Page:An epic of women and other poems (IA epicofwomenother00osha).pdf/119

 Thus beautiful and good was He, at length, Who came before King Herod in his strength, And shouted to him with a great command To purify himself, and put away That unclean woman set at his right hand; And after all to bow himself and pray, And be in terror of the Judgment Day!

He never had seen houses like to that Fair-columned, cedar-builded one where sat King Herod. Flawless cedar was each beam, Wrought o'er with flaming brass: along the wall Great brazen images of beasts did gleam, With wondrous flower-works and palm trees tall; And folded purples hung about it all.

He never had beheld so many thrones, As those of ivory and precious stones Whereon the noble company was raised About the king:—he never had seen gems So costly, nor so wonderful as blazed Upon their many crowns and diadems, And trailed upon their garments' trodden hems: