The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-03-12

BY r. A. LEVY.

With modest mien she stood before
The monarch stern and proud,
Her dark hair falling like veil,
Her form in reverence bowed;
Her downcast eyes sparKled like stars
That gem the brow of night;
Her lips like a pomegranate cleft
Ah!never mortal sight
Has beamed on lovlier visions than
Esther, the Hebrew maid,
B,ushing before Ahasuerus,
Timid, yet unafraid.
He marked the white and lofty brow,
The fair cheek tinged with red;
The wealth of clustering midnight curiS,
The well-shaped, queenly head,
And felt his heart within him thrill
AS il ne'er thrilled before,
When Vashti smiled on him In love,
In the fair days of yore.
OF all who sought to win his heart
She seemed to him most fair,
And so he placed the royal crown
On Esther's shining hair.
Haman-the kings prime minister
A proud. vain man was he
Wished all to do him reverence,
And lowiy bend the knee;
Yet Mordecai bent no knee,
But sat at the kings gate,
Offering no hOmage-cOld and stern,
AS some embodied fate.
Haman's vain heart was full of wrath,
What tho lordly train
Bowed low in homage-honor, wealth,
Alike to him seemed vain,
Since one uncovered not-that one
A lowly, OutcaSt Jew.
81 will" he vowed, 'his hated race
With vengeful wrath pursue"
The royal edict was sent forth.
And Haman's heart beat high;
Alas tor Israel's scattered tribe,
Doomed for no crime to die!
Ave, don the SackclOth robes, We lost,
Bind ashes on the head;
And from your peaceful homes wall forth
A dirge song for the dead.
Queen Esther heard the direful news;
She rent her flowing hair,
And bowed her fair head on her hands
In silent, inward prayer.
Her maidenS gaZed in wonder on
Her white and pallid face;
They dreamed not that she too belonged
To the prescribed, doomed race.
''They are my people-my own blood
Flows in their veins-shall l
Escape by silent treachery,
And see them helpless-dis?
Perish the thought! One fate be ours,
Let all of Israel fast,
And pray three days and nights for me
l gO-the die is caSt!'
In royal robes-with trembling heart,
Esther approached the king.
"What wilt thou, Esther-queen-my own,
What tidIngs do you bring?"
Emboldened by his gracious mien,
Spake Esther without fear:
"Wilt thou and Hannah deign to grace
A feast shall prepare?"
With silken draperles fringed with gold,
With flowers of every hue,
The banquet hall seemed fairy land
Just opening to the view;
And Esther, decked with jewels rare,
Received her lord, the king:
And while the wine cup sparkled high
Spoke thus: my lord, / bring
"Thls my petition, to thine ear
If in thy royal sight
have found favor-if thou wouldst
Turn darkness into llgat;
Take from my heart its cruel sting,
And quell my spirits strife;
If ever Esther thou didSt love
Grant now my plea-her life,
"I and my people, we are sold,
But sold to deaths embrace;
Had it been bondage only, then
had not sought thy face"
Out spoke the King in righteous wrath:
Where is the wretch that dared
Commit such cr1me?-himselfs shall meet
The doom for them prepared.
"Tis Haman-he-the wicked foe.-
Aye bow thy guilty head;
Thy kinSmen soon shall weep above
Thee-their dishonored dead!
Away with him!'' They bear him forth,
While with a radiant smile,
The King strove Esthers heart to calm
With many a loving vile.
''Rise, Esther, love-my gracious queen
Thy people shall be freel
And this, the good deed thou hast done,
In memory or thee,
Shall long be told by lips that praise;
Israel, with reyerent mien,
Murmur with pride thy honored name,
Esther, their SaviOr-queen"