Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893.
Christus: A MysteryPart II. The Golden Legend. III. IV. The Nativity: A Miracle-Play. VI. The Slaughter of the Innocents
Filled am I with great wonderment
At this unwelcome news!
Am I not Herod? Who shall dare
My crown to take, my sceptre bear,
As king among the Jews?
What ho! I fain would drink a can
Of the strong wine of Canaan!
The wine of Helbon bring
I purchased at the Fair of Tyre,
As red as blood, as hot as fire,
And fit for any king!
Now at the window will I stand,
While in the street the armèd band
The little children slay;
The babe just born in Bethlehem
Will surely slaughtered be with them,
Nor live another day!
To do this most unrighteous deed!
My children all are slain!
With wine of Sorek fill it up!
I would a bumper drain!
Thyself and lineage, to the last
Of all thy kith and kin!
Pomegranate juice and drops of myrrh
And calamus therein!
It is King Herod who commands
That he should thus be slain!
It is King Herod’s only son
That ye have cleft in twain!
Are these that smite upon my ear
With such a doleful sound!
What torments rack my heart and head!
Would I were dead! would I were dead,
And buried in the ground!