Wielder of fates, Lord of hosts, Dispenser of victory,
sweareth an oath by His life, that men on earth with all their
wisdom shall never know the number of thy tribe and kinsmen,
shield-bearing men, to tell it truly, except someone shall grow
so wise of heart that he alone may number all the stones on earth
and stars in heaven, sand of the sea-dunes, and salt waves of the
sea. But thy tribe, the best of peoples, free-born of their
fathers, shall dwell in the land of Canaan between the two seas
even unto the nations of Egypt...."
((LACUNA--One or two leaves missing.))
XLVIII
((Missing in Lacuna))
XLIX
(ll. 446-457) Then all that folk was smitten with terror; fear of
the flood fell on their wretched hearts. The great sea
threatened death. The sloping hills were soaked with blood; the
sea spewed gore. In the deep was uproar, the waves were filled
with weapons; a death-mist rose. The Egyptians turned and fled
away in fear, perceiving their peril. They were shaken with
horror and fain to reach their homes. Their boasting was
humbled. The dreadful rushing sea swept over them. Nor did any
of that army come ever again to their homes, but Fate cut off
retreat and locked them in the sea.
(ll. 457-470) Where before lay open roads the ocean raged. The
host was overwhelmed. The seas flowed forth; an uproar rose to
heaven, a moan of mighty legions. There rose a great cry of the
doomed, and over them the air grew dark. Blood dyed the deep.
The walls of water were shattered; the greatest of sea-deaths
lashed the heavens. Brave princes died in throngs. At the sea's
end hope of return had vanished away. War shields flashed. The
wall of water, the mighty sea-stream, rushed over the heroes.
The multitude was fettered fast in death, deprived of escape,
cunningly bound. The ocean-sands awaited the doom ordained when
the flowing billows, the ice-cold, wandering sea with its salt
waves, a naked messenger of ill, a hostile warrior smiting down
its foes, should come again to seek its ancient bed.
(ll. 470-491) The blue air was defiled with blood. The roaring
ocean menaced the march of the seamen with terror of death, till
the Just God swept the warriors away by Moses' hand. The flood
foamed, hunting them afar, bearing them off in its deadly
embrace. The doomed men died. The sea fell on the land; the
skies were shaken. The watery ramparts crumbled, the great waves
broke, the towering walls of water me
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