SALOMESALOME
SALOMESALOME
SALOME
XIX
Onceon a charger there was laidAnd brought before a royal maid,As price of attitude and grace,A guiltless head, a holy face.It was on Herod’s natal day,Who o’er Judæa’s land held sway.He married his own brother’s wife,Wicked Herodias. She the lifeOf John the Baptist long had soughtBecause he openly had taughtThat she a life unlawful ledHaving her husband’s brother wed.This was he, that saintly John,Who in the wilderness aloneAbiding, did for clothing wearA garment made of camel’s hair;Honey and locusts were his foodAnd he was most severely good.He preached penitence and tearsAnd waking first the sinner’s fears,Prepared a path, made smooth a wayFor his diviner Master’s day.Herod kept in princely stateHis birthday. On his throne he sate,After the feast, beholding herWho danced with grace peculiar;Fair Salome, who did excelAll in that land for dancing well.The feastful monarch’s heart was fired,And whatsoe’er thing she desired,Though half his kingdom it should be,He in his pleasure swore that heWould give the graceful Salome.The damsel was Herodias’ daughter:She to the queen hastes, and besought herTo teach her what great gift to name.Instructed by Herodias, cameThe damsel back; to Herod said,“Give me John the Baptist’s head;And in a charger let it beHither straightway brought to me.”Herod her suit would fain deny,But for his oath’s sake must comply.
Onceon a charger there was laidAnd brought before a royal maid,As price of attitude and grace,A guiltless head, a holy face.It was on Herod’s natal day,Who o’er Judæa’s land held sway.He married his own brother’s wife,Wicked Herodias. She the lifeOf John the Baptist long had soughtBecause he openly had taughtThat she a life unlawful ledHaving her husband’s brother wed.This was he, that saintly John,Who in the wilderness aloneAbiding, did for clothing wearA garment made of camel’s hair;Honey and locusts were his foodAnd he was most severely good.He preached penitence and tearsAnd waking first the sinner’s fears,Prepared a path, made smooth a wayFor his diviner Master’s day.Herod kept in princely stateHis birthday. On his throne he sate,After the feast, beholding herWho danced with grace peculiar;Fair Salome, who did excelAll in that land for dancing well.The feastful monarch’s heart was fired,And whatsoe’er thing she desired,Though half his kingdom it should be,He in his pleasure swore that heWould give the graceful Salome.The damsel was Herodias’ daughter:She to the queen hastes, and besought herTo teach her what great gift to name.Instructed by Herodias, cameThe damsel back; to Herod said,“Give me John the Baptist’s head;And in a charger let it beHither straightway brought to me.”Herod her suit would fain deny,But for his oath’s sake must comply.
Onceon a charger there was laidAnd brought before a royal maid,As price of attitude and grace,A guiltless head, a holy face.
Onceon a charger there was laid
And brought before a royal maid,
As price of attitude and grace,
A guiltless head, a holy face.
It was on Herod’s natal day,Who o’er Judæa’s land held sway.He married his own brother’s wife,Wicked Herodias. She the lifeOf John the Baptist long had soughtBecause he openly had taughtThat she a life unlawful ledHaving her husband’s brother wed.
It was on Herod’s natal day,
Who o’er Judæa’s land held sway.
He married his own brother’s wife,
Wicked Herodias. She the life
Of John the Baptist long had sought
Because he openly had taught
That she a life unlawful led
Having her husband’s brother wed.
This was he, that saintly John,Who in the wilderness aloneAbiding, did for clothing wearA garment made of camel’s hair;Honey and locusts were his foodAnd he was most severely good.He preached penitence and tearsAnd waking first the sinner’s fears,Prepared a path, made smooth a wayFor his diviner Master’s day.
This was he, that saintly John,
Who in the wilderness alone
Abiding, did for clothing wear
A garment made of camel’s hair;
Honey and locusts were his food
And he was most severely good.
He preached penitence and tears
And waking first the sinner’s fears,
Prepared a path, made smooth a way
For his diviner Master’s day.
Herod kept in princely stateHis birthday. On his throne he sate,After the feast, beholding herWho danced with grace peculiar;Fair Salome, who did excelAll in that land for dancing well.The feastful monarch’s heart was fired,And whatsoe’er thing she desired,Though half his kingdom it should be,He in his pleasure swore that heWould give the graceful Salome.The damsel was Herodias’ daughter:She to the queen hastes, and besought herTo teach her what great gift to name.Instructed by Herodias, cameThe damsel back; to Herod said,“Give me John the Baptist’s head;And in a charger let it beHither straightway brought to me.”Herod her suit would fain deny,But for his oath’s sake must comply.
Herod kept in princely state
His birthday. On his throne he sate,
After the feast, beholding her
Who danced with grace peculiar;
Fair Salome, who did excel
All in that land for dancing well.
The feastful monarch’s heart was fired,
And whatsoe’er thing she desired,
Though half his kingdom it should be,
He in his pleasure swore that he
Would give the graceful Salome.
The damsel was Herodias’ daughter:
She to the queen hastes, and besought her
To teach her what great gift to name.
Instructed by Herodias, came
The damsel back; to Herod said,
“Give me John the Baptist’s head;
And in a charger let it be
Hither straightway brought to me.”
Herod her suit would fain deny,
But for his oath’s sake must comply.
(Illustration)
When painters would by art expressBeauty in unloveliness,Thee, Herodias’ daughter, thee,They fittest subject take to be.They give thy form and features grace;But ever in thy beauteous faceThey show a steadfast cruel gaze,An eye unpitying; and amazeIn all beholders deep they mark,That thou betrayest not one sparkOf feeling for the ruthless deed,That did thy praiseful dance succeed.For on the head they make you lookAs if a sullen joy you took,A cruel triumph, wicked pride,That for your sport a saint had died.
When painters would by art expressBeauty in unloveliness,Thee, Herodias’ daughter, thee,They fittest subject take to be.They give thy form and features grace;But ever in thy beauteous faceThey show a steadfast cruel gaze,An eye unpitying; and amazeIn all beholders deep they mark,That thou betrayest not one sparkOf feeling for the ruthless deed,That did thy praiseful dance succeed.For on the head they make you lookAs if a sullen joy you took,A cruel triumph, wicked pride,That for your sport a saint had died.
When painters would by art expressBeauty in unloveliness,Thee, Herodias’ daughter, thee,They fittest subject take to be.They give thy form and features grace;But ever in thy beauteous faceThey show a steadfast cruel gaze,An eye unpitying; and amazeIn all beholders deep they mark,That thou betrayest not one sparkOf feeling for the ruthless deed,That did thy praiseful dance succeed.For on the head they make you lookAs if a sullen joy you took,A cruel triumph, wicked pride,That for your sport a saint had died.
When painters would by art express
Beauty in unloveliness,
Thee, Herodias’ daughter, thee,
They fittest subject take to be.
They give thy form and features grace;
But ever in thy beauteous face
They show a steadfast cruel gaze,
An eye unpitying; and amaze
In all beholders deep they mark,
That thou betrayest not one spark
Of feeling for the ruthless deed,
That did thy praiseful dance succeed.
For on the head they make you look
As if a sullen joy you took,
A cruel triumph, wicked pride,
That for your sport a saint had died.
(Illustration)