  From the Italian of Giovanni Battista Zappi, upon the Moses of Michael Angelo in the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli, at Rome. Whose form there, sculptured in such mass of stone, Sits like a giant, carrying art so far Beyond all works most beautiful and known? On those quick lips life's very accents are! That man is Moses: on the awful front Reveal as much: 'tis Moses from the Mount When much of Deity in his face appeared! So looked he once when he the vasty fount Of sounding waters with his one word stayed. Such was his aspect when the sea obeyed And swallowed Egypt. O ye tribes that bent Before the calf! had you an image made Like this to worship, less were to repent. |
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