FROM THE GERMAN. The
She telenge, Witatherston
THE clouds are blackening, the storms threatening,
And ever the forest maketh a moan:
Billows are breaking, the damsel's heart aching, Thus by herself she singeth alone, Weeping right plenteously.
"The world is empty, the heart is dead surely, In this world plainly all seemeth amiss : To thy breast, holy one, take now thy little one, I have had earnest of all earth's bliss,
DAVID IN THE CAVE OF ADULLAM.
DAVID and his three captains bold Kept ambush once within a hold. It was in Adullam's cave,
Nigh which no water they could have, Nor spring, nor running brook was near To quench the thirst that parch'd them there. Then David, king of Israel,
Strait bethought him of a well,
Which stood beside the city gate, At Bethlem; where, before his state Of kingly dignity, he had
Oft drunk his fill, a shepherd lad; But now his fierce Philistine foe Encamp'd before it he does know. Yet ne'er the less, with heat opprest, Those three bold captains he addrest, And wish'd that one to him would bring Some water from his native spring. His valiant captains instantly To execute his will did fly.
The mighty Three the ranks broke through Of armed foes, and water drew For David, their beloved king,
At his own sweet native spring.
Back through their armed foes they haste, With the hard-earn'd treasure graced. But when the good king David found What they had done, he on the ground The water pour'd. "Because," said he, "That it was at the jeopardy
"Of your three lives this thing ye did,
"That I should drink it, God forbid."
ONCE on a charger there was laid, And brought before a royal maid, As price of attitude and grace, A guiltless head, a holy face.
It was on Herod's natal day, Who o'er Judea's land held sway. He married his own brother's wife, Wicked Herodias. She the life
Of John the Baptist long had sought, Because he openly had taught
That she a life unlawful led,
Having her husband's brother wed.
This was he, that saintly John, Who in the wilderness alone Abiding, did for clothing wear A garment made of camel's hair; Honey and locusts were his food, And he was most severely good.
He preached penitence and tears, And waking first the sinner's fears, Prepared a path, made smooth a way, For his diviner master's day.
Herod kept in princely state
His birth-day. On his throne he sate, After the feast, beholding her Who danced with grace peculiar ; Fair Salome, who did excel
All in that land for dancing well. The feastful monarch's heart was fired, And whatsoe'er thing she desired, Though half his kingdom it should be, He in his pleasure swore that he
Would give the graceful Salome. The damsel was Herodias' daughter : She to the queen hastes, and besought he To teach her what great gift to name. Instructed by Herodias, came
The damsel back; to Herod said, "Give me John the Baptist's head; "And in a charger let it be "Hither straitway brought to me." Herod her suit would fain deny, But for his oath's sake must comply.
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