Сей опус про фараона был всуе когда-то упомянут в моём ЖЖ, который ныне пуст.
Пусть хоть здесь поваляется…
- – - – -
Last Words
It was terrible day which the murderer brought [1]
With companion. They wanted to speak. [2]
“They are old and harmless, I’ll meet them,” – I thought.
It was interesting what did they seek.
Having entered the hall they proclaimed demands.
Their insolence made myself laugh!
They did want me to stop all the work in my lands,
And then called for dismissal of staff.
“Now Egypt with Israel serve common fame!
And my will that these things thus should be!” –
I said, – “Moses, Aaron, what is your aim?
Tell me why do you want it from me?”
And the answer they gave was: “The will of the God
Should not be the right thing to discuss.”
But I thought that the God of the Hebrews is not
Such a deity to make myself fuss. [3]
“You should better drive out or will be deceased!”
Who could guess that in Midian’s parts
Restless Moses somehow found a priest
Who had taught him black magical arts…
They had gone but began to spread rumours that I
Tried to lay on the Hebrews more work. [4]
Every word they had spread was a barefaced lie!
Harmful slander I ordered to burke.
They returned in few days and with treacherous grin
Cast a magical rod to my feet! [5]
That rod turned into serpent but they did not win –
Such a trick I was ready to meet.
My magicians prevented sad course of events,
But disasters just started that day.
Their aim was to weaken my will with these dents
To remove me from their dark way.
Later waters in rivers they turned to red blood, [6]
Which my sorcerers hardly dispelled,
Raised countless numbers of frogs from the mud, [7]
Magic lice plagued men – young and eld… [8]
Whole land was corrupted by numerous flies, [9]
And strange murrain wiped out the cattle, [10]
Storm with hail did cover all Egypt with ice, [11]
Boils almost finished this battle. [12]
And my fortitude truly received heavy crack
When east wind came with locust’s swarms. [13]
We had shortage in food, these swarms doubled the lack
Being worse then a week of the storms.
Three black days in the darkness without the sun [14]
In the obvious way showed me:
All my sorcerers surely are outdone,
Next disaster could make mages flee…
But the darkest my nightmare could not compete
With the ritual which was ahead…
All firstborn were killed and I saw my defeat – [15]
My last son in the cradle was dead.
Evil Moses came with victorious taunt.
And I said: “Your demands are fulfilled. [16]
I let Israel go wherever they want.
I wish no one else to be killed.”
Now seating alone, I sea: I was wrong… [17]
After them only desert has left.
It needs bloody revenge! Even if they are strong
I should force them to pay for this theft!
I’ll gather my army, I’ll say no lie:
“Harm should not be unpunished like thus!
Let this day be the last but in combat we’ll die!
It’s a point of honour for us!”
- – - – -
Цитаты из перевода комиссии короля Джеймса, которым я пользовался в процессе стихосложения…
[1] Ex. 2.12.
And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
[2] Ex. 5.1.
And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.
[3] Ex. 5.2.
And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
[4] Ex. 5.6-7.
And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
[5] Ex. 7.10.
And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
[6] Ex. 7.20.
And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
[7] Ex. 8.6.
And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
[8] Ex. 8.17.
And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
[9] Ex. 8.24.
And the LORD did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.
[10] Ex. 9.6.
And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.
[11] Ex. 9.23.
And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
[12] Ex. 9.10.
And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.
[13] Ex. 10.13.
And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
[14] Ex. 10.22.
And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days
[15] Ex. 12.29.
And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
[16] Ex. 12.31.
And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.
[17] Ex. 14.5.
And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
