Bid them all avaunt for ever! Blot them from his feverish view! Still forgotten crimes are rising, and his tortured soul pursue. He will doff his purple robes, in sackcloth and in ashes lie. What is time? A day dream. Oh, that burning word, eternity! Not enough? Why looks the Baptist with that fix'd and solemn gaze? Gold and silver, pearls and rubies, on the temple gate shall blaze. Not enough? Why looks the Baptist piercing through his soul and life? Ha! the queen, his royal consort! nay, his brother Philip's wife. Herod shrank, but smiled Herodias, though the gathering vengeance drain'd Lip of blood, and cheek of blushes. Further answer she disdain'd, But arose, drew forth the monarch, said their royal tryst was o'er; And that night in chains the Baptist press'd Machærus' dungeon floor. Thrice since then had Spring and Summer carpeted the earth with flowers; But those dreary walls unchanging fenced his slow and changeless hours, Save there grew 'twixt blocks of granite from some chancesown seed a fern; And the captive watch'd it ever with the daylight's first return, Drinking in the earliest sunbeam, beaded with its dewy tears, All its tender leaflets laden and emboss'd for future years. And it spake to him. It chanced there visited his lonely cell, Chuza, seneschal of Herod; and a word of power that fell From the Baptist's lips found lodgement in the deep repose of thought Hidden in a kindred nature, truthful, generous, nobly wrought. So it was, an unknown friendship unsuspected entrance gains For a love that loved their master better, dearer for his chains; Whence he knew ONE name was wafted now on every passing breath, Filling Judea's hills and valleys with the fame of Naza reth. Joy for thee! no weak reed shaken by the fickle fitful wind: No soft courtier clothed in raiment woven in the looms of Ind: O true prophet, more than prophet! voice of God! Messiah's friend! Burning, shining, let thy beacon blaze unwavering to the end! Musing thus his past, the captive on his watch nor slept nor stirr❜d, And the hours slid by unheeded, and the cock crew twice unheard: And the dewy stars more faintly glimmer'd in the doubtful gloom, And the bursts of mirth were fewer from the royal banquet room. Thither Galilee had summon'd all her loveliness and state, And her loveliest there seem'd lovelier, and her greatness there more great: Flow'd the purple wine like water: Eden's perfumes fill'd the hall; And the lamps through roseate colors shed a soften'd light on all. Mirth and Music hand in hand were floating through the fairy scene; All were praising Herod's glory, all were lauding Herod's queen; When at given sign was silence, and the guests reclined around, And a lonely harper, waking from the chords a dreamlike sound, Breathed delight and soft enchantment over ear and heart and soul: None could choose but list, and listening, none their ten derest thoughts control: When the young, the fair Salome, from her chamber gently slid, Nor loose veil, nor golden tresses half her mantling blushes hid: Young Salome, sixteen summers scarcely on her bloom had smiled; Art was none, but artless beauty; Nature's simplest, fondest child. At the banquet's edge she linger'd, to her mother's side she press'd, And assay'd to dance, and falter'd trembling; but again caress'd, As those wild notes with a stronger witchery on her spirit fell, Stole into the midst, and startled, timid as a young gazelle, Trod the air with printless footsteps, as the breezes tread the sea, Moved to every tone responsive, like embodied melody: Till embolden'd, as she floated like a cloud of light along, Mingled with melodious music gentler cadences of song, And when every ear was ravish'd, every heart subdued with love, Dropp'd at length, as drops the skylark from its azure home above, Swiftly with an angel's swiftness, with a mortal's sweetness sweet, Glowing, trembling, trusting, loving — dropp'd at length at Herod's feet. Heaven be witness, Herod grants her the petition she prefers: Half his kingdom were mean dowry for a loveliness like hers. |