Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, JEZEBEL, by ARTHUR THOMAS QUILLER-COUCH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

JEZEBEL, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: This is the song thy made for jezebel
Last Line: By the wall of jezreel.
Alternate Author Name(s): Q; Quiller-couch, A. T.
Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Daughters; Marriage; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


THIS is the song they made for Jezebel,
The King's daughter of Zidon,
Chanting her through the gate of Samaria
By the way of Jezreel.
Tzing-gong! to the tunable cymbals,
Bells a-swing on her canopy,
This is the song the Sons of Korah
Lifted beneath the terebinths:
Maschil, a Song of Loves for Jezebel,
A bride meet for Ahab.

'Gladdened with lutes from ivory palaces,
With Kings' daughters attendant,
Scented of myrrh, of aloes, of cassia
Come, O bridegroom, forth!
Sworded on thigh and sceptred of equity,
Fairer than children of men,
Chrism'd of the Lord above thy fellows,
Alight, O King, from thy chariot!
Lead, to her throne beside thee, Jezebel
Dazzling in gold of Ophir!'
—But hush! the grooms are sponging his chariot
By the pool of Samaria.

'Hearken, O daughter! Leave to remember
Thy people, thy father's house:
So shall the King desire thy loveliness—
Worship thou him, thy lord!
She of Tyre, that was thy playfellow,
Sues thee now with a gift:
The merchants also, thy friends aforetime,
Henceforth are thy homagers.

'Glorious within is the King's daughter
To whom the Isles pay tribute!
Lead her, clothed in a garment of needlework,
Lay her to bed, O Virgins!
Whisper "Be comforted, bride of Israel,
Thou that wast of Zidon:
In place of fathers shall be thy children
Princes in all the earth!"'

This was the song they made for Jezebel:
Maschil, a Song of Loves.
—But hush! The dogs are eating Jezebel,
By the wall of Jezreel.





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