Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-02-02
THE TWO wREATus.

II was a gala day In Jerusalem. Its
crowded streets; the bright, happy faces oi
the jostlng populacei the yariegated dresses
the merry jests; the closed mafts oil ine
traders-all these facts seemed TO show inat
an extraordinary festival was at hand. And,
wonderful TO relate, tue motley crowd, In
which almost every nationality was repre-
senied-tbe Egyptian, the lyman, the AR
menian, the Syrian, the Jew--involuntaily
swept in one direction-the court ol Solomon
the King.
The wisdom OF King Solomon, like the
fragrance Of the musk, had insenslDly been
walled throughout the civilized world. Ihe
splendor of his court-the mingled air OF
raiety and luxury which there prevailed
no less than Ihe reputation and mower oi
The King himself, had spread from land TO
land and nation TO nation, until in the
whole globe no king could be found TO we
with Solomon in the graces OF his MIND ana
the wealth OF his kingdom, Jerusalem was
daily filled with an admiring lhrong, eager
10 see the marvellous works OF Solomon ana
to test his divine wisdom.
To-day, then, was, above all others,
day OF Joy 10 the capital; FOR the Queen OF
sheba, attracted by the reputation OF Solo
mon, as well as piqued by his superior
knowledge, has entered the city, determined
10 pierce the one and shaiter the other. Aud
now, al the head of a gorgeous train, she
has passed within tie pondeTOus portal oil
Jerusalem, aud is rapidly nearing The palace
Of the King.
The news o: the arrival of the Queen, and
the accounts which had come from Time to
time to their cars of her wonderou5 beauty
and wisdom, had fairly set the cllizens wild;
for, see how they cluster, like begs, along
the sides Of her variegated retinue, clinging
10 the wheels OF her chariot, and rending the
air with their shouts Good naturedly tue
Queen scatters fruit and flowers on every
side, which are eagerly snatched by the
merry crowd.
BY this time the Queen and her retaiuer'
have reached the Avenue which leads TO the
court of the King. Amid the clashng o.
cymbals her chariot is drawn up against thI
golden gates OF the palace. With nushet
cheek aud light step she leaps of her cush-
toned seat, and, almost tprngiDg through
the portals, slowly enters the spacious court
at the end OF which, on his diamond studded
throne, surrounded by Glittering array
courliers, the King had seated himself.
AT the entrance Of the beauteous Quetn
whose every motion breathed of EASTER
voluptuousnesg, the King unconsciouslJ
arose from his seat, and his mobiles boWe'
their heads, as II the beauty they saw wer
more than mortal, The air was balmy; th
fragrance from the Kings garden gil ie
into the chamber, and soft music, with II
enchanting swell, rose from an adJoinn
court.
The Queen removes the veil from her fac
while her features glow with roseate hue
with resolute step che rellres a few pace
from the loot of tue throne, and then, !
hold tones. thus addresses Solomon:
''Great Kingl Thy wisdom and goodnei
are known 10 mortals. Thy power an
glory are almost inhulte. Who can coul
ihe multitude oil the glowing constellation
on high, and who can tell the limit OF lh
might and sway? The waves which lag
the shores Of Palestine, In loIel9n lanu
holds discourse on thy SPLENDID. The wine
which blow amid the cedars OF Leblanc
softly wafl the story Of thy deeds from n
tion 10 nation. The birds which wanlon
thy garden whisper OF thee. Inc wate
which ripple in thy lakes gently breathe
thy glory. The lily and the rose sigh oV
thy wisdom, and languish Till they he
fresh tales oil thy might"
Solomon, entranced, listened 10 The hone
ed fattery Of The Queen, while blush 81
fused his royal check.
The Queen raused, and beckoned to
attendant to advance. She then took Ire
his hand two wreaihs, which she hem
fore the eyes Of the cnrapiured King.
"Wherefore is this playr' asked the me
arch, half angrily.
"Great King" calmly replied the Que'
have come 10 ubs youI mMuVn' Aelt
which is the natural and which is the art
c!al WREATH"
Al her words cOhtemptuous laugh ar
from the couiters, which tho King peTor
ioriy suppressed. The idea OF diseonceit
Solomon with paltry wreath OF flowers
was too much for their knghlly gallant
and so they laughed again.
The Queen dropped her liquid eyes, l
her tiara covered head, as il In depTeeal
nd hafnFp tOD
the throne with wreath of flowers In e
hand-ihe one q wreath OF natural, II
flowers; the other oil flowers exqusitey
taiing nature, and yet the production
mimetic art. AT the distance she stood I
the King it was impossible TO Distinguish
rom nature.
Solomon, TOO sagacious 10 venture g
remained silent. His pride was iTrltute