Poems — Vashti

They brought her message to the King;

Dark flash'd his angry eye;

'Twas as the lightning ere the storm Hath swept in fury by.

Then bitterly outspoke the King, Through purple lips of wrath-- "What shall be done to her who dares To cross your monarch's path?"

Then spake his wily counsellors-- "O King of this fair land!

From distant Ind to Ethiop, All bow to thy command.

"But if, before thy servants' eyes, This thing they plainly see, That Vashti doth not heed thy will Nor yield herself to thee, "The women, restive 'neath our rule, Would learn to scorn our name, And from her deed to us would come Reproach and burning shame.

"Then, gracious King, sign with thy hand This stern but just decree,