The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-01-17
Aorital.

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Aortital.
THE JUDGEMENT OF SOLOMON
r. n. Stoddard, IN Harper's Magazine Jo'
December
once on time. when he was growing old,
Albeit there was no sign Of age in him
Except his snowy beard, King Solomon
sat deeply meditatng on his throne
His magic throne. which bore him where he woult
Winged like planet. On mountain-peak,
Which overlooked the long Iranian plain
And many-eitied Kingdoms of the Ind,
II stood like morn re-risen in the east,
Seen by the people over whom it shone,
And seen of all the creatures of the earth,
Which gathered from all quarters Of the earth,
Commanded thither by the powerful word
OF their imperious master, solomon,
Whom the four angels ofthe land and sea
Had given dominion over them and theirs,
That they should honor him and do his will,
And who, moreover, understood their speech,
And could converse with them, SO wise was he.
Surrounded there by these, that summer day
lie sat- anu over MN tuC D4AuS VI 4tS1f SA
Hung motionless- living canopy
That shut out the fierce sunlight; also came
And ministered to him the winds Of heaven
They or the angels who ruled over them
Diverse in Kind but strangely beautiful,
As when with their innumerable wings
He first beheld them in Jerusalem.
The populous Kingdoms Of the earth and air,
Below above, about him, troubled him
Troubled him because he understood their speech,
Their habits, passions, everything they were,
What life was to Them and how short it was,
And. whether long or short how certain death
The solemn thought Of their mortality
And, it may be, his own, which all that day
WAS present with him, an unwelcome guest
The more unweIcome as he grew more old
Darkened the loving heart of Solomon,
Darkened his soul, till, lifting up his eyes,
He sasx mist which slowly shaped itself,
Or seemed to shape, into an odorous cloud,
Which rose before him, and from out the cloud
There reached hand that held crystal cup,
Filled with strange water clearer than the cup;
And sweeter than all music spake voice,
Saying: 1.-THE Maker of the Universe
His Name and Power be honored, glorifedl-
Hath sent me with the cup, wherein thou seest
The waters Of youth and everlasting life.
Choose freely whether thou wilt or wilt not drink
Think wilt thou be immortal through all time,
or live and die like other men? wait"
Deep silence brooded over all the place
When the voice ceased, and Solomon communed
Within himself upon the thing he heard
Firm as a pillar stood the odorous cloud,
And the white hand reached out the diamond cup.
surely he thought "the gold of life is good
To spend in the great market of the world
Fruitful the soil of life, wherein to plant
The stately palms ofpower, the flowers of love;
But joyless is the dark repose of death"
Thus he, within the silence ofhis thoughts
Debating life and DEATH Before drink
will take other counsel than mine own;
For though men call me wise, know myself
Foolish at times-I think more foolish now
That age has come on me-" He summoned then
All spirits which were subject to his charge
The angels of the winds and ofthe seas,
The birds of heaven, the creatures of the earth,
The souls of wise men dead before he lived
And speaking TO them in their several tongues.
Demanded they should tell him, if they knew,
whether indeed. it would be wise in him
To drain the cup of everlasting life,
Orlet it CO. and die like other men.
Then, like the voice of a thousand streams
Which are one voice, the countless multitude
Etraightway entreated him to drain the cup,
Upon his wisdom, as upon the hills
That hold up the high heavens; and. Furthermore,
The happiness of all things was sustained
BY the perfected circle Of his life,
Set like jewel in gold ring,
The precious jewel in his signet-ring,
Which was the Ineommunicable Name.
He hardened to their voices, hardening more
To the unspoken longing in his heart,
Ofwhich they were the answer; then, resolved,
Stretched forth his hand and took the shining cup
Whereat the hand that gave it into his,
Tempting withdrew into the pillared cloud.
wondrous the lights within the water were,
Which water was no longer but wine
The like whereof no mortal ever saw
Not pressed from earthly clusters such as grew
In his walled garden of Jerusalem,
Vintage ofheaven its rare aroma stole,
Like the remembered music of dream
Through all his senses, yearning with delight,
And, To- from out its living depths flame
Flashed suddenly up. and flushed his royal face
Prophetic promise of returning Youth.
He would have drank, but something stayed hi
hand
Some dark forboding that he had not done
All that wise man should to know the truth.
Perhaps he had misheard the unknown voice
That spake from out the cloud-the words wer
strange:
Perhaps his willy servants flattered him.
Pulled up with self-importance. He would see.
20 ye," he cried, who ministered to me-
Spirits and men and creatures of the earth
Tell me if there be any absent now,
Many, or one for commanded all
To meet me here at noon" And they replied,
bowling before the might of Solomon,
Master the only one who is not here
Is that most loving of all living things,
Whom all things love, the wild dove Boutimar."
The Lord of Learning sent golden bird,
A marvelloes gift from shebas beauteous Queen,
To find and fetch the wild dove Boutimar
From where her nest was builded on the roof
fthe great Temple of Jerusalem.
The glory of the reign of Solomon.
"Oh dove" he said, while she was still afar,
"wild dove that dwelest in the clefts of rocks
Or in the hiding-pIa of the wood,
Singing all day. The fashion Of This acorld
Passes array like stubble IN the fire.
But GOD remains eternal IN Lhe hea1ens'
Hither my dove and let me see thy face,
Hither and let me hear thy voice once more"
Then, when the wild dove Boutmar was come,
Smoothing her feathers with a tender hand,
He babe her tell him whether it were best
That he, her lord and MASTER Solomon,
Should drink the waters of immortal youth.
Whereunto Boutmar, the Bird of Love-
Whose wisdom was proportional to her love-
"Hew should a simple creature Of the sky,
Tenant of lonely places far from men,
In rocky clefts. or woods, or temple roofs,
Answer the Master of Intelligence?
Yet if it must be that counsel thee,
Instruct me whether this bright Cup of Life
Be for thee only, or far all mankind
And he: 1T hath been sent to me alone,
There is not in the cup another drop
Nay, not so sauch as the least bead of dew
Left at high noontide in the lily's leaves"
Prophet of God !" the wild dove answered then,
"Oh, how couldst thou desire to live alone
Then, when tiny trusty friends and councillors,
Thy wives thy children, all who love thee, all
Whom thou dost love, are numbered with the deat
For these must surely:drink the cup of death,
Though thou to-day shouldst drink the cup of life.
Who could endure eternal youth, 0 King.
When the worlds face was wrinkled with old age,
And Deaths black fingers reaching everywhere,
Had closed the pale eyes of the latest star?
When all thou lowest shall have passed away
Like smoke of incense in that holy House
Which thou hast builded in Jerusalem;
When, poor dead dust, the heart that beat to thin
Shall have been scattered by the winds of heaven
When eyes which were the loadstars of thy fate
Have left not even the memory of their light;
When voices which were music IN thine ears
Are mute forever; when thy life shall be
The sole oasis in the waste of DEATH
Ifernal RECOGNITION of tho daod-