Once on a charger there was laid
And brought before a royal maid,
As price of attitude and grace,
A guiltless head, a holy face.
Who o’er Judæa’s land held sway.
He married his own brother’s wife,
Wicked Herodias. She the life
Of John the Baptist long had sought
Because he openly had taught
That she a life unlawful led
This was he, that saintly John,
Who in the wilderness3 alone
A garment made of camel’s hair;
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And waking first the sinner’s fears,
Prepared a path, made smooth a way
For his diviner Master’s day.
Herod kept in princely state
Fair Salome, who did excel
All in that land for dancing well.
The feastful monarch’s heart was fired,
And whatsoe’er thing she desired,
Though half his kingdom it should be,
He in his pleasure swore that he
The damsel was Herodias’ daughter:
To teach her what great gift to name.
Instructed by Herodias, came
The damsel back; to Herod said,
“Give me John the Baptist’s head;
And in a charger let it be
Hither straightway brought to me.”
Herod her suit would fain deny,
But for his oath’s sake must comply.
When painters would by art express
Beauty in unloveliness,
Thee, Herodias’ daughter, thee,
They fittest subject take to be.
They give thy form and features grace;
But ever in thy beauteous face
An eye unpitying; and amaze
In all beholders deep they mark,
That thou betrayest not one spark
Of feeling for the ruthless deed,
That did thy praiseful dance succeed.
For on the head they make you look
A cruel triumph, wicked pride,
That for your sport a saint had died.
点击收听单词发音
1 natal | |
adj.出生的,先天的 | |
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2 wed | |
v.娶,嫁,与…结婚 | |
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3 wilderness | |
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 | |
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4 abiding | |
adj.永久的,持久的,不变的 | |
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5 locusts | |
n.蝗虫( locust的名词复数 );贪吃的人;破坏者;槐树 | |
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6 severely | |
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地 | |
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7 penitence | |
n.忏悔,赎罪;悔过 | |
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8 sate | |
v.使充分满足 | |
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9 beholding | |
v.看,注视( behold的现在分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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10 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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11 graceful | |
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 | |
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12 besought | |
v.恳求,乞求(某事物)( beseech的过去式和过去分词 );(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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13 steadfast | |
adj.固定的,不变的,不动摇的;忠实的;坚贞不移的 | |
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14 sullen | |
adj.愠怒的,闷闷不乐的,(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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