The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-05-27
S'ks laaii1lgg y Geemms ems
From ne Corn IfRt Aaad:inc.l
THE ShTItAI'.
DY W. FRANK EMrTII.

90
Through all tile s.rocts OF sarals wen. rolcc
oflauicntauon and OF deutl
For soyen months tho famine had prevailed
hud now the OWL breath
or Pcslilencc. Men throngcd the palace gntcs
For brUsd or I death. % but from the glldcd doors
Cnmo no reply.
On his high paacc roof tho Sa,rap lay,
OF Tyrisn silk |; his slaves. with folded hands.
Ono falr-lilirod Persian fu,ori,o alone
Toyed with her golden bracelet rings
In iaDgu!d pride.
From Incense cups, slender stems Of bronze.
Tho thin Fry g, smoke nInol ,,,ass arose o. ,
Long day was near its closo
. Beneath him 1av. fnr in.nv - f-" itfu league,
Fair meaSow aS % lands. anu Da.hDS In sunset light,
IN. ,,u,,v -,
Had reached the IA. .ssr slrund
ofgontlo Hernus, the SLOW smooth stream .
or molten brass. aud en- tbs satrap saw
His kingdom wio
His heart rejolced. and to him -of he said
"swOet is the naltorer's prs.u,. ny. honoy-swost.
u :. Tho M iy dainty food Of klpgs Villa. profits it
know It well
That all these iawuug courtier hounds would cell
An ounce OF brass, nor think IL cheapiy sold.
This fair 4, d gilded snake, skilled to wreath
aos o ono you WE'LL
She loathes tho ground 1 touch.
II once bcf,l
. I heard her babSHng, whilo aslcep sho lay.
, }; y Somo lovers name In Persia far away.
"What said the Crock word.monger yesterday
n Tho unseen gods ara strong. and soon or late,
Give each his due; and mightIcr Than thoy
, Tho dread Implying force OF law and fate
al Who aro thrso unBeon gods7 and aIu not
god1 givo tho word. and presently
These lolsad.tor golden eornfelllH, ono by one,
Lilo Gust nnd nahos blackenng in the slip
Mon know tho Gods through far; what zeus
~. Tho atch-lustroycr ssiyc TINT h. rnny uso
The forked lightning, nnd the blasting hail
This very night IN mako thu stars grow palu
Against tho thousand golden humps that snne
~ Around my hnn OF banquet, and the winc,
Bofne ROUND by many rose.cruwned slave, shall Gov
Among my siiken guests. until their slow
Dull blood, with aro divine. shall warm and glow.
Meanwhile the sound oi flutes shali sweeter grow
Aud 't ha Sss S5s Sga m "Ti wG s@ moving feet
My red,pped nyinphs shnil join in tue Legion dance
And am not1 aa great god Ds ho, -.I...
The drunken son Of Theban Semrlc7
True: cyru'ss greater god than i.
~ And with word can cast me from my throne.
And yea. ,,, ny year the wrctehqd people ply
~. HIS ear for Judgment on my tyranny
But grost Peracpolis fs far, their lnoan -..
sounds fiinIly IN hia cars and kngs aro promo
To view tho crimes Of kfnps with lcnient oye."
Thus spoke tho satrsp in his pride but whilo
Tho blood nnd sunset glow
Still stained tho Wcst o sound Of whispering,
Went through the courts below.
Then came ) messcngor, all pale and faint
From riding hnrd, ,F 't'- ~
With letters scaled with Cyrus' hand and sought
Tho captain Of tho guard
Theeaptain Of tho guard broke seal, and read
Without word
But In the dead OF night, whom nu was still
..,.- Tho watchers heard
sound Of st.althy footsteps ON the stair.
And when tho morning sun aroso thoy found
Stabbed In his sleep; and so another prince
li' Retgned In his stcad.