Passage of the Red Sea

IN doubt, in weariness, in woe,

The host of Israel flee;

Behind them rode the raging foe,

Before them was the sea.

The angry waters at their feet,

All dark and dread, rolled on;

And where the sky and desert meet,

Spears flashed against the sun.

But still along the eastern sky

The fiery pillar shone,

And o’er the waves that rolled so high

It bade them still come on.

Then Moses turned the sea toward,

And raised his hand on high;

The angry waters know their lord:

They know him, and they fly.

Where never gleamed the red sunlight,

Where foot of man ne’er trod,

Down, down they go, and left and right

The wall of waters stood.

Full soon along that vale of fear,

With cymbals, horns, and drums,

With many a steed and many a spear

The maddening monarch comes.

A moment—far as eye could reach,

The thronging myriads tread;

The next—the waste and silent deep

Was, rolling o’er their head.