BURNT OFFERING.
181
"Ah me! My Lord could not this thing have meant!
He well might loathe me ever, if I go
Before these drunken princes as a show.
I am his queen; I come of king's descent.
I will not let him bring our crown so low;
He will but bless me when he doth repent!"
He well might loathe me ever, if I go
Before these drunken princes as a show.
I am his queen; I come of king's descent.
I will not let him bring our crown so low;
He will but bless me when he doth repent!"
BURNT OFFERING.
HE fire leaped up, swift, hot, and red;Swift, hot, and red, waiting a prey;
The woman came with swift, light tread,
And silently knelt down to lay
Armfuls of leaves upon the fire,
As men lay fagots on a pyre.
Armfuls of leaves which had been bright
Like painter's tints six months before,
All faded now, a ghastly sight,
Dusty and colorless, she bore,
And knelt and piled them on the fire,
As men lay fagots on the pyre.
Like painter's tints six months before,
All faded now, a ghastly sight,
Dusty and colorless, she bore,
And knelt and piled them on the fire,
As men lay fagots on the pyre.
Watching the crackle and the blaze,
Idly I smiled and idly said:
"Good-by, dead leaves, go dead leaves' ways.
Next year there will be more as red."
The woman turned, and from the fire
Looked up as from a funeral-pyre.
Idly I smiled and idly said:
"Good-by, dead leaves, go dead leaves' ways.
Next year there will be more as red."
The woman turned, and from the fire
Looked up as from a funeral-pyre.
