Hebrew Wedding

Henry Hart Milman (1791–1868)

From “The Fall of Jerusalem”

TO the sound of timbrels sweet

Moving slow our solemn feet,

We have borne thee on the road

To the virgin’s blest abode;

With thy yellow torches gleaming,

And thy scarlet mantle streaming,

And the canopy above

Swaying as we slowly move.

Thou hast left the joyous feast,

And the mirth and wine has ceased;

And now we set thee down before

The jealously unclosing door,

That the favored youth admits

Where the veilèd virgin sits

In the bliss of maiden fear,

Waiting our soft tread to hear,

And the music’s brisker din

At the bridegroom’s entering in,

Entering in, a welcome guest,

To the chamber of his rest.

CHORUS OF MAIDENS

Now the jocund song is thine,

Bride of David’s kingly line;

How thy dove-like bosom trembleth,

And thy shrouded eye resembleth

Violets, when the dews of eve

A moist and tremulous glitter leave

On the bashful sealèd lid!

Close within the bride-veil hid,

Motionless thou sitt’st and mute;

Save that at the soft salute

Of each entering maiden friend,

Thou dost rise and softly bend.

Hark! a brisker, merrier glee!

The door unfolds,—’t is he! ’t is he!

Thus we lift our lamps to meet him,

Thus we touch our lutes to greet him.

Thou shalt give a fonder meeting,

Thou shalt give a tenderer greeting.