Oh, lordly was KING SOLOMON
A-stepping down so proud,
With his negro slaves and dancing girls
And all his royal crowd;
His peacocks and his viziers,
His eunuchs old and grey,
His gallants and his chamberlains
And glistening array.
Oh, blithesome was KING SOLOMON
That burning summer day
When lo! a humble shepherdess
Stood silent in his way;
Then stepped down kingly SOLOMON,
And proud and great stepped he,
And there he kissed the shepherdess--
Kissed one and two and three.
Then proudly turned the peasant-maid--
Pale as a ghost was she--
"For all ye are KING SOLOMON,
What make ye here so free?"
Oh, lordly laughed KING SOLOMON,
"Shalt be my queen," quoth he;
"These kisses pledged KING SOLOMON
And sealéd him to thee."
Then on went splendid SOLOMON
And all his glittering band,
And the wondering white peasant-girl
He led her by the hand;
But in that place sprang flower-stems
All green, for kingly pride,
With the small white kisses hanging down
With which he sealed his bride.
* * * * *