Ivan Franko MOSES Translated by Vera Rich

PROLOGUE

My people, tortured utterly and shattered, Like a poor cripple at the cross-roads lying, By man's contempt, as if with scabs, bespattered!

My soul is filled for you with care and sighing, And burning shame permits my sleeping never, To see the fate before your children lying!

Can it be some iron decalogue for ever Names you dung 'neath your neighbours' feet, the cattle Drawing the chariot of their swift endeavour?

Or that your destiny must show its mettle In hate concealed, humility pretended, To all who by betrayal or in battle

Have fettered you, forced you to swear dependence? Are you alone granted no deed of wonder, Which would reveal your powers without ending?

Or that in vain for you so great a number Of hearts burned in love's holiest oblation, Offering soul and body for you humbly?

In vain your landscape soaked with a libation Of the blood of your heroes? And forbidden The joys of beauty, healing, liberation?

In vain the sparks within your language hidden Of might and softness, power and humour thronging, All that can lift the soul to peaks untrodden?

In vain your music flows with notes of longing, And chiming laughter, ecstasy of loving, Of hopes and joys in a shaft bright and songful? Ivan Franko. Moses. Tr. Vera Rich 2

O no! Not only tears and sighs will hover Over you. For I trust the mighty spirit That shall your resurrection day discover!

O could I start a wave that hears words quiver, And start a word whose bright illumination Will fill that wave with living fire forever!

Or start a song, afire with inspiration, A song to stir the multitudes, to lead them, Winging them on the way towards salvation.

O could I... but, care-burdened and impeded, Torn by sad doubts, and crushed beneath repining, Not for us to the battle line to speed you!

And yet the time will come and, radiant shining, You'll shake the Caucasus; one of the free nations, With the Carpathians as your girdle twining.

You'll set the mighty sound of freedom racing Over the Black Sea, free-holder, well-seated, In your own house, in your own fields' broad spaces!

Accept this song, grief-swaddled, I entreat you, Yet full of faith, bitter yet free, though sorrow's Tears wash it, it is earnest of what will meet you,

My humble bridal gift for your tomorrow!

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I They have given up hoping and wishing To strive for the skyline, After forty long years in Arabian To send scouts, or themselves to go forth Desert lands roaming, Past the rust mountains spying. To the borders of Palestine Moses And his people are coming. Day on day, deep in Moab's ravines, While the heat cruelly blazes, Here, too, there are sands red as rust, Under the rags of their tents Moab's crags sloping barely, All Israel lazes. But beyond them the Jordan gleams blue, Oakgroves, grass springing fairly. Only women still spin, in the embers Goats' flesh is braising, Through Moab's empty valleys, behold, While the oxen and asses on thorns Israel wanders ever, And thistles are grazing. And no longing to pass these bare crags Is felt by them ever. And groups of small children at play Act out games strange and pretty, Under their tatters of tents They make war, found a town, raise the walls The poor nomads lie drowsing, Of a walled city. While their oxen and asses on thorns And thistles are browsing. And their fathers stir, shaking their heads, Watching this labour; And the wonders of this Promised Land, "Where have they learned such a game?" Sapphires, emeralds are vain now, Each asks his neighbour. Though they glimmer just over the hill, None believe in their name now. "Surely they have not learned it from us, Or in desert wastes heard it! Forty long years the prophet spoke forth, Have the prophet's words touched a child's soul Strongly, pleasantly, plainly, And blood, have they stirred it?" Of the homeland once promised to them, — All is empty and vain now. II

Forty long years the sapphires of Jordan, Only one of this throng in his tent Its vale's wondrous profusion, Is not drowsily lying; Has spurred them and beckoned them, like He soars, winged by thought and by care, A phantom illusion. Over the mountain peaks flying.

And the people lost faith, and they cried: This is Moses, the prophet forgotten, "The prophets deceived us! A man old and feeble, In the desert we live and we die! Without kin, without cattle or wives, Why hope? How long believe them?" On the tomb's edge he trembles.

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For his single ideal, his whole life "Our horses need shoeing!" Was a sacrifice offered, He promises victory, glory: He laboured for it and he shone, "Foes are fierce to pursue us!" Burned for it and suffered. He lures with a new land ahead: From slavery to Mizraim, he snatched "We do well here, why leave it!" His folk, like a storm, leading As for the commandment of God: The slaves through the marchland and its "Hold your peace, you deceiver!" Narrow gorges, to freedom. And when the seer threatened once more As the soul of their soul he rose often God's new maledictions, In exaltation, Then Abiron ordered him cease To the highest peaks on the earth of His blaspheming predictions. Ecstasy, inspiration. And when Israel's sons were assembled And on the stormwaves of their souls (Ba'al's worship being over), In the days of trial, with them Then vociferous Dathan proposed: Often he plunged to the depths (The crowd was won over) Of abysses unfathomed. "Whoever would make himself prophet, But his voice has grown faint, inspiration Wild ravings expressing, Burned to an ember, Sway the ignorant tribesmen with promise Young men, hearing his words, do not heed, Of God's curse or blessing — Do not remember. "Who arouses the people for change, The Promised Land sounds to their ears To rebellion woos them, Like some outworn story, Or beckons them over the mountains The herds that yield meat, cheese and butter To their final ruin — Are their highest glory. "As a lesson to all witless fools Though from Mizraim their grandsires and sires Among the tribes roaming, Began this expedition, Let all men spit upon him, They think it but folly and sin, Let all men stone him. The nation's perdition. III Dathan and Abiron now Have become today's leaders. Evening came. The long heat of the day The prophet speaks — and they retort: Gradually dwindled; "Our goats all want feeding;" On the mountains the skyline was blazing Like far-off fires kindled. He begs them continue the march!

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Like a shower of gold rain from the sky, Even thistles are sparse now! Coolness descended. We shall have to move onward to find In the tents, the tribes started to stir A new, fresher pasture. As the day ended. "Abiron suggests Midian's land, Leisurely, down stony paths, Dathan says even yonder. Dark-eyed Hebrew maidens Moses? After last evening's decree Are coming, their heads all with earthen He'll be quiet, never wonder!" Water-jars laden. In the camp sudden movement and noise, With water-jars, under the crags Shouting and running; To the well-spring together, From the tents run the people, both great In their hands, for the milk of the ewes And small swiftly coming. Are buckets of leather. What is this? Does a foeman approach? In the bare plain, older children Is some beast snared and pent now? Like little hares play now, No, Moses! Behold, Moses comes They run races or shoot from their bows, Out from his tent now! Shouting so gaily. Although he is bent by the years, Now somewhere, deep in a tent, His cares and his yearning, A girl's laughter is squealing, Still in his eyes, as in stormclouds, Or someone intones a sad song, Lightnings are burning. Like the plains of night pealing. Although his hair shines white as snow, And the elders here, grandsires and sires, His age's adornment,. From their tents come once more now, Still those two tufts of hair proudly stand And scan with their eyes mountain crags Like twin horns on his forehead. And the bare plain before them. He walks to the broad place of assembly, Are enemy riders astir, To the convenant tent there, In the yellow mists hiding? With its four sides to the world's Does the southern storm-fiend roll his clouds Four corners extending. Of wild sandstorms flying? In this tent a heavy chest stands, No. All is quiet. Gossiping starts, From pure copper beaten, Daily, neighbourly chatter. In it Jehovah's laws lie, "The ewes' milk grows less every day! Signs of victory and freedom. Lambs are tiny as that, now! It is long now since anyone dared "And as for the donkeys, just think, Enter this sanctuary,

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Awe protects it by day and by night Would be shut to this preaching, Like a watchdog wary. Not my words, of these lips of clay, But Jehovah's own teaching. But a huge stone lies near to the tent, Slightly to eastward, "Beware! Or He'll speak forth to you And by custom it is from this stone In His own voice of wonder, That they speak to the people. In His own voice, a hundred times more Dread than desert-land thunder. Moses now on this stone takes his stand — Fearfully the folk tremble; "And at His word the earth sinks, Surely he will not dare prophesy Mountain peaks start and quiver, And flout the assembly? And your hearts, like to leaves in the fire, Will crackle and shrivel. Must we strike him, like rotten tree hew Down in degradation "Yesterday you condemned all revolt, Him whom our sires and grandsires once called But your words were vain vaunting, Father of the nation? For against these fools' curses, your heart Is rebelling undaunted. In the front row, see, Abiron red With exasperation, "For Jehovah has placed in that heart In the midst, Dathan whispering away, (Like yeast in dough swelling) The ill-fiend of the nation. A life-force that to the predestined Place must impel you. IV "Yesterday you swore peace is a state Yesterday, my poor children, you counselled Most blessed and lovely, Together unwisely, But did your mind take counsel with That is what, at the beginning The Lord God above you? I want to advise you. "Was it for peace that he called "To seal up my lips and my soul From Ur and from Harran, Was your resolution, Abraham and his tribe to come forth And therefore, despite your desire, To the meadows of Canaan? I now must speak to you. "Was it for peace that He led them "Understand then, and take heed, Through Jordan's wide lowlands, You blind generation, Or drove them, by seven years' famine If you silence the living soul, stones To where Nile is flowing. Will make proclamation. "Had He wished to keep you in peace "Together you vowed that your ears Like a corpse in a deep crypt,

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Still you, like grey oxen, would bow In a wide lowland region. Your heads low in Egypt. 'Now let us elect us a king By our own free decision. "Therefore I speak to you, not my words, But by God authorized. 'To be for us honour and hope, That rebellion against the Lord God Haven and assistance, Is a thing ill-advised. To be for us servant and lord, Goal, and path to the distance!' "For the bow of Jehovah is drawn, And the string stretched for war now, "And some spoke: 'We all are agreed And the arrow is nocked to the string, On one choice for our leader. (And you are the arrow), So let him rule o'er us for aye, Great Lebanon's Cedar!' "And the arrow is sharpened for battle, And at the mark aimed now — "But the Cedar replied and spoke thus: So how can the arrow speak forth: 'Wherefore comes this imploring? `I want peace!' proclaim now, That I should renounce for your sakes My crags, with peaks soaring? "And since yesterday you swore an oath — Weak as womanish sighing — " 'That I should renounce for your sakes Not to listen to promise or threat My sunshine and freedom, Or my prophesying, From liberty stooping to serve Plebians and lead them? "Therefore I would speak of these things That you would not permit me, " 'You have brought me and offered a crown? Promise that which will come, prophesy What an honour 'tis for me! And threaten a little. Uncrowned I am pride of the earth, Crown of Lebanon's glory.' " "And you must hear me, although anger With a cold sting will smite you. "And straightway the trees turned aside Gladly would I know whose hand first To the Palm-Tree imploring: Will be raised to strike me! ..." 'Thou has grown here with us, art our kin, Come thou and rule o'er us!' V "But the Palm-Tree said: 'Brothers, what itch You have vowed not to listen to words Drives you, irksome and galling? Of the grace of Jehovah, To rule and keep order for you, Hence, as to witless babes, I a fable Is this really my calling? Now must tell over. " 'To rule and keep order for you, "In olden times, once, the trees met Must I leave for this duty

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All my fair blossoms and fruit, To be king and to lead them. My dates, sweet and juicy? "Said the Bramble: Tis well someone guided " 'Must the sun vainly drink up my sap Your deliberations. And parch it dry daily? I boldly will sit on your throne, Must the eyes of men and the dumb beasts Without hesitation. Seek for my fruit vainly? " 'I do not, like the Cedar, stand tall, " 'Whosoever is willing may rule, Nor am fair like the Palm-Tree To a throne you'll not press me, Nor egoist I, like the Oak, My shade I will give unto all, No Birch, timid and qualmy. And food, and refreshment.' " 'I shall win the wide field for your sake "And all the trees hung down their heads, Though I have no need for it, Over heavy thoughts poring, And close to the ground I'll creep, while Since neither the Cedar nor Palm-Tree You to heaven stand soaring. Desired to rule o'er them. " 'And I shall defend you your gate " 'Let us turn to the Rose!' But the Rose With spines sharper and grimmer, Is the belle of creation, And all the waste land I'll make fair Without crown she is queen of all plants, With my flowers' milky glimmer. Goddess-like is her station. " 'I shall serve as a home for the hare, " 'Let us turn to the Oak!' But the Oak, The bird's nest I shall cherish, Like a lord rich in acres, You will grow ever fairer, while I Is busy about his affairs, On the pathway shall perish!' " Branches, roots, bark and acorns.

" 'Let us turn to the Birch-Tree!' But she VI Soft in white silk had gowned her, Timidly bowed down her head, In deep silence the Hebrews' ears strain Spread long tresses around her. To catch this oration. "This is your fable," said Moses, "Then someone spoke, just for a jest, "This the explanation: A thought childish and silly: 'Perhaps we should go to the Bramble! "The trees are the nations on earth, He, maybe, is willing!' And the king of them reigning Is God's chosen, His son and His servant, "And all the trees spoke with one voice, The Lord's will obeying. On this idea agreed then, And started imploring the Bramble "When like flowers of summer Jehovah

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The nations created, In the war are no warriors, He looked in the souls of them all In their native land they are but guests, And read every one's fate there. Everlastingly wanderers.

"He looked in their souls, and sought in them "But in their soul He placed His treasure, Their nature and reason, Jehovah, the all-knowing, Seeking the one He should take That they might be in darkness a lamp, As His son and His chosen. His words' treasurer glowing.

"He chose not the proud ones, whose "He gave them His aid for their life's thoughts Endless roaming and yearning, Against heaven are smiting, His promises and His commandments, Who over the necks of mankind Like bread for the journey. Raise a heel strong and mighty. "But jealous Jehovah, our God, "He chose not rich rulers who loot Is wrathful and awesome; From the whole world are reaping, That which by Him is beloved Building coffin-walls high with the gold Let no other love also! And the sweat of the people. "He had clad, therefore, His chosen one "He chose not the handsome, the dandies In His love as a mantle, Who set lyre-strings ringing, Unapproachable, thorny to touch, Who would make known their talents for ever Like the spines of the bramble. In marble and singing. "And He made it sharp, harsh to the touch, "All glory, all glitter He shunned, Set a nettle's sting in it, Earthly power despising, So that He and He only might breathe All the arts' fragrance, and all The perfume of their spirit. Books and philosophizing. "And He gave a dread message to them, "As the bramble among the trees seems Sealed seven times over, Of aspect unhonoured, To bear it into the far future, And having no glory, no fruit, Hated by all their brothers. No blossom upon it, "Woe to that envoy uncaring "So the nation God chose for His own Who dreams on his journey, Among nations stands poorly; Or else breaks asunder the seal, Where honour and pomp rule, the thresholds God's great matters spurning. Are set too high for them! "Another will take the dread message "Among wise men, they are unwise, From the hand of the idler,

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He will run, reach his goal, and will shine To bear His sealed missive In a crown gleaming brightly. Into a future unknown! A fate much to be wished for! "But happy the envoy who bears it Faithfully, swiftly, "This is the fate of a donkey A kingly crown, glory unbounded, Who bears bread-sacks tied tightly The Lord then will give him. At some stranger's will, though his own Hunger gnaws, unrequited! "O Israel, you are that envoy, And the world's future emperor; "The Hebrews deserve better fortune, Why do you not think of your message, They have not yet departed Its commandments remember? From their wits; they will win better fate Serving Ba'al and Astarte. "Your kingdom is not of this earth, Nor is your glory measured "Let Jehovah upon rocky Sinai By this world. But woe if you are tempted Send forth His thunders; Ever by worldly pleasures! Ba'al will give to us riches and power In a mighty country. "You who might have been salt of the earth Will become but bare ashes; "Let Jehovah have the spiny bramble, You who might have won grace for mankind His beloved, His chosen; Will deserve no such graces. The hand of Astarte shall lead us Among myrtles and roses. "You who might set the world free from pain, From strife and from terror, "Our birthright is Senaar and Harran, Will be but a worm, crushed underfoot, Our path lies eastward ever: On the road doomed to perish!" And west towards your land of Canaan We shall turn our steps never. VII "This is clear; it is not worth discussion, Then acidly Abiron spoke: Nor thought of revision. "Moses, noble and mighty, But what shall we do with you, after How greatly this fable of yours Yesterday's firm decision? Has warned us and frightened! "Shall we stone this old ruin? A waste "To be among nations a bramble! Of our efforts and bother. For this mighty favour He can still serve the people of Israel, Can it really be worthwhile accepting One way or another. As Lord your Jehovah? "He is a past-master of fables, "And to go as His envoy? Such honour! Blowing soap-bubbles. Suited

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He is to be sent to the children; For this one reason, Public nursemaid his duties!" With magi and priests to forge Israel's Betrayal and treason? So he spoke, and loud laughter rang out. As the loud laughter rumbled, "Confess: did they not have some prediction, Through the people, as if through a hail-cloud, From ancient times cherished, There ran a low grumble. That an oak with twelve branches should cause Egypt's power to perish? But tranquilly Moses replied: "So be it, this notion, "They all knew, priests and Pharaoh, this oak Abiron! The man doomed to be hanged With its twelve branches growing Will not drown in the ocean! Were the twelve tribes of Israel that flourished Beside the Nile's flowing. "It is not granted you to see Canaan, Nor to go eastward ever, "And they feared that despite all their efforts, From this place neither forward nor back Their torments and tortures, Will you move a step, never!" That Israel would grow and would grow Like Nile's swelling flood-waters. On the lips of them all fell a deathly Silence. Breath bated, "They all knew, when in some Hebrew home Abiron grew pale with fear, There is born to be cherished For some miracle waiting. A first-born son, then some Egyptian's First-born must perish. But no miracle! Abiron laughed, And as his laughter rumbled, "But none knew a good counsel for this, Through the people, as if through a hail-cloud, None knew how to aid it, There ran a low grumble. Only you before Pharaoh's feet fell, You, the renegade traitor! VIII "And you said: 'I will lead them away, Then bold Dathan rose: "Vainly you threaten With your gracious permission, I And prophesy fiercely; To the desert. I'll weaken them, parch them, Maybe if I tell you the truth And teach them submission! ' You will not wish to hear me! "And you kept your word, you led us forth, "Confess: did you not study in Egypt's A herd, stupid, unknowing, Schools, so that better For Pharaoh's joy into the sand, You might know how to forge for our freedom For our woe and pain only. And honour strong fetters? "How many folk died in the desert! "Confess: did you not share Egypt's councils Sands and rocks have for hundreds

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Of thousands of Israel's sons Than all through his endeavour!" Become tombs without number. "Let him perish!" they roared all around, "And now, when from our war-bands there are " 'Amen' to all his preaching!" A mere handful remaining, But strangely not one single hand And Israel's once-dread might long For a stone started reaching! In the sands has been waning, Dathan instantly grasped how it was. "When our valiant spirit has failed "Begone, this very moment! Like a small child, and lofty Lest our hands should be stained with your Resolution of soul like wet clay blood Has weakened and softened, Before this night's coming!"

"You are leading us on into Canaan, — And the crowd, as if maddened, roared forth: A wolf-trap it is truly; "Begone now! Do not dally!" Surely there Pharaoh is sovereign And their roar like a whirlwind rose up, Over all petty rulers! Like a storm in the valley.

"It is surely great folly to enter IX The trap willingly. Ought we To meet the Egyptians in war, But now Moses raised up his voice Or to ask them for quarter?" In an angry outpouring, His words rolled out over the plain "O Dathan", said Moses, "My son, Like the thunder's loud roaring. Grieve not over this issue! You'll not behold Canaan, nor bow "Woe unto you, slaves unthinking, Your proud back in submission. On pride's buskins set lofty, For you like a blind man are led "I'll say even more, my dear Dathan, By fools and imposters! When death comes to claim you, Of earth under your feet you'll not have "Woe unto you, minds rebellious, One hand's breadth remaining." For, from Egypt beginning, Ever against your own good "Hey, Hebrews!" cried Dathan, "you swore Your rebellion was springing! To Ba'al your allegiance. Is the decision of yesterday "Woe unto you, hot, fanatical, Forgotten so fleetly? Stubborn, overbearing, For this stubborness, like a wedge, your "Take your stones! He is mocking at us, Very entrails is tearing! As he mocked at us ever! Let him perish! Far better that one does "Like a nettle you sting the hand which

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Rears you like a flower, tends you, To it to catch the bright spark Like a bull, though the herdsman seeks pasture From the flint riven. You gore and you rend him! "You, Israel, are that bark. And "Woe unto you whom the Lord made Jehovah will smite you, The pyre of all nations, Till you grow tinder-soft and can capture For this greatest gift will become His word's spark of brightness. Your most heavy damnation! "You will go to your goal like plough-oxen "For whenever the rays of the Lord's Unwillingly ever! Grace and favour are shown you, When His envoys and prophets come, you Woe unto those on whose necks Always will stone them! Falls the fist of Jehovah.

"Every last drop of blood of these servants, "You are gazing far into the past Of His best sons, relentless And the paths of the future, Jehovah on you will avenge, But on thorns and on stumps near at hand And on your descendants! Your feet you are wounding.

"He will smite and torment you, until "Like a horse gone wild, in your mad race Weeping and praying, Hurtling into abysses; In your anguish you swear to submit, And the time will come when for a yoke His just will obeying. Your crown you will relinquish.

"But when the harsh punishment ceases, "Beware lest Jehovah take back Your neck will grow unbending, His promises spoken; And the cycle unfold once more: sin, Beware, lest, due but to your stubborness, Punishment and repentance. His word is broken,

"Woe unto you, for long centuries "Lest He desert you, to all nations In that school sitting, A warning of terror, Till fluently you read the book Like a mottled snake, crushed underfoot, Of God's will and His bidding. On the road doomed to perish!"

"Your picture I see: In a forest Bowed down, they all listened to him, A shepherd has gathered Downcast and silent, Beech-bark, he soaks, dries and beats it, Yet some pipe in their breast murmured dully, And first presses it over. Like a storm sighing.

"Till the tinder becomes soft as down, X And the power is given

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And now the sun, mighty and red, Nor con it over: The mountain was nearing, I love you more strongly, more fully It seemed like a hero, a swimmer, That does great Jehovah. That will drown, being weary. "For He has millions of children, Over the cloudless sky, dusk's He warms all, dew He gives them, — Melancholy was gliding, But I have only you, you alone, And the howling of jackals was trembling, And you are sufficient. Like a wound's painful tidings. "For, though out of millions He chose you Something human and soft in the prophet's His servant for ever, Old heart started trembling, I without choice am your servant And his lofty thoughts from their high flight Through love's longing and fervour. For a moment descended. "And, though He takes from you the might Must he always be herald of punishment, Of your toil, as befits Him, Threatening the people? I, Israel, want nothing from you, Something deep in his breast, like a child Not one jot nor tittle. Sick and hungry, sobbed, weeping. "And though He asks incense and praise, "O Israel, if you but knew Honour duly given, How my full heart is swelling! Your ingratitude I will accept, If you but knew how I love you And wounds, and derision. With love past all telling! "For I love not only your virtues, "You are my kin and my child, But also your failings, All my glory, my future, Your faults and your malice I love, In you lies my spirit, my honour, Although I bewail them! And power and beauty. The lofty conceit of your spirit, "I gave you all my life, all my pains, "Its stubborness, blindness, With resolve never broken, That, once set on its own foolish path, Through centuries' wanderings you'll pass Of God is not mindful. Stamped with my spirit's token. "The lies of your tongue, and your conscience "But no, it is not my own self That spreads its bounds widely That I find to love in you; And clasps at the goods of this world All I knew finest and highest Like strong roots, clinging tightly! I placed within you. "Your daughters' lives, shameless and bold, "O Israel, heed not this blaspheming, Their loves filled with ardour;

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Your speech and your customs of life, May you prosper for ever!" Your breath and your laughter. XI "O Israel, my offspring, seek out The God, Shaddai, and, grieving, As he left the camp, into the plain, Complain, though without bound I love you, Still the mountains were burning, Yet I must leave you. And their purple road lured to a goal, To the far distance urging. "For already my last, unknown hour Is waiting to claim me, But darkness lay in the ravines, And I must, and I must still win to Rolled across lowlands level. The borders of Canaan. In the exile's heart something was weeping: "I shall return never!" "I dreamed that with horns sounding thunder We should go there together, But see, from their games, Hebrew children But the Lord God has humbled me, and Come running, and catching Alone I must enter. At Moses, they cluster around him, At his hands and robe snatching. "But, although only on Jordan's banks My body is dying, "Are you going out into the night? In the land of God's promise my old Stay with us grandfather! Bones will be lying. See the walls we have built, and the gates, And watchtowers to guard them!" "There I shall lie, and at Moab's Mountains gaze ever, "You have built your walls nicely, dear Until you all follow me there, children, Like children their mother. But I cannot stay now. To see the wall 'twixt life and death "I shall send all my longing to you, I must be on my way now!" Round your ankles to worry, As a dog calls his master away — "Look, grandfather, in the ravine Come hunting, and hurry! We have killed an enormous Scorpion, and caught three leverets "And I know that at last you'll burst out Down in the thornbush!" Like spring flood-waters pouring, But do not seek for me in that "Well done, children! Kill all such scorpions Expedition of glory! With bold endeavour! Although such a deed is unjust, "Let your great expedition go forth It is useful, however! Like swift-flowing rivers! O Israel, my offspring, farewell! "Unjust, for the scorpion, too,

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Wants to live; is it any And to you there will speak from the fire Fault of his that in his tail A voice mighty, insistent: He carries such venom? " Tut off the shoes of daily cares, "But go, put the leverets back Boldly, without terror, Where they were captured! Approach, for I wish now to send you Their mother is weeping for them; Forth on a mighty errand!' Did you not think this mattered? "Do not quench, then, that all-holy fire, "To all living creatures you must So that, when the call beckons, Show mercy's due measure, You may proclaim with your heart: For life is a jewel. Can there be 'O Lord, I am ready!' " A more valuable treasure?" Long on the speech of the prophet "Grandfather, wait, do not go! The small children pondered, Sit down in our midst here! While, unnoticed, he went forth to meet Tell us about your adventures! The night and dark yonder. Gladly will we listen! And long above the silent children "Tell us about when you were young, Grief and sadness were hanging, All the wonders you saw then, Until in the shades of the night How you pastured your wife's father's flocks His dark silhouette vanished. On the high peaks of Horeb. XII "How you once saw the thornbush that burned, Unconsumed ever, Loneliness wraps me around And how from the bush came a voice Like an ocean unbounded, That filled you with terror!" And sail-like my spirit draws in The breath of its profoundness. "There is no time to talk of this now, Children, I cannot linger! "For long have I known her, for long See, already night comes with its mists, Had this nursemaid to guide me! And day's eye is extinguished. All my life, in the plains, or with people, Loneliness walked beside me. "But to you the time also will come In life's onrush, when for you "Like a wandering planet, I fly The Burning Bush too will appear, Into mysteries plumbless, As to me upon Horeb. And yet I can still feel one touch — The Lord's hand, all wondrous. "Holiness will fill you like a shrine In that memorable instant, "All is quiet, and lips have grown silent,

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Speech is sealed over, Art Thou satisfied with me, Almighty One, Only Thou, in the depths of my soul Tell me now truly?" Art speaking, Jehovah! Thus, as he went, Moses prayed, "And my heart now seeks Thee in a surge Deeply grieving and thinking, Of deep yearning for Thee: But still the dumb desert was silent O, appear to me yet once again And the stars quietly twinkled. As Thou didst upon Horeb! XIII "To the end of the road Thou hast shown me, Father, I am now winning, But now muffled laughter was heard And, once more, I stand here before Thee, There close beside him, As at the beginning. As if (though no foot-fall was heard) Someone near him was striding. "Forty years have I laboured and taught, Plunged in Thee to the limit, And, like the hissing of serpents, To make from these slaves a true nation Quiet words suborned him: In Thine own image. "The flower of unconsciousness fruits To thorns only and torments. "Forty years like a smith at their hearts And their conscience I hammered, "And when to bear that fruit alone And to this it has come: that I flee You no longer have power, From their stones and their clamour. It is best to load all your own burden On God in that hour!" "Just when into the land of Thy promise We should be going! . . . MOSES: O didst Thou fore-know such an outcome, "Who is speaking? My own frenzied grief Thou the all-knowing? Deep in me ruling, Or can it be, maybe, some demon "And distress is astir in my heart: That mocks me and fools me?" Maybe I am not blameless? Maybe I did not follow aright VOICE: All Thou ordainest? "Do doubts of your task of reforming Come to your mind now? "Weeping, I pray: 'I am voiceless, Forty years you were certain, and led them And weak, O Jehovah! Bravely, though blindly!" Give Thy word's dread majesty To someone other!' MOSES:

"And doubt in my soul strikes a cold "Who is speaking? And why is my brow Sting pressing through me . . . With sweatdrops all beaded?

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Terror? No, but it pierces the heart VOICE: Like a wire strongly heated!" "The Creator had set them so low, But you sought not His guidance; VOICE: And now you run praying to Him In the woe that betides you!" "In your boundless pride you drove your nation, From their true pathway veering, MOSES: To make of them what you desired; "No! In this His Almighty Command Is it not late for fearing?" Was my one inspiration, Horeb's fire into my dark soul MOSES: Breathed its illumination!"

"Who are you? Though I cannot see you, VOICE: Strange one, I'll not fear you! I only can feel your keen sight "But Horeb's fire, maybe, on Horeb Through my soul deeply searing!" Never was blazing, But only within your bold heart VOICE: Its wild impetus crazed you! "Does it matter who am I? Who knows How to calm the sea's raging? "And that voice, maybe, urging you to Not who am I that matters, but is it This ill-starred expedition, The truth I am saying?" Was from no Burning Bush, but from your Own will and ambition. MOSES: "No! It is not true I assumed "Indeed, wild desire blinds the sight, This task from vain glory! And wishes are wonders! But seeing my people enslaved Like desert mirages the world My heart was grieved sorely!" And the gods they engender.

VOICE: "And that wish, like a jackal, within "Yes, for feeling the brother of slaves Your soul howling, succeeded Your shame burned you, unceasing, To make out of you, of itself, Therefore you wished to make of them such Their prophet and leader!" That you might feel easy!" MOSES: MOSES: "Ah, these words make me feel loneliness "Yes, from the depths, murky and dread, A hundredfold keenly! I wanted to raise them, Who are you, my foe?" On the bright peaks of freedom and honour Where I stood, to place them!" VOICE: "Azazel,

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The desert's dark demon!" You held in dominion? And your heart's holy wish — did not power XIV Consume it within you?

It was dark. Now the bright stars alone "Were you not a new Pharaoh for them, Twinkled with fire; And one more oppressive, Moses guided his way by their gleam, For by your rule you entered within Ever higher and higher. Their soul's deepest recesses?

Not a path. Through the darkness, strange "Stand against the due flow of events, sounds Danger soon whelmes you over! Were leading him ever: It is easy to give your own whim Hyena-howls in the ravine, As the will of Jehovah! A serpent's soft slither. "But suppose forty years you were sick, Like a hero into his last battle With divine madness blighted, He went, never pausing, And you forced on them plans, not of God, Yet in his heart a dread conflict But your own, narrow-sighted? Within him was coursing. "For, suppose that, in Egypt, their numbers "This wish", something in him cried out, Grew strong among tortures, "From shame's anguish proceeding, They might rise up to power and seize Was it this Burning Bush made me root The whole land as their fortune? Up my people for freedom? . . . "And in rooting them up from the ground, "This wish — did it kindle the fire? Leading them to the desert, Was it that force which drove me? Did you not think: Maybe I commit Was it for me Jehovah's command, A crime cruel beyond measure? And even Jehovah? "For what can the promise of freedom "This wish, that I might help my brothers, To a landless tribe matter? Dry the tears of their yearning, Why not tear up an oak from the soil, Was this my sin that brought exile Cast it into the water? And death as its earning? "Could Dathan be telling the truth? "No! Not so! Be on guard! Keep your soul Their old nests they have quitted, Firm and undeviating! But no power nor urge to build new ones A holy wish, that! But has sin, To them is transmitted! Serpent-like, penetrated? "O Jehovah, speak! Tell me: was I "You were leader? Their souls and their bodies Thy Commandment obeying,

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Or was it my cares, blindness, griefs Are flying and mounting, That made me their plaything? Like messengers up to the giant On the radiant mountain. "O Jehovah, speak! Or art Thou granted The gift of speech for us, "It is Moses", they said, timidly, Through our passions alone, and our dreams, One to another, Our blood raging and stormy?" But none would pronounce what within Their hearts silently quivered. But Jehovah spoke not. There stirred only Ill-omened sounds ever, There Moses is standing at prayer, Hyena-howls in the ravine, Speaking with the Almighty, A serpent's soft slither. And his prayer, like a sharp horn of flame, Through the heaven is spiking. XV Although his lips firmly are sealed, The sun came up over the plain And his voice is heard never, Like a ring of royal crimson, Yet in his heart he is speaking, And like arrows its rays pricked and pierced Beseeching Jehovah. The dark and the dimness. Higher climbs the sun, now all the zenith In the rays stood Mount Nebo, a queen Of heaven is burning, In purple robes looming, Still Moses is standing at prayer, Over all other mountains it raised Like a rock, never turning. High aloft its ribs gloomy. Although in the plain the noon demon High upon the top peak of the mountain, Sends lassitude tiring; Above screes and crags cleaving, As if someone's hands hold him, still Moses Something immoveably stands Is raised ever higher. Like a giant primaeval. And now the sun starts to descend There, high over the hubbub of earth Above Pisgah's peaks slowly, The noise and contending, And a shadow gigantic lies spread He stands, and he stretches to heaven From the plains to the lowlands. His arms, wide-extended. And the shadow gigantic falls, from In the dawn radiance of heaven, Moses' figure spills over The purple rays' glister, To the Hebrew tents, like the last sad His giant silhouette could be seen Farewell of a father. In the far desert distance. And a shudder runs through all the tents: From the Hebrew tents, glances perturbed "Lord God, now defend us,

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Lest the Prophet now curse us; such curse Your form withered and slight now, Would have power tremendous. And your hair, which in days past I smoothed, Like the snow has grown white now! "For from prayer such as this the foundations Of the earth quake and quiver, "But secretly from me you rushed Crags melt like wax, the throne shakes Into battles and duels! Of primaeval Jehovah! See what you have done! Say how many Wounds pierce your heart cruelly! "And if he should curse us all now, Then with the sun's waning, "My poor child, my poor child, thou hast The land and the people would vanish, suffered Leave no trace remaining!" Torments exceeding! And today ... the whole day in the sun, XVI And where was it leading?

But Moses still strove on, aflame, "For prayer! You are anxious to pierce To his goal struggling nearer; The past and the future But when night lay down on the mountain Of your nation with your ardent prayer, — He fell, utterly weary. My child, unwise, untutored!

Beneath him, from the high peaks, the rocks "See, I cast down a stone from the cliff, Trembled and swayed then, And it falls, rolling, pounding, But he lay unconscious as if From crag to crag, gulley to gulley, In his own mother's cradle. Leaping and bounding,

Some song filled with yearning was crooned "Here it strikes itself on a sharp fang, Softly above him, And is broken to pieces, And a hand, soft as down, white as snow, Here it tears off a stone in its flight, Rocked him with loving. And both fall without ceasing;

And quiet words were heard speaking to him: "Here one fragment is left, there another, "My poor son, all dismayed now! Still it flies and it clatters; See what in a short span of time But who knows the last resting place Harsh life has made you! Of each fragment that shatters?

"Was it so long ago that I tended you, "I say: even Jehovah knows not, By the hand led you? Though prostrate you request Him; Did I then bring you into the world Where each piece is fated to fall, To bear torments so dreadful? There it must land, predestined!

"So many the lines on your brow, "For in that very stone lies the power,

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The force and the guiding, Thirsting for that light, which in the end That points out to it the true place Must shine for him surely. Fashioned for its abiding. "He directs his giant march through the seas, "And however strong is your Jehovah, And mountain crags rocky, He cannot circumvent it, But he knows not that, perched on his And when one small stone is in flight shoulders, He cannot prevent it! The boy ever mocks him.

"Look! A dustmote! Your eye barely sees "This Orion is all humankind, Its trembling vibration, Full of power and believing, But Jehovah still cannot achieve That with dread efforts persists Its annihilation! To an unknown goal striving.

"And Jehovah cannot bid it halt; "It loves all that is beyond reach, It pursues to the limit Believes the undiscovered, The path where it for ever is driven And to reach the fantastic the near By the forces within it! And the known tramples ever.

"So much for a mote! But consider, "It makes plans that lie out of its power, A many-souled nation, For fantastic goals dreaming, Where each soul gives some part of its flight And the logic of facts is the lad To the whole's perturbation! That makes mock of its scheming.

"You have heard sung the tale of Orion, "Like the blind man of fable who trusted The blind giant, aiming The eyes of a stranger, In his roamings to reach to the sun, Arriving where he would not go, His sight to regain there? To a goal never aimed at!

"And he bore on his shoulders a lad, "Yet you pray! My poor child, where has gone A guide who misled him, Your reason, your force now? Who should show him the way, but each hour You pray to the foam that it should On a different path sped him. Halt the whole river's course now!"

"Guide me, lad, to the sun! 'So at dawn XVII To the east they were going, At noon they went south, and at dusk At first, in those words there seemed something To the western ford's flowing. Like a clear water freshet, There breathed from it cleanness and goodness, "And Orion goes on, ever on, And coolness refreshing. Faithful to the sun, truly,

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But gradually something weighed heavy, And all Palestine boldly Like a desert wind stifling; Could be seen from the peak where he stood, There was fear, like a child left alone Like a broad map unfolded. Without light in the night-time. And his unseen companion spoke to him, And Moses from terror leapt up, Quietly explaining: Mustering all his forces, "Do you see that black mirror below? And said: "Why, ere I lie in my grave, The Dead Sea they name it! Do you bring me such tortures? "And yonder the peaks that to heaven's "You are not my mother! Your words High ceiling rise craggy, Are not loving nor caring! Stretching away in steep lines, Not my mother! You are Azazel, They are Carmel's heights jagged! The dark fiend of despairing! "Look to the north, to Mount Zion! "Begone! With the Tetragrammaton Jebusites are camped near there! I curse and defy you! And if you shout loud from the mountain, I do not believe you! Immortal The Amorites hear you! You are — but a liar!" "That silver ribbon is Jordan, And quiet words were heard speaking to him: To the Dead Sea descending; "My unwise child! Now you Close to its mouth, Jericho, Are cursing me, knowing not I Her ford-dues defending! Too am part of His power! "And that single valley above it, "What are your poor curses to me? That closely enfolds it, You would die from despairing, On the far bank the Ammonites dwell, If you knew but a hundredth of all This side Caananies hold it I know and am bearing! "And westward lie mountains and peaks, "You curse that one small ray of fire Wide highland pastures, Touched your blindness; the traces A little lake there to the north, Of that fire where I dwell and He dwells And high mountains after! Beyond all times and spaces! "See, this is all Palestine for you, "The barrier of your narrow sight Sheep may graze, barley grows there; I'll draw back for you rather; From Kadesh to Carmel your fist Look at the land which He promised Easily could enclose it! Abraham, your forefather!" "There are no broad pathways for you, And the whole western skyline blazed forth, No way to the ocean!

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Where to live, to expand, where to grow, Corpse on corpse in spoliation, Multiply as a nation?" For Babylon raises her might For Judah's desolation. Moses said: "From the rock He brought water, In our migration, "The Temple is burning. . . . That crowd If need be, this land He'll make Eden Like marching ants, driven For His own nation!" They go, chained in thousands together, The captive survivors! XVIII "You hear weeping? The only wise man1 Once again muffled laughter was heard: On the ruins lamenting, "Faith can move mountains, truly! He advised them to bow to the foe But look on this new line of scenes, That doom might be prevented. What must be in the future! "The stench of the wastes. . . . Through the dark "See how your tribesmen advance, A faint dawnlight is burning. . . . See them crossing the Jordan, But from those who went forth in such hordes, Jericho has been taken, and rivers See how few are returning! Of blood they have forded. "Around Salem's walls, very small, "For centuries long battles rage Something stirs, something trembles; To take Palestine now, A new people, a new God, a new Amalechites, Hebrews and Hittites, Force unseen, a new Temple. Amorites, Philistines now. "And it grows, in its poverty struggle, "See the Hebrew kingdom — its price Closely to the ground thriving, Of blood and of weeping, Like a thistle set low, steadfastly And on history it weighs like a fly Always ready for striving. On a plough-oxen creeping! "And over the heads of these people, "It will fall into fragments apart The world's tempests are tossing, Before reaching full flower, Empires and kingdoms rise, fall, On all sides, mighty neighbours with greed Like grim phantoms passing. Part by part will devour it. "But He, in His corner, His stubbornness "See the clouds fly from Gilead, swift Unbending nurses, From Damascus, pursuing! He only has hatred for all The Assyrians come, and they bring And unchanging curses. Desolation and ruin. "And hatred most heavy 'for any "See all the fields growing red, Other god as His rival!'

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See how at the gates of His Temple It is this Paradise which is waiting Hatred is thriving! In the Promised Land for you!

"Hatred gives birth to hate. And now see "You have toiled for this! Say, was it worth At a tyrant's word, brutal The toil and endeavour? Forces advance on your tribe, For them to draw near, do you still Once again to uproot them. Wish to pray with all fervour?"

"You hear clangour? It is the iron march And Moses hung down his head. "Woe Of the dread legions, To my evil misfortune! That trample Judean fields, turn Can I never, then, snatch my dear people Ploughland to desert regions. From slavery and torture?"

"You hear splashing? Jews' blood spilt by And he fell with his face to the ground: swords "Jehovah has deceived us!" Of the enemy forces. And a wild laughter echoed his words, You hear screaming? The girls of Judea, Demoniac, evil. Dragged by wild horses. XIX "A mother here eats her dead child, Mad with starvation! Thunder roared. The deep roots of the A thousand die there, crucified, mountain The flower of your nation. Trembled and quivered, One after another, the heralds "And once more the Temple is burning, Came of Jehovah. And this time gone for ever, For what this foe's hand shall bring down And up to the sky, thunderclouds Will rise again never. In a black wall were mounting, As if Mother Night from dread hate "Once more captive survivors flow forth Grimly were frowning. In a river of yearning, But there is no more homeland for them, And swift in the darkness her eyes And no more returning. _,' Of fire she was rolling, Like a mother she raged, who a wicked "And the bright star of Israel is quenched Daughter is scolding. To shine again never; But the hate which grew up in the Temple, In alarm Moses heard the dark speak Through the wide world will revel. And the lightning. However, His heart could not find in them yet "Are you sorrowful? Have you no faith? The voice of Jehovah. You have faith, I know surely!

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And the thunder roared over the mountains, Began his migration, His hair rose from fearing; I knew all his progeny down His heart swooned in his breast: no, it is not To the last generation! Jehovah he's hearing! "Poor is your land, narrow, close, Among the crags howl the wild winds, And no wealth decks it brightly, Angrily shrieking, But, remember, the cradle is close, Gripping the soul, and yet through them Even of the most mighty! Jehovah is not speaking! "In due time, for conquest and labour, Rain beats together with hail, Away I shall lead you. The chill gale bites bleakly, Just as a mother will wean And the soul, its strength gone, must surrender Her child when it is needful. To utter weakness. "Here in a field, sparse and lean, Sudden silence. The waters alone Like thorns upon gravel, Murmur like a sad sobbing; You will grow hard and firm, on the road A warm breeze blew, with perfume of almond Of the great change to travel. And terebinth throbbing. "I know your inflexible soul, And in the warm breeze came a word Your insatiable nature, Mysterious, that hovered, And like thistles you would run to seed Moses felt in his heart this was truly With rich soil for your nurture! The voice of Jehovah. "With body and soul to the furrow "Jehovah betrayed you? Then state Like a leech you would snatch then, Your justification! And like a fat fish in a net, Was there a bond, signed and sealed, Mammon would catch you. Between Me and your nation? "In Egypt you bent to the yoke, "Have you seen My plans, read in My book And lived daintily from it... Wherein men's fates are spoken? But that fine meat of Egypt you shall Have you seen the end, do you know surely Forevermore vomit. My word will be broken? "So, when you are torn from this land, "You of little faith, you were not formed And all ties have been severed, In the womb of your mother, Scattered all through the world, you shall But I knew every breath you would draw, conquer All your hairs had I numbered! Its saps and its treasures.

"Before Abraham from Ur to Harran "But to all your deeds I shall place

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A firmly set limit, This Palestine is but a fragment, Like a snake on a treasure, I'll give you Only an earnest! Only grief and woe in it! "It will be but a memory, a dream, "He who conquers the treasures of earth, That unquenchable longing, Above all things adores them, So that seeking it you would become He will become but their slave, Lords of all the earth thronging. Lose the soul's treasures for them! "But as you have doubted My will, "He is slave, he is lord of these treasures, Though for a minute, Bought with blood, lamentations, Having now seen this homeland, you cannot And to make them increase, he is forced Enter within it! To destroy their foundations! "Here you shall lay down your bones, "A leech sucks your blood, you are healed, An example of terror But the leech dies, however, — To all, rushing through life to their goal, So this golden sea on a shoal On the pathway to perish!" Will strand you for ever! XX "In this golden sea, thirst will always Be torment exceeding, Across the bare mountain, his yearning And golden bread will be unable Like desert mist flows now, To nourish or feed you. Across the broad country his thoughts And his wishes he sows now. "And you shall be always My witnesses To the world's limits, Flowers and leaves long since grown That from all men I choose for Myself Sere and yellow he scatters, Those that nourish the spirit. Voices arise in the soul That had long ceased their clamour. "He who feeds you on bread, with that bread Will become dung together, All is honoured and dear now, that yesterday But he who feeds the spirit in you Had no true meaning, Will flow to Me forever. What was yesterday trampled and spurned Is holy and gleaming. "That is where your true Promised Land lies, Unbounded and gleaming, Down in the Hebrew camp, night And to it for My people you were Passed full of fearing. A guide, though unseeing! Dawn came; they look up. Is he there On the steep crags appearing? "That is the radiant homeland, Loveliest of your yearnings; He is gone. And that "gone" struck them like

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A cold deathly terror. The shout soars like an eagle above They all felt the whole source of their life The dumb crowd, roars and rattles Had vanished for ever. Echoing into the mountains: "Forward! To battle!" That unseen, inconceivable something Which always had warmed them, Yet a moment — then all will awake, Giving a meaning to life, From their dull langour, Instructed, informed them. And no one knows what in this moment In him starts to clamour! And a fathomless grief lay upon Consciences hard to dumbness. Yet a moment — the warcry will come, The whole camp, as if spellbound, was seized Hundred-thousand-fold cheering, By faintness and numbness. In that moment, dull nomads will turn To a nation of heroes! Pale of face, without ceasing, they looked One to another, Tumult will break, desert sands Like murderers who in a dream Into mud will be beaten, Had killed their beloved. They will stone Abiron unto death, They will hang Dathan. Sound of hooves! Sandstorm? Or prophecy At last coming true now? Through the mountains they'll speed like a bird, It is Joshua, prince of the horsemen, Through the Jordan's spray splashing, And his troop in pursuit now! And Jericho's walls melt like ice, To their trumpet-sounds crashing. Is a foeman attacking? They drive The herds on, never linger! They will go into centuries unknown, A nameless fear drives them all forward, Filled with longing and terror, It is God's unknown finger! They will make straight the way of the spirit, On the pathway will perish. . . . The soul's hunger, fear of old abysses And desolation. . . . But Joshua gives a bold cry: "To arms! Forward the nation!"

1. The Prophet Jeremiah. (I. F.)

Electronic Library of Ukrainian Literature