Once a Week (magazine)/Series 1/Volume 9/Rizpah, daughter of Aiah
RIZPAH, DAUGHTER OF AIAH.
(WRITTEN FOR MUSIC.)
I.
Under the changing sky,
Under the clouded moon,
The earth gapes, white and dry,
But the rain cometh soon;
Yes! down from yon low skies
Rushes, at last, the rain;
Woman forlorn, arise!
Thou hast not crouched in vain,
Rizpah, daughter of Aiah.
II.
Brave men have told the king,
How, scared away by thee,
Each ravenous fowl takes wing,
And wolves and panthers flee:
How thou hast wrestled here,
Despising ease and sleep,
Without a thought of fear,
Because thy love is deep,
Rizpah, daughter of Aiah.
III.
Therefore, in sight of all,
A proud tomb is begun,
To hold the bones of Saul,
And Jonathan, his son;
There too, in calm repose,
From insult safe, shall dwell
The stately forms of those
Whom thou hast watch’d so well,
Rizpah, daughter of Aiah.
IV.
And whilst the ages roll
Through Time’s unsounded deep,
Thy true and tender soul
A magic life shall keep;
Maidens shall muse alone,
And mothers’ hearts be stirr’d,
Where’er thy deeds are known,
Where’er thy name is heard,
Rizpah, daughter of Aiah.
Francis Hastings Doyle.