Page:Five Russian plays and one Ukrainian.pdf/190

168 : I began to sing them of Edom, of Misraim, of foreign speeches in a foreign speech. They heard how treacherous Edom’s crooked sword broke against Ashur’s armour; how Amalek, Ammon and Amareus from ravishers became slaves; how Misraim, master of half the world, once the lord of the tribes of Israel, had to submit to the eternal might; how horse and rider fell into the sea, and all the Pharaoh’s might, whenas was voided the abhorred house of toil and the cursed place of slavery was devastated.


 * And what did the listeners?


 * There were those who paled.


 * May they grow pale and cold for ever!


 * Why didst not say that also for these will come a day of judgment?


 * For that word there is no room in Babylon! To-day I sang them of Ophir, Sidon and Tyre, their power and wisdom and treasures, as are not and never will be in the Babylonian treasuries.


 * Didst gain much for this song?