“As long as men and women shall love one another; as long as beauty of soul and body shall be the best and sweetest dream in the universe,—so long, I swear to thee, Sulamith, shall thy name be uttered through many ages with emotion and gratefulness.”
Toward morning Sulamith ceased to be.
Then did the king rise up, command the means for laving to be brought to him, and, donning his most magnificent chiton of purple, broidered with golden scarabæ, he placed upon his head a crown of blood-red rubies. After this he did call Benaiah to him, and spake calmly:
“Benaiah, thou shalt go and put Eliab to death.”
But the old man covered his face with his hands and fell prostrate before the king.
“Eliab is my grandson, O King.”
“Didst thou hear me, Benaiah?”
“Forgive me, O King,—threaten me not with thy wrath; command some other to do this. Eliab, having come out of the palace, did run to the temple, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. I am old, my death is nigh; I dare not take upon my soul this two-fold crime.”
But the king retorted: