The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-04-26
QUEEN ESTHER.
a Poem.

Eyslo,,r'vIl, l'".,tsate,t to the u'ltor.v singer
1t Lihtr".
/ ia, brol" Ger Media The third sine,
/ Either fore
, Her Cod ha& bowed ir earnest snrriratioi
/ for h"r
! People The rirpl;pg Cyrus ro!le'litS mighty
I length u,npng the SOFT weeds which lined
! Us banks
Whilst III. ,!ailyinY ,unheams w"ve 4 nys
! ljrapery DER its ebularing surface.
Ecbat%ua the beautiful the city e.: the .iust
Within whose walls proud Shushan reared
its towers
L; firc;ed Ike morning srlen,iors upon the
ueighboring hills
C!l" King had early risen, and from his
palace
Viewed he opening beauties OF the day.
Far rs his eyes could see a'lown tie fair
valley
Where stern Caspia spread its blue bosom
10 the playful winds,
And doomed its chorus to the sun-bird S
SOM
lie gaznd, and, gazing still, awed by the
sacred silence OF tie hour
Poured forth his soul in praise. The
prreir, newt He'd with beauty and delight,
advanced
Unto his side. Her torn hair and I'M
anointei
Form, which, for three days, had been
neglected,
Now seemed new-made and craced in all
tie sacred lovelinees Of Heaven.
Within her breast dread anguish pulsated
Aud fear almost forbade her trembling
tongue to speak.
Thrice to the King She strOve to utter speech
And thrice from weakness failed. Her
handmaids
Bore her tender form unt" Z couch, where
\ little while She lay in the soft clasp of
unconscious slumber.
= Camhyses stood perplexed, NIL last his
gentler nature
Rose DER the majesty Of state and, losing
all seinhlance
OF his kingly pride, lie kne!t and clasped
his young Wifi to his breast.
80, speak, fair Queen. what may the mat
ter be"
More than thy husband, | Thy brother am
Thou shalt not die, though thy companions
must,
For !Ice | love and thee shall project"
Thus Spikr Camhyses. Forth from the
room he led ner
Through the rich IlangingS of lis arclsd Ell
into the grove where he was wont to walk.
Smoothing the "Hrl> which clustered Ger
her brow
Aud bathing her pulses in the sweet dew
That lay upon the flowers.
Then Spake the Queen in tor es which fell
upon his ear
Like the sweet song Of many birds, and, in
The holy solitude that wrapped them, lie
bowed and listened
She prayed thai he would iniure not her
people,
Nor Mor,ieca, nor any whom she loved;
And told how Hannah had betrayed his
For the mad pleasures of revenge.
The King was shocked, and stood as ii en-
tranced,
Then throwing off his stuper rose with the
cold aspect of injured majesty.
Embracing the Queen, he turned and gazed
upon The hills
Slow moving tiom the spot they reached
III" gaiiows
Where, on the morrow, Mordecai must die
"E>t!iey," lie said, thy words have hade
IN" know the wickedness OF men:
trusted !ianan, yet, ere another day shall
fading leave the earth a corpse
On Won gailswS for thy uncle reared
He himself shall die, whilst Zeresh meurns
alonr.'i
The Queen bowed low, and on they went
into the
Golden cha,nbe of their court.
\ sacred moment this for Justice had been
done.
From the wide forests that skirted Cyrus
banks
The evening breeze waited DER the vale the
arowsy odors Of the sacred Ind
Aud Erbatana seemed transplanted Para
disc.
Queen Esther's heart was glad, for she had
saved her people and was content.
Night came DER Media No sound was
heard,
Except the low murmur of far Caspia,
As its snowy pillows kissed Persia's coral
strand,
And Day as it sank i'll the arms of Night
Seemed like Il Pearl upon an lithior's cheek
Better known az ''Ahasuerus
Ehiladelrhia, April llth, 1881