THE DESTRUCTION OF SENNACHERIB 171 63 THE DESTRUCTION OF SENNACHERIB II Kings xix. 35 The Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold, And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold; And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea, When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee. Like the leaves of the forest when Summer is green, The host with their banners at sunset were seen : Like the leaves of the forest when Autumn hath blown, The host on the morrow lay wither'd and strown. For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in the face of the foe as he pass'd; And the eyes of the sleepers wax'd deadly and chill, And their hearts but once heav'd, and forever grew still! And there lay the steed with his nostril all wide, But through it there roll'd not the breath of his pride; And the foam of his gasping lay white on the turf, And cold as the spray of the rock-beating surf. And there lay the rider distorted and pale, With the dew on his brow, and the rust on his mail; And the tents were all silent, the banners alone, The lances unlifted, the trumpet unblown. And the widows of Asshur are loud in their wail, And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal; And the might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword, Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord! LORD BYRON 64 SONG OF THE JEWS IN THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY Behold, O Lord, the heathen tread The branches of Thy fruitful vine, O'er all the hills of Palestine. No! by the marvels of Thine hand, SONG OF THE JEWS By the Egyptians' car-borne host, In their last and worst distress- On the margin of the flood The gathered waves that took their stand Like crystal rocks, on either hand, Or walls of sea-green marble piled Then the light of morning lay 173 Then with bow and banner glancing, With her chosen horsemen prancing, All around her furious king. But the Lord from out His cloud, Down the deep bosom of the sea. With a quick and sudden swell Prone the liquid ramparts fell; As the level waters spread, Down they sank, they sank like lead; HENRY HART MILMAN GOOD TIDINGS TO ZION 175 65 GOOD TIDINGS TO ZION Isaiah lii. 7 On the mountain's top appearing, God Himself will loose thy bands. Has thy night been long and mournful? Zion still is well-beloved. God, thy God will now restore thee; All thy foes shall flee before thee; Zion's King vouchsafes to send. Enemies no more shall trouble; All thy wrongs shall be redressed; For thy shame thou shalt have double, In thy Maker's favor blest; All thy conflicts End in everlasting rest. THOMAS KELLEY |