Classic Poem

When, from proud Egypt 's hard and cruel hand,
High-summon'd Israel sought the promis'd land,
The opening sea divided, at her call ,
And refluent Jordan rose, a wat'ry wall!
Light, as met lambs , the starting hills leapt wide,
And the slow mountains roll'd themselves aside!
Why, O thou sea! did thy vast depth divide ?
And why, O Jordan! fled thy back'ning tide ?
Why leapt your lines , ye frighted hills , astray?
And what, O mountains! rent your roots away?
Hark! I will tell — proud earth confess'd her God ,
And mark'd his wond'rous foot-steps , as he trod.
While bent to bless, H E chear'd his thirsty flock ,
And, into floods of liquid length, dissolv'd the loosening rock.