This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D.W.]
By Georg Ebers
For a long time nothing was heard beneath the sycamore save Miriam's lowmoans and the impatient footsteps of the warrior who, while strugglingfor composure, did not venture to disturb her.
He could not yet understand what had suddenly towered like a mountainbetween him and the object of his love.
He had learned from Hur's words that his father and Moses rejected allmediation, yet the promises he was bearing to the people seemed to him amerciful gift from the Most High. None of his race yet knew it and, ifMoses was the man whom he believed him to be, the Lord must open his eyesand show him that he had chosen him, Hosea, to lead the people throughhis mediation to a fairer future; nor did he doubt that He could easilywin his father over to his side. He would even have declared a secondtime, with the firmest faith, that it was the Most High who had pointedout his path, and after reflecting upon all this he approached Miriam,who had at last risen, with fresh confidence. His loving heart promptedhim to clasp her in his arms, but she thrust him back and her voice,usually so pure and clear, sounded harsh and muffled as she asked whyhe had lingered so long and what he intended to confide to her.
While cowering under the sycamore, she had not only struggled and prayedfor composure, but also gazed into her own soul. She loved Hosea, butshe suspected that he came with proposals similar to those of Uri, andthe wrathful words of hoary Nun rang in her ears more loudly than ever.The fear that the man she loved was walking in mistaken paths, and thestartling act of Hur had made the towering waves of her passion subsideand her mind, now capable of calmer reflection, desired first of all toknow what had so long detained him whom she had summoned in the name ofher God, and why he came alone, without Ephraim.
The clear sky was full of stars, and these heavenly bodies, which seem tohave been appointed to look down upon the bliss of united human lovers,now witnessed the anxious questions of a tortured girl and the impatientanswers of a fiery, bitterly disappointed man.
He began with the assurance of his love and that he had come to make herhis wife; but, though she permitted him to hold her hand in his clasp,she entreated him to cease pleading his suit and first tell her what shedesired to know.
On his way he had received various reports concerning Ephraim through abrother-in-arms from Tanis, so he could tell her that the lad had beendisobedient and, probably from foolish curiosity, had gone, ill andwounded, to the city, where he had found shelter and care in the house ofa friend. But this troubled Miriam, who seemed to regard it as areproach to know that the orphaned, inexperienced lad, who had grown upunder her own eyes and whom she herself had sent forth among strangers,was beneath an Egyptian roof.
But Hosea declared that he would undertake the task of bringing him backto his people and as, nevertheless she continued to show her anxiety,asked whether he had forfeited her confidence and love. Instead ofgiving him a consoling answer, she began to put more questions, desiringto know what had delayed his coming, and so, with a sorely troubled andwounded heart, he was forced to make his report a