The season was fresh flowering spring; the earth Was glad with universal green to greet The sun once more, returned in his blue heaven After his winter's sojourn in the south. How blithe the welcome of the morning was, Forth looking from his east across the Hills Of Moab on the just awakening world! Saul met it with a sense as if of spring And morning linking hand in hand for dance Together in the courses of his blood, As, mounted on a palfrey fresh and fleet, With servitors attendant following him, He issued jocund from Damascus gate. The animal spirits of youth and health in him, The joy of new adventure, the fine pulse Of life felt in the buoyant, bounding step With which his steed advanced him on the road, The secret pleasure of release at last, Release and long secure removal, won, Through growing leagues of distance interposed, From the abhorred access of Shimei-- These, with the season and the hour so bright, Brightened the darkling heart of Saul to cheer. He was a radiant aspect, fair to see, Fronting his future with that sanguine smile! The acclivity surmounted of a hill, Whence downward dipped his road, declining north, And farewell glimpse gave of Jerusalem, Saul rein drew on his foamy-flankéd steed, And, about winding him, paused, looking back. His retinue, far otherwise than he Mounted, part even on foot, with sumpter beasts Bearing camp equipage, behind were fallen. These, presently come up, he lets pass on Before him in the way, while still at gaze, There on the back of his indignant steed Resentful to be curbed in mid-career-- Companion hoofs heard leaving him behind-- Saul sits, perusing, with an inner eye, Yet more than with his outer, what he sees. Half-shadow and half-light, Jerusalem He sees, smitten athwart her level roofs With sunshine from the horizontal sun, The temple of Jehovah in the midst, As if itself a sun, so dazzling bright With its refulgence of reflected beams; While, round about, the warder mountains stand, Bathing their sacred brows in sacred light. Saul's heart distends immense with patriot's joy, Yet joy pierced through and through with patriot's pain.