show'r,
The ſweeteſt Sunſhine is the laſt,
The lov'lieſt, is the Evening Hour.
[21]RECITATIVE.
1ſt Iſraelite.
But ſee our Foes purſue us—
2d Iſraelite.
Far behind
Diſcomfited they linger, and from hence
Not ev'n their glitt'ring Armour is deſcry'd.
1ſt Iſraelite.
Their Arms we ſee not, for the guiding Cloud
That led our Van now guards us in the Rear.
The Way grows ſleep; aſcending from th' Abyſs
Behold the Thouſands that paſs on before us;
A moving Column, riſing Rank o'er Rank,
Swarm on th' Aſcent, and quicken all the Way!
CHORUS.
'Tis done! the wond'rous Journey's o'er!
They quit the deep! they gain the Shore!
They view with Joy the Path they trod,
And hark! their Shout aſcends to God!
SCENE II.
The Borders of the Red Sea in the Deſart.
The Iſraelites as juſt landed on the Coaſt.
RECITATIVE.
1ſt Iſraelite.
Still ſtands the Deep divided, ſtill our Foes,
For now I ſee their glitt'ring Arms advance.—
2d Iſraelite.
Stand back!—behold the Prophet!—give him Way—
[22] Enter Moſes.
Moſes.
Fear not the Hoſts that now enrag'd purſue;
Though now ye ſee them, ye ſhall ſee no more.
Ye Waters, who at his Command, whoſe Voice
Firſt call'd ye forth from Nothing, left diſclos'd
The World's Foundations, now again return,
And at his Bidding in your Channel flow.
AIR.
Again the Voice of GOD is heard,
Again the ruſhing Waters meet;
The Waters, that beheld and ſcar'd,
Now pay their Homage at his Feet!
RECITATIVE.
Iſraelite.
Behold where boaſting Egypt lies o'erwhelm'd!
O'er rattling Chariots and the ſhouting Hoſt,
Flows the calm Wave now ſilent and at reſt:
Moſes.
Thus o'er the Race of Man, and all his Works,
The Stream of Time, divided for a Moment,
Shall cloſe for ever; but ſupreme o'er all
GOD ſtill remains, eternal and unchang'd!—
To him with humble Adoration bend,
And, while ye triumph o'er the Sons of Egypt,
Let Pity ſtill remember they were Men.
AIR.
Iſraelite.
O God of Hoſts! to Thee we raiſe
With humble Hearts our Songs of Praiſe;
[23]A weak, alas! and guilty Race,
Our Merit claims no partial Grace;
No partial Grace thy Judgments ſhow,
The Father thou of all below!
And Life, and Death, alike proclaim
To Man, the Glorics of thy Name.
RECITATIVE.
Moſes.
But ſee the Deep returns the lifeleſs Corſe,
And ſpreads the Shore with Trophies of the Dead:
Theſe were our Foes:—but Enmity and Life
Shou'd ceaſe together:—in the ſilent Grave
All is unbroken Peace; th' Oppreſſor there
From troubling ceaſes, and the Weary reſt.
1ſt Iſraelite.
Far, far from us be unrelenting Rage,
Revenge, and all the Furies of the Mind!
If God, long ſuff'ring, ſhall chaſtiſe our Foes,
Let us, thus warn'd, rejoice with Fear before him;
In juſt Diſpleaſure if our Crimes are puniſh'd,
Not vainly chaſten'd, let us kiſs the Rod.—
To theſe, whate'er from Pity they can take,
Let Pity give, for Man is born to Woe.
AIR.
With gen'rous Tears the Dead deplore,
They wake to Love, or War, no more,
No longer now deſtroy or ſave;
The Dead, alas! no more are Foes;
With pious Hands their Limbs compoſe
And give, what all muſt want, a Grave.
[24]RECITATIVE.
Moſes.
To God this Sacrifice of Love is pleaſing,
For God is Love!—ſtupendous are his Ways!
Ye cannot fathom them—the Depth and Height
Surpaſs your utmoſt Reach of Thought, to me
By Parts diſclos'd, through Clouds, and dimly ſeen:
Yet know theſe Wonders are not for this Age,
Nor you, ye choſen from the Nations, wrought;
Theſe are but Types, the Subſtance is to come:—
The Prince of Peace, who though from Jacob ſprung,
Was yet ere Abra'ms Day; he from worſe Bondage,
Shall, like a Shepherd, lead his choſen Race
To yet a better Canaan, there to quaff
The Streams of Life, and taſte immortal Fruit.
CHORUS.
Praiſe to the Lord who reigns ſupreme above!
Praiſe to the myſtic Wonders of his Love!
Renew the grateful Song of Ages paſt,
The Song through Heaven's eternal Year ſhall laſt.
THE END.
- Citation Suggestion for this Object
- TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 3973 The fall of Egypt an oratorio As it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury lane Written by the late John Hawkesworth LL D and set to musick by John Stanley. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-5BDD-6