| |
| KING SOLOMON, before his palace gate | |
| At evening, on the pavement tessellate | |
| Was walking with a stranger from the East, | |
| Arrayed in rich attire as for a feast, | |
| The mighty Runjeet-Sing, a learned man, | 5 |
| And Rajah of the realms of Hindostan. | |
| And as they walked the guest became aware | |
| Of a white figure in the twilight air, | |
| Gazing intent, as one who with surprise | |
| His form and features seemed to recognize; | 10 |
| And in a whisper to the king he said: | |
| “What is you shape, that, pallid as the dead, | |
| Is watching me, as if he sought to trace | |
| In the dim light the features of my face?” | |
| |
| The king looked, and replied: “I know him well; | 15 |
| It is the Angel men call Azrael, | |
| ’T is the Death Angel; what hast thou to fear?” | |
| And the guest answered: “Lest he should come near, | |
| And speak to me, and take away my breath! | |
| Save me from Azrael, save me from death! | 20 |
| O king, that hast dominion o’er the wind, | |
| Bid it arise and bear me hence to Ind.” | |
| |
| The king gazed upward at the cloudless sky, | |
| Whispered a word, and raised his hand on high, | |
| And lo! the signet-rig of chrysoprase | 25 |
| On his uplifted finger seemed to blaze | |
| With hidden fire, and rushing from the west | |
| There came a mighty wind, and seized the guest | |
| And lifted him from earth, and on they passed, | |
| His shining garments streaming in the blast, | 30 |
| A silken banner o’er the walls upreared, | |
| A purple cloud, that gleamed and disappeared. | |
| Then said the Angel, smiling: “If this man | |
| Be Rajah Runjeet-Sing of Hindostan, | |
| Thou hast done well in listening to his prayer; | 35 |
| I was upon my way to seek him there.” | |
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