Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE HIGH-PRIEST TO ALEXANDER, by ALFRED TENNYSON


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THE HIGH-PRIEST TO ALEXANDER, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Go forth, thou man of force!
Last Line: In his holy of holies for ever!
Alternate Author Name(s): Tennyson, Lord Alfred; Tennyson, 1st Baron; Tennyson Of Aldworth And Farringford, Baron
Subject(s): Alexander The Great (356-323 B.c.); Jews; Judaism


GO forth, thou man of force!
The world is all thine own;
Before thy dreadful course
Shall totter every throne.
Let India's jewels glow
Upon thy diadem:
Go, forth to conquest go,
But spare Jerusalem.
For the God of gods, which liveth
Through all eternity,
'T is he alone which giveth
And taketh victory:
'T is he the bow that blasteth,
And breaketh the proud one's quiver;
And the Lord of armies resteth
In his Holy of Holies for ever!

For God is Salem's spear,
And God is Salem's sword;
What mortal man shall dare
To combat with the lord?
Every knee shall bow
Before his awful sight;
Every thought sink low
Before the Lord of might.
For the God of gods, which liveth
Through all eternity,
'T is he alone which giveth
And taketh victory:
'T is he the bow that blasteth,
And breaketh the proud one's quiver;
And the Lord of armies resteth
In his Holy of Holies for ever!







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