Page:Poems and ballads (IA poemsballads00swinrich).pdf/328

 And fishers in the middle sea Did get thee sea-fish and sea-weeds In colour like the robes on thee; And curious work of plaited reeds, And wools wherein live purple bleeds.

And round the edges of thy cup Men wrought thee marvels out of gold, Strong snakes with lean throats lifted up, Large eyes whereon the brows had hold, And scaly things their slime kept cold.

For thee they blew soft wind in flutes And ground sweet roots for cunning scent; Made slow because of many lutes, The wind among thy chambers went Wherein no light was violent.

God called thy name Aholibah, His tabernacle being in thee, A witness through waste Asia; Thou wert a tent sewn cunningly With gold and colours of the sea.

God gave thee gracious ministers And all their work who plait and weave: The cunning of embroiderers That sew the pillow to the sleeve, And likeness of all things that live.