Page:An epic of women and other poems (IA epicofwomenother00osha).pdf/120

But he had seen in mighty Lebanon
The cedars no man's axe hath lit upon;
  And he had often worshipped, falling down
In dazzling temples opened straight to him,
  Where One who had great lightnings for His crown
Was suddenly made present, vast and dim
Through crowded pinions of the Cherubim!

Wherefore he had no fear to stand and shout
To all men in the place, and there to flout
  Those fair and fearful women who were seen
Quite triumphing in that work of their smile
  To shame a goodly king. And he cast, e'en
A sudden awe that undid for a while
The made-up shameless visages of guile.

And when Herodias—that many times
Polluted one, assured now in all crimes
  Past fear or turning—when she, her fierce tongue
Thrice forked with indignation, hotly spoke
  Quick wild beseeching words, wherewith she clung
To Herod, praying him by some death-stroke
To do her vengeance there before all folk—