Classic Poem

Then, as he was a hungered and most dreary,
I bade my acolytes to swiftly bring
A tender calf and slay it for the king,
To fortify the flesh unmanned and weary.

And in good haste with feverish palms I kneaded
Flour, and did bake him there unleavened bread,
While he, like some snake-tortured bird, in dread,
Gazed vacantly about and no thing heeded.

And yet with eagerness and hands unsteady,
Of all my viands he partook with trust,
And drained my wine that urged on eager lust,
The wine of dreamy herbs that I held ready.

And so, refreshed, he leaned upon my shoulder,
And seeing no spectral harbinger of doom,
Sought for his chanith in the murky gloom,
And finding it, grew confident and bolder.

Then to the hurrying winds that blew around us,
I hurled the infamy of my disguise!
And wanton-like, with large enamored eyes,
I kissed him, as imperious rapture crowned us.

In love's most tempting and delicious fashion
I stood to dissipate his painful dream,
Peerless in promise and in joy supreme,
Warm with my longing, with my hope, my passion!

And ere from dazzled torpor he could waken,
Unto my breast I held my god, my all,
My paradise, my ravishment, my Saul,
By fiercest ardor overcome and shaken!

Ah, God! what ecstasy to hold him gladly;
Chill to my lips, and dull his surly doubt
With frenzied grasps and kisses, while without
The moaning winds thro' En-dor wandered madly!

Alone, alone with Saul! Jehovah's chosen,
The dominant king, the hero who had scorned
My beauty irresistibly adorned,
No longer dumb, no longer mute and frozen,

But lover-like and by love's pangs demented,
The amorous monarch of my dreams, who heard
The story of my subterfuge, each word
And long caress that tempered it, contented!

And when I stammered forth in sighs and fever
How I had made him mine, and blessed the guile,
Heaven would revere the sweetness of his smile
And his fond pardon unto me, deceiver!

And, although struggling still with doubts pernicious,
And all the wordless fears that loathe to die,
Fresh confidence grew in him then, for I
Had tossed to gloom all broodings superstitious.

" Why did I know thee not, " he cried, " of mortals
The perfect flower and fragrance? I am strong,
And Saul thy king, and yet I did thee wrong,
Thou who hast turned me from death's very portals.

" For I, to-morrow, if the Lord doth spare us,
Will go with Jonathan my son and friend,
And strong Abinadab my son, to rend
The mongrel hordes that clamorously dare us.

" So tell me, queen of lissom sorceresses,
Dost thou not still betray thy trusting Saul?
Oh, answer fearlessly, didst thou see all
The wavering phantoms in their somber dresses?

" Didst thou behold or bring about the horrid
Dire shadow draped in mysteries of white,
The accusing figure of a Midianite,
That hurled dull blood unto my burning forehead?

" Dost thou, oh peerless Shumma mine, remember
Elusive shapes that answered not thy call,
Dim films of light abhorrent to thy Saul,
That rose unquestioned from thy cauldron's ember?

" Didst thou see all? " Yea, yea, again I told him.
" This canst thou swear? " Aye, have no foolish dread.
And sighing, on his breast I drooped my head,
And with soft arms did languidly enfold him.

Gone were the visions terrible and hated,
Gone were the pains my kisses strove to heal,
While by his side, like a great ghost of steel,
His mighty, massive chanith scintillated!