free,
And kneels and weeps before the monarch’s feet,
“O great and mighty Sar I thee entreat,
My will is thine, but all my sisters free: 
Behold my sisters here imploring thee!”
The King gazed at the beauteous pleading face,
Which roused within his breast the noble race
Before her heavenly charms transfixed he stood. 
Before her heavenly charms transfixed he stood.

“’Tis well! my daughter, I the favor grant!”
And to the priestess said, “Let here be sent
Great coffers filled with gold! for I release
These maids.  Let all their weary waiting cease,
The price I’ll send by messengers to thee.” 
And all rejoicing sing a psalmody. 
A ring of maidens round the image forms;
With flashing eyes they sing, with waving arms,
A wilderness of snowy arms and feet,
To song and dance the holy measure beat;
A mass of waving ringlets, sparkling eyes. 
In wildest transport round each maiden flies,
The measure keeps to sacred psalmody,
With music ravishing,—­sweet melody. 
The priestess leads for them the holy hymn,
Thus sing they, measure keep with body, limb: 

  [3]"Let length of days, long lasting years,
    With sword of power, extend his holy life! 
      With years extended full of glory, shine,
    Pre-eminent above all kings in strife. 
      Oh, clothe our king, our lord, with strength divine,
  Who with such gifts to gods appears!

  “Let his great empire’s limits be,
    Now vast and wide, enlarged, and may he reign
      (Till it shall spread before his eyes complete)
    Supreme above all kings!  May he attain
      To silver hairs, old age, and nations greet
  Our sovereign in his royalty!

  “When gifts are ended of Life’s days,
    The feasts of the Land of the Silver Sky,
      With bliss, the Blest Abode Refulgent Courts,
    May he enjoy through all eternity,
      Where Light of Happy Fields with joy transports
    And dwell in life eternal, holy there
    In presence of the gods with sacred cheer,
  With Assur’s gods walk blessed ways!”

When they have ended all their joyful song,
They gratefully around their monarch throng;
And kneeling at his feet, they bathe his hands
With tears of joy, and kiss the ’broidered bands
Of his bright robes, then joyous haste away;
And Erech’s shame was ended on that day.

And now the Sar as his libation pours
The sparkling sacred wine before the doors
That lead to Ishtar’s glorious inner shrine. 
He bows before her golden form divine,
Thus prays: 

[4]"In thy fair shrine I bow to thee,
O Light of Heaven! bright thy majesty
As glowing flames upon the world doth dawn,
Bright goddess of the earth, thy fixed abode! 
Who dawned upon the earth a glorious god! 
With thee prosperity hath ever gone. 
To gild the towers of cities of mankind! 
Thou warrior’s god, who rideth on the wind! 
As a hyena fierce thou sendest war,
And as a lion comes thy raging car. 
Each day thou rulest from thy canopy
That spreads above in glory,—­shines for thee;
O come, exalted goddess of the Sun!”