JOHN READE
IT is growing dark.At such a sunset I have been with Saul—But saw it not. I only saw his eyesAnd the wild beauty of his roaming locks,And—oh! there never was a man like Saul!Strong arm, and gentle heart and tender waysTo win a woman's very soul, were his.When he would take my hand and look on me,And whisper "Rizpah"—ah! those days are gone!Why should I weep? was I not loved by Saul?And Saul was king of all the Land of God."God save the king!" But, hush! what noise was that?Oh heaven! to think a mother's eyes should lookOn such a sight! Away! vile carrion-beast!Those are the sons of Saul,—poor Rizpah's sons.O my dead darlings! O my only joy!O sweet twin treasure of my lonely life,Since that most mournful day upon Gilboa,Torn from me thus!I have no tears to shed.O God! my heart is broken! Let me die!Gilboa! David wrote a song on it,And had it put inJasher—"Weep for Saul."Armoni used to sing it to his harp.Poor blackened lips!...I wonder if they dream,My pretty children....Come, Mephibosheth,Here is your father; say "God save the king!"The Gibeonites! Ah! that was long ago.Why should they die for what they never did?No; David never would consent to that?Whose son is he, this youth? Dost know him, Abner?Ha, ha! they shout again "God save the king!"Was I asleep? I came not here to sleep.O poor old eyes, sorrow has made you weak.My sons! No, nought has touched them. O, how cold!Cold, cold! O stars of God, have pity on me,Poor lonely woman! O my sons, Saul's sons!Kind stars, watch with me; let no evil beastRend that dear flesh. O God of Israel,Pardon my sins! My heart is broken!
IT is growing dark.At such a sunset I have been with Saul—But saw it not. I only saw his eyesAnd the wild beauty of his roaming locks,And—oh! there never was a man like Saul!Strong arm, and gentle heart and tender waysTo win a woman's very soul, were his.When he would take my hand and look on me,And whisper "Rizpah"—ah! those days are gone!Why should I weep? was I not loved by Saul?And Saul was king of all the Land of God."God save the king!" But, hush! what noise was that?Oh heaven! to think a mother's eyes should lookOn such a sight! Away! vile carrion-beast!Those are the sons of Saul,—poor Rizpah's sons.O my dead darlings! O my only joy!O sweet twin treasure of my lonely life,Since that most mournful day upon Gilboa,Torn from me thus!I have no tears to shed.O God! my heart is broken! Let me die!Gilboa! David wrote a song on it,And had it put inJasher—"Weep for Saul."Armoni used to sing it to his harp.Poor blackened lips!...I wonder if they dream,My pretty children....Come, Mephibosheth,Here is your father; say "God save the king!"The Gibeonites! Ah! that was long ago.Why should they die for what they never did?No; David never would consent to that?Whose son is he, this youth? Dost know him, Abner?Ha, ha! they shout again "God save the king!"Was I asleep? I came not here to sleep.O poor old eyes, sorrow has made you weak.My sons! No, nought has touched them. O, how cold!Cold, cold! O stars of God, have pity on me,Poor lonely woman! O my sons, Saul's sons!Kind stars, watch with me; let no evil beastRend that dear flesh. O God of Israel,Pardon my sins! My heart is broken!
IT is growing dark.At such a sunset I have been with Saul—But saw it not. I only saw his eyesAnd the wild beauty of his roaming locks,And—oh! there never was a man like Saul!Strong arm, and gentle heart and tender waysTo win a woman's very soul, were his.When he would take my hand and look on me,And whisper "Rizpah"—ah! those days are gone!Why should I weep? was I not loved by Saul?And Saul was king of all the Land of God.
IT is growing dark.
At such a sunset I have been with Saul—
But saw it not. I only saw his eyes
And the wild beauty of his roaming locks,
And—oh! there never was a man like Saul!
Strong arm, and gentle heart and tender ways
To win a woman's very soul, were his.
When he would take my hand and look on me,
And whisper "Rizpah"—ah! those days are gone!
Why should I weep? was I not loved by Saul?
And Saul was king of all the Land of God.
"God save the king!" But, hush! what noise was that?Oh heaven! to think a mother's eyes should lookOn such a sight! Away! vile carrion-beast!Those are the sons of Saul,—poor Rizpah's sons.O my dead darlings! O my only joy!O sweet twin treasure of my lonely life,Since that most mournful day upon Gilboa,Torn from me thus!I have no tears to shed.O God! my heart is broken! Let me die!Gilboa! David wrote a song on it,And had it put inJasher—"Weep for Saul."Armoni used to sing it to his harp.Poor blackened lips!...I wonder if they dream,My pretty children....Come, Mephibosheth,Here is your father; say "God save the king!"The Gibeonites! Ah! that was long ago.Why should they die for what they never did?No; David never would consent to that?
"God save the king!" But, hush! what noise was that?
Oh heaven! to think a mother's eyes should look
On such a sight! Away! vile carrion-beast!
Those are the sons of Saul,—poor Rizpah's sons.
O my dead darlings! O my only joy!
O sweet twin treasure of my lonely life,
Since that most mournful day upon Gilboa,
Torn from me thus!
I have no tears to shed.
O God! my heart is broken! Let me die!
Gilboa! David wrote a song on it,
And had it put inJasher—"Weep for Saul."
Armoni used to sing it to his harp.
Poor blackened lips!...
I wonder if they dream,
My pretty children....
Come, Mephibosheth,
Here is your father; say "God save the king!"
The Gibeonites! Ah! that was long ago.
Why should they die for what they never did?
No; David never would consent to that?
Whose son is he, this youth? Dost know him, Abner?Ha, ha! they shout again "God save the king!"Was I asleep? I came not here to sleep.O poor old eyes, sorrow has made you weak.My sons! No, nought has touched them. O, how cold!Cold, cold! O stars of God, have pity on me,Poor lonely woman! O my sons, Saul's sons!Kind stars, watch with me; let no evil beastRend that dear flesh. O God of Israel,Pardon my sins! My heart is broken!
Whose son is he, this youth? Dost know him, Abner?
Ha, ha! they shout again "God save the king!"
Was I asleep? I came not here to sleep.
O poor old eyes, sorrow has made you weak.
My sons! No, nought has touched them. O, how cold!
Cold, cold! O stars of God, have pity on me,
Poor lonely woman! O my sons, Saul's sons!
Kind stars, watch with me; let no evil beast
Rend that dear flesh. O God of Israel,
Pardon my sins! My heart is broken!