ANDREW RAMSAY
AFTER her bath, yet early in the day,She donned a ketonet or tunica;With gems enclasped it, close as a caress,And smoothed its folds out o'er her lovelinessIn fondly fashioned outlines. It was madeOf Persian satin, opaline and white,Like moving mists around the moon arrayed,Thro' which she shone, a lovelier light in lightAlmost immortal: on a low divanA fleecy texture tinted Tyrian,Alone reclining, on each pliant kneeHer white feet poised by turns to sandalled be.The sandal buckles were with gems aflame,And those fine bands that bound each knee the same.On restless anklets tinkled bells of gold,A symbol which of princely lineage told.Their music summoning a tiring maidWho all her glorious midnight hair arrayed:A purple black it was, alive and long,And seemed, if such could be, like a carved song,Some Hebrew pæan of triumphant powerArrested, and remaining her rare dower.'Twas girt in frequent fillets of fine gold,Bestarred with sardon flashing manifold.And o'er her shoulders, exquisitely graced,A sedijin, encircled at the waist.This sedijin was sleeveless, but both armsHad aspen bands that blazed in jasper charms.Her zone was also wonderful with these,As round her neck a circlet, carved to pleaseIn imitated foliage of lush huesSuch as Ezekiel sanctified for use.And over these, with garnet bangles hungAnd opaline, a splendid shimla clung,Marvel of strangely interfusing sheen,And beautiful as all that might have been.A little scarf of white and henna dyesCrowned her dark head for dreadful sacrifice.Pensive her oriental eyes, and large,Looking their last on Judah's hills, the chargeOf Israel's honor in them, and the praiseOf many a maid desponding since those daysWhen Jephtha's daughter wended forth to mournHer immature virginity forlorn.
AFTER her bath, yet early in the day,She donned a ketonet or tunica;With gems enclasped it, close as a caress,And smoothed its folds out o'er her lovelinessIn fondly fashioned outlines. It was madeOf Persian satin, opaline and white,Like moving mists around the moon arrayed,Thro' which she shone, a lovelier light in lightAlmost immortal: on a low divanA fleecy texture tinted Tyrian,Alone reclining, on each pliant kneeHer white feet poised by turns to sandalled be.The sandal buckles were with gems aflame,And those fine bands that bound each knee the same.On restless anklets tinkled bells of gold,A symbol which of princely lineage told.Their music summoning a tiring maidWho all her glorious midnight hair arrayed:A purple black it was, alive and long,And seemed, if such could be, like a carved song,Some Hebrew pæan of triumphant powerArrested, and remaining her rare dower.'Twas girt in frequent fillets of fine gold,Bestarred with sardon flashing manifold.And o'er her shoulders, exquisitely graced,A sedijin, encircled at the waist.This sedijin was sleeveless, but both armsHad aspen bands that blazed in jasper charms.Her zone was also wonderful with these,As round her neck a circlet, carved to pleaseIn imitated foliage of lush huesSuch as Ezekiel sanctified for use.And over these, with garnet bangles hungAnd opaline, a splendid shimla clung,Marvel of strangely interfusing sheen,And beautiful as all that might have been.A little scarf of white and henna dyesCrowned her dark head for dreadful sacrifice.Pensive her oriental eyes, and large,Looking their last on Judah's hills, the chargeOf Israel's honor in them, and the praiseOf many a maid desponding since those daysWhen Jephtha's daughter wended forth to mournHer immature virginity forlorn.
AFTER her bath, yet early in the day,She donned a ketonet or tunica;With gems enclasped it, close as a caress,And smoothed its folds out o'er her lovelinessIn fondly fashioned outlines. It was madeOf Persian satin, opaline and white,Like moving mists around the moon arrayed,Thro' which she shone, a lovelier light in lightAlmost immortal: on a low divanA fleecy texture tinted Tyrian,Alone reclining, on each pliant kneeHer white feet poised by turns to sandalled be.The sandal buckles were with gems aflame,And those fine bands that bound each knee the same.On restless anklets tinkled bells of gold,A symbol which of princely lineage told.Their music summoning a tiring maidWho all her glorious midnight hair arrayed:A purple black it was, alive and long,And seemed, if such could be, like a carved song,Some Hebrew pæan of triumphant powerArrested, and remaining her rare dower.'Twas girt in frequent fillets of fine gold,Bestarred with sardon flashing manifold.And o'er her shoulders, exquisitely graced,A sedijin, encircled at the waist.This sedijin was sleeveless, but both armsHad aspen bands that blazed in jasper charms.Her zone was also wonderful with these,As round her neck a circlet, carved to pleaseIn imitated foliage of lush huesSuch as Ezekiel sanctified for use.And over these, with garnet bangles hungAnd opaline, a splendid shimla clung,Marvel of strangely interfusing sheen,And beautiful as all that might have been.A little scarf of white and henna dyesCrowned her dark head for dreadful sacrifice.Pensive her oriental eyes, and large,Looking their last on Judah's hills, the chargeOf Israel's honor in them, and the praiseOf many a maid desponding since those daysWhen Jephtha's daughter wended forth to mournHer immature virginity forlorn.
AFTER her bath, yet early in the day,
She donned a ketonet or tunica;
With gems enclasped it, close as a caress,
And smoothed its folds out o'er her loveliness
In fondly fashioned outlines. It was made
Of Persian satin, opaline and white,
Like moving mists around the moon arrayed,
Thro' which she shone, a lovelier light in light
Almost immortal: on a low divan
A fleecy texture tinted Tyrian,
Alone reclining, on each pliant knee
Her white feet poised by turns to sandalled be.
The sandal buckles were with gems aflame,
And those fine bands that bound each knee the same.
On restless anklets tinkled bells of gold,
A symbol which of princely lineage told.
Their music summoning a tiring maid
Who all her glorious midnight hair arrayed:
A purple black it was, alive and long,
And seemed, if such could be, like a carved song,
Some Hebrew pæan of triumphant power
Arrested, and remaining her rare dower.
'Twas girt in frequent fillets of fine gold,
Bestarred with sardon flashing manifold.
And o'er her shoulders, exquisitely graced,
A sedijin, encircled at the waist.
This sedijin was sleeveless, but both arms
Had aspen bands that blazed in jasper charms.
Her zone was also wonderful with these,
As round her neck a circlet, carved to please
In imitated foliage of lush hues
Such as Ezekiel sanctified for use.
And over these, with garnet bangles hung
And opaline, a splendid shimla clung,
Marvel of strangely interfusing sheen,
And beautiful as all that might have been.
A little scarf of white and henna dyes
Crowned her dark head for dreadful sacrifice.
Pensive her oriental eyes, and large,
Looking their last on Judah's hills, the charge
Of Israel's honor in them, and the praise
Of many a maid desponding since those days
When Jephtha's daughter wended forth to mourn
Her immature virginity forlorn.