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176
JEPHTHA'S DAUGHTER.
And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me; let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity.—
Judges xi, 37.
Alone, alone on the mountains, the mountains wild and high,
Far below in midnight the sleeping cities lie,
Strange and fearful silence! Is it life or after-death
That folds me in its shadow, and crushes out my breath?
Far below in midnight the sleeping cities lie,
Strange and fearful silence! Is it life or after-death
That folds me in its shadow, and crushes out my breath?
Far above is heaven, far below is earth:
Heaven with stars of glory, the world with songs of mirth,
And I alone between them, a spirit cold and gray,
Lingering in the body, afraid to pass away.
Heaven with stars of glory, the world with songs of mirth,
And I alone between them, a spirit cold and gray,
Lingering in the body, afraid to pass away.
“Mourn!” says the wind-swept ether. “Mourn!” the echoes cry.
“Weep for the hopes that perish; weep for the dreams that die!”
Along the light horizon a troop of visions pass
Frail as wandering shadows the clouds make on the grass.
“Weep for the hopes that perish; weep for the dreams that die!”
Along the light horizon a troop of visions pass
Frail as wandering shadows the clouds make on the grass.
177
Crowding wistful faces, their eyes as dark as mine,
Over their loosened tresses the crowns of Judah shine.
O my lost! my darlings! who never shall be born,
Fading into glory as stars fade into morn.
Over their loosened tresses the crowns of Judah shine.
O my lost! my darlings! who never shall be born,
Fading into glory as stars fade into morn.
No soft baby fingers tinged like an ocean shell,
No light baby footsteps within my tent shall dwell;
The maidens of my kindred shall know a mother's heart,
But Death and I together in the bridal train depart.
No light baby footsteps within my tent shall dwell;
The maidens of my kindred shall know a mother's heart,
But Death and I together in the bridal train depart.
Deeper in the vision I see a face divine,
Woman-born Redeemer! Hope of David's line.
Oh! cursed above all women! daughter of dust and shame!
Forgotten among Israel! He shall not bear thy name.
Woman-born Redeemer! Hope of David's line.
Oh! cursed above all women! daughter of dust and shame!
Forgotten among Israel! He shall not bear thy name.
The girls who loved my girlhood come from the sleeping plain,
I hear their mingled voices that wail my life in vain.
Lost in mountain caverns, to them the echoes sigh,
My soul shall fall in darkness that murmurs no reply.
I hear their mingled voices that wail my life in vain.
Lost in mountain caverns, to them the echoes sigh,
My soul shall fall in darkness that murmurs no reply.
I have said my sorrow, I have mourned my death:
Pride of Judah's princes, uphold my failing breath!
A woman's mortal weakness has had its mortal sway.
Calm as the dawn that breaketh my soul shall glide away.
Pride of Judah's princes, uphold my failing breath!
A woman's mortal weakness has had its mortal sway.
Calm as the dawn that breaketh my soul shall glide away.
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