 | A New Year's Eve, and Other Poems |  |
94
THE DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS.
On his royal throne of state,
Herod sits, in power elate;
Rank and splendour round him wait,
Kingly pride enhancing;
He suspecting not the while
Hatred's cruelty and guile,
Gazes with approving smile
On that maiden dancing.
Herod sits, in power elate;
Rank and splendour round him wait,
Kingly pride enhancing;
He suspecting not the while
Hatred's cruelty and guile,
Gazes with approving smile
On that maiden dancing.
Lovely as the graceful play
Of a fount in moonlight's ray,
Or a proud swan on its way
Ripling waves dividing;
Airy as a sweet bird's flight
Through the azure realms of light,
Seems that form of beauty bright
Now before him gliding.
Of a fount in moonlight's ray,
Or a proud swan on its way
Ripling waves dividing;
95
Through the azure realms of light,
Seems that form of beauty bright
Now before him gliding.
Ceased the music's festive sound!
Ceased the dancer's sportive bound!
When the monarch, looking round,
Craved the syren's pleasure:—
“Ask whate'er thou wilt,” said he,
“And my oath I plight to thee
Thou shalt have it, though it be
Half my kingly treasure!”
Ceased the dancer's sportive bound!
When the monarch, looking round,
Craved the syren's pleasure:—
“Ask whate'er thou wilt,” said he,
“And my oath I plight to thee
Thou shalt have it, though it be
Half my kingly treasure!”
“Give me here,” the maiden said,
“John the Baptist's forfeit head!”
Herod heard with shame and dread,
And too late repented;
But false honour's specious tie,
Plighted oath,—his courtiers by
Doomed the martyr saint to die
Death revenge invented.
“John the Baptist's forfeit head!”
Herod heard with shame and dread,
And too late repented;
But false honour's specious tie,
Plighted oath,—his courtiers by
Doomed the martyr saint to die
Death revenge invented.
96
Heartless damsel! though the blame
Of this act of fraud and shame
Render odious Herod's name,
Thou that odium sharest:
More revolting was thy part,
Blending cruelty with art;—
Girl-hood's grace without its heart,
Hateful makes the fairest.
Of this act of fraud and shame
Render odious Herod's name,
Thou that odium sharest:
More revolting was thy part,
Blending cruelty with art;—
Girl-hood's grace without its heart,
Hateful makes the fairest.
Bard or painter, who would dress,
“Beauty in unloveliness,”
Draw from thee: and thus express
All thy charms have brought thee;—
Sterner tone and deeper hue
Best may body forth to view
That relentless mother—who
Thy foul lesson taught thee!
“Beauty in unloveliness,”
Draw from thee: and thus express
All thy charms have brought thee;—
Sterner tone and deeper hue
Best may body forth to view
That relentless mother—who
Thy foul lesson taught thee!
| A New Year's Eve, and Other Poems | |