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woman's eye and cheek。 We will not serve； we will not know； The God
who is our father's foe。 In our proud cities to his name No temples rise； no
altars flame。 Our flocks of sheep； our groves of spice； To him afford no
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sacrifice。 Enough that once the House of Cain Hath courted with oblation
vain The sullen power above。 Henceforth we bear the yoke no more； The
only gods whom we adore Are glory； vengeance； love。
〃Of our father and our king Let his grateful children sing。 What eye of
living thing may brook On his blazing brow to look？ What might of living
thing may stand Against the strength of his right hand？ First he led his
armies forth Against the Mammoths of the north； What time they wasted
in their pride Pasture and vineyard far and wide。 Then the White River's
icy flood Was thawed with fire and dyed with blood； And heard for many a
league the sound Of the pine forests blazing round； And the death…howl
and trampling din Of the gigantic herd within。 From the surging sea of
flame Forth the tortured monsters came； As of breakers on the shore Was
their onset and their roar； As the cedar…trees of God Stood the stately ranks
of Nod。 One long night and one short day The sword was lifted up to slay。
Then marched the firstborn and his sons O'er the white ashes of the wood；
And counted of that savage brood Nine times nine thousand skeletons。
〃On the snow with carnage red The wood is piled； the skins are spread。
A thousand fires illume the sky； Round each a hundred warriors lie。 But；
long ere half the night was spent； Forth thundered from the golden tent
The rousing voice of Cain。 A thousand trumps in answer rang And fast to
arms the warriors sprang O'er all the frozen plain。 A herald from the
wealthy bay Hath come with tidings of dismay。 From the western ocean's
coast Seth hath led a countless host； And vows to slay with fire and sword
All who call not on the Lord。 His archers hold the mountain forts； His
light armed ships blockade the ports； His horsemen tread the harvest down。
On twelve proud bridges he hath passed The river dark with many a mast；
And pitched his mighty camp at last Before the imperial town。
〃On the south and on the west； Closely was the city prest。 Before us
lay the hostile powers。 The breach was wide between the towers。 Pulse
and meal within were sold For a double weight of gold。 Our mighty father
had gone forth Two hundred marches to the north。 Yet in that extreme of
ill We stoutly kept his city still； And swore beneath his royal wall； Like his
true sons to fight and fall。
〃Hark； hark； to gong and horn； Clarion； and fife； and drum； The morn；
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the fortieth morn； Fixed for the great assault is come。 Between the camp
and city spreads A waving sea of helmed heads。 From the royal car of Seth
Was hung the blood…reg flag of death： At sight of that thrice…hallowed sign
Wide flew at once each banner's fold； The captains clashed their arms of
gold； The war cry of Elohim rolled Far down their endless line。 On the
northern hills afar Pealed an answering note of war。 Soon the dust in
whirlwinds driven； Rushed across the northern heaven。 Beneath its shroud
came thick and loud The tramp as of a countless crowd； And at intervals
were seen Lance and hauberk glancing sheen； And at intervals were heard
Charger's neigh and battle word。
〃Oh what a rapturous cry From all the city's thousand spires arose；
With what a look the hollow eye Of the lean watchman glared upon the
foes； With what a yell of joy the mother pressed The moaning baby to her
withered breast； When through the swarthy cloud that veiled the plain
Burst on his children's sight the flaming brow of Cain！〃
There paused perforce that noble song； For from all the joyous throng；
Burst forth a rapturous shout which drowned Singer's voice and trumpet's
sound。 Thrice that stormy clamour fell； Thrice rose again with mightier
swell。 The last and loudest roar of all Had died along the painted wall。 The
crowd was hushed； the minstrel train Prepared to strike the chords again；
When on each ear distinctly smote A low and wild and wailing note。 It
moans again。 In mute amaze Menials； and guests； and harpers gaze。 They
look above； beneath； around； No shape doth own that mournful sound。 It
comes not from the tuneful quire； It comes not from the feasting peers。
There is no tone of earthly lyre So soft； so sad； so full of tears。 Then a
strange horror came on all Who sate at that high festival。 The far famed
harp； the harp of gold； Dropped from Jubal's trembling hold。 Frantic with
dismay the bride Clung to her Ahirad's side。 And the corpse…like hue of
dread Ahirad's haughty face o'erspread。 Yet not even in that agony of awe
Did the young leader of the fair…haired race From Tirzah's shuddering
grasp his hand withdraw； Or turn his eyes from Tirzah's livid face。 The
tigers to their lord retreat； And crouch and whine beneath his feet。 Prone
sink to earth the golden shielded seven。 All hearts are cowed save his
alone Who sits upon the emerald throne； For he hath heard Elohim speak
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from heaven。 Still thunders in his ear the peal； Still blazes on his front the
seal： And on the soul of the proud king No terror of created thing From
sky； or earth； or hell； hath power Since that unutterable hour。
He rose to speak； but paused； and listening stood； Not daunted； but in
sad and curious mood； With knitted brow； and searching eye of fire。 A
deathlike silence sank on all around； And through the boundless space was
heard no sound； Save the soft tones of that mysterious lyre。 Broken； faint；
and low； At first the numbers flow。 Louder； deeper； quicker； still Into one
fierce peal they swell； And the echoing palace fill With a strange funereal
yell。 A voice comes forth。 But what； or where？ On the earth； or in the air？
Like the midnight winds that blow Round a lone cottage in the snow； With
howling swell and sighing fall； It wails along the trophied hall。 In such a
wild and dreary moan The watches of the Seraphim Poured out all night
their plaintive hymn Before the eternal throne。 Then； when from many a
heavenly eye Drops as of earthly pity fell For her who had aspire too high；
For him who loved too well。 When； stunned by grief； the gentle pair From
the nuptial garden fair； Linked in a sorrowful caress； Strayed through the
untrodden wilderness； And close behind their footsteps came The
desolating sword of flame； And drooped the cedared alley's pride； And
fountains shrank； and roses died。
〃Rejoice； O Son of God； rejoice；〃 Sang that melancholy voice；
〃Rejoice； the maid is fair to see； The bower is decked for her and thee； The
ivory lamps around it throw A soft and pure and mellow glow。 Where'er
the chastened lustre falls On roof or cornice； floor or walls； Woven of pink
and rose appear Such words as love delights to hear。 The breath of myrrh；
the lute's soft sound； Float through the moonlight galleries round。 O'er
beds of violet and through groves of spice； Lead thy proud bride into the
nuptial bower； For thou hast bought her with a fearful price； And she hath
dowered thee with a fearful dower。 The price is life。 The dower is death。
Accursed loss！ Accursed gain！ For her thou givest the blessedness of Seth；
And to thine arms she brings the curse of Cain。
Round the dark curtains of the fiery throne Pauses awhile the voice of
sacred song： From all the angelic ranks goes forth a groan； 'How long； O
Lord； how long？' The still small voice makes answer； 'Wait and see； Oh
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sons of glory； what the end shall be。'
〃But； in the outer darkness of the place Where God hath shown his
power without his grace； Is laughter and the sound of glad acclaim； Loud
as when； on wings of fire； Fulfilled of his malign desire； From Paradise the
c