"As for Herod, he had spent vast sums about the cities, both without and within his own kingdom: and as he had before heard that Hyrcanus, who had been king before him, had opened David's sepulchre, and taken out of it three thousand talents of silver, and that there was a greater number left behind, and indeed enough to suffice all his wants, he had a great while an intention to make the attempt; and at this time he opened that sepulchre by night and went into it, and endeavoured that it should not be at all known in the city, but he took only his most faithful friends with him. As for any money, he found none, as Hyrcanus had done, but that furniture of gold, and those precious goods that were laid up there, all which he took away. However, he had a great desire to make diligent search, and to go farther in, even as far as the very bodies of David and Solomon; where two of his guards were slain by a flame that burst out upon those that went in, as the report was. So he was severely affrighted, and went out and built a propitiatory monument of that fright he had been in, and this of white stone, at the mouth of the sepulchre, and that at a great expense also."--_Josephus._ High on his throne of state, A form of noblest mould, The Hebrew monarch sate, All glorious to behold. With purest gold inwrought, Full many a sparkling gem, From distant India brought, Enriched his diadem. A crystal mirror bright, Beneath the canopy, Shot back in silvery light The monarch's panoply! All round the lofty halls, Rich tapestries of gold Hung from the glittering walls, In many an ample fold. And breathing sculptures there In living beauty stood, Borne by the monarch's care From o'er the Ægean flood. Dipt in the rainbow's dyes, Apelles's magic hand, To please the wondering eyes Of Judah's haughty land, In liquid colours bright, And traced with matchless care, Had left, in glorious light, Its richest beauties there! The silver lamps by day, Hung massive, rich, and bright; And from the galleries gay Shone brilliantly by night. And by the monarch's side, His guards, a noble band, Arrayed in regal pride, In burnished armour stand. Proud chiefs and ladies fair, Swept the broad courts along:-- In pleasures mingled there,-- A gay and gallant throng! Apollo's tuneful choir, And Korah's sons of song, With psaltery, harp, and lyre, Were mingled in the throng.[O] And from each trembling string, Sweet sounds of music stole; Gentle as Zephyr's wing, The tuneful numbers roll. Beyond the portals wide, Beneath the sylvan bower, Cool founts, in sparkling pride, Send forth their silvery shower. The flowerets gay and wild, In beauty bloomed not less, Than erst when Eden smiled, In pristine loveliness.