Song

(From “Judith”)

BALKIS was in her marble town,

And shadow over the world came down.

Whiteness of walls, towers and piers,

That all day dazzled eyes to tears,

Turned from being white-golden flame,

And like the deep-sea blue became.

Balkis into her garden went;

Her spirit was in discontent

Like a torch in restless air.

Joylessly she wandered there,

And saw her city’s azure white

Lying under the great night,

Beautiful as the memory

Of a worshipping world would be

In the mind of a god, in the hour

When he must kill his outward power;

And, coming to a pool where trees

Grew in double greeneries,

Saw herself, as she went by

The water, walking beautifully,

And saw the stars shine in the glance

Of her eyes, and her own fair countenance

Passing, pale and wonderful,

Across the night that filled the pool.

And cruel was the grief that played

With the queen’s spirit; and she said:

“What do I here, reigning alone?

For to be unloved is to be alone.

There is no man in all my land

Dare my longing understand;

The whole folk like a peasant bows

Lest its look should meet my brows

And be harmed by this beauty of mine.

I burn their brains as I were sign

Of God’s beautiful anger sent

To master them with punishment

Of beauty that must pour distress

On hearts grown dark with ugliness.

But it is I am the punisht one.

Is there no man, is there none,

In whom my beauty will but move

The lust of a delighted love;

In whom some spirit of God so thrives

That we may wed our lonely lives.

Is there no man, is there none?”—

She said, “I will go to Solomon.”