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Translated by J. Gostick
UPON the banks of Jordan, | |
| The host of Israel’s name, | |
| All Jacob’s seed encampéd, | |
| Who out of Egypt came. | |
| There lay the tribes, wide-spreading,— | 5 |
| There rest the pilgrims found, | |
| Weary, with long years treading | |
| The sandy desert round. | |
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| There from their hands the wanderers | |
| Their staves have laid aside, | 10 |
| And spread them woollen blankets, | |
| Their girdles loosening wide! | |
| And on their robes reclining | |
| In picturesque array, | |
| The brown and swarthy travellers, | 15 |
| With beards dark-curling, lay. | |
| |
| Their tent-staves there were pitchéd, | |
| Their linen veils outspread, | |
| And in the midst was raiséd | |
| The Tabernacle’s head. | 20 |
| Between them and the sunbeams | |
| Green foliage shadow flings, | |
| They filled their leathern bottles | |
| At fresh cool water-springs. | |
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| With oil their bodies laving, | 25 |
| They washed away the sand; | |
| The driver there was stroking | |
| The camel with his hand; | |
| And in the pastures round them | |
| The quiet cattle lay; | 30 |
| Wild horses stared and bounded | |
| With flowing manes away. | |
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| The weary joined in praises, | |
| With hands upraised to heaven, | |
| That now to all their travels | 35 |
| The longed-for end was given. | |
| But some were busy whetting | |
| Their swords with eager hand, | |
| To combat for the pastures | |
| Of their rich green fatherland. | 40 |
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| It seemed for them awaiting,— | |
| A land of endless store, | |
| Like God’s own garden smiling | |
| On Jordan’s other shore. | |
| Through many a desert-journey | 45 |
| In spirit they had seen | |
| That land of milk and honey, | |
| Now lying there so green! | |
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| They shouted in the valley | |
| “Canaan!” with joyous tone,— | 50 |
| Their leader up the pathway | |
| Of the mountain toiled alone. | |
| His snow-white locks were flowing | |
| About his shoulders spread, | |
| And golden beams were glowing | 55 |
| Upon his reverend head. | |
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| To see the promised country, | |
| Before he died, intent, | |
| Rapt in the glorious vision, | |
| He, trembling, forwards bent. | 60 |
| There glittered all the pastures, | |
| With thousand charms outspread,— | |
| The land he sees with longing, | |
| The land he ne’er must tread! | |
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| The plains, far out extending, | 65 |
| All rich with corn and vines, | |
| And many a white stream, wending | |
| Through rich green meadows, shines. | |
| With milk and honey flowing | |
| As far as eye can span, | 70 |
| All in the sunshine glowing | |
| From Beersheba to Dan. | |
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| “Canaan! Mine eyes have seen thee! | |
| Let death undreaded come! | |
| In gentle whispers breathing, | 75 |
| Lord! call thy servant home!” | |
| On light soft clouds descending | |
| Upon the mountain’s brow | |
| He came;—the pilgrim people | |
| Have lost their leader now! | 80 |
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| Upon the mountain brightening | |
| ’T is glorious there to die! | |
| When all the clouds are whitening | |
| In the radiant morning sky; | |
| Far down below beholding | 85 |
| Wood, field, and winding stream,— | |
| And lo! above unfolding | |
| Heaven’s golden portals gleam. | |
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