The Song of Solomon : and the Lamentations of Jeremiah

iv. I-I2.] CONTRASTS 273
fact must profoundly affect our view of their character.
Still they are very real, or the Book of Lamentations
would not have been written.
In view of the whole situation so graphically por-
trayed by means of the double line of illustrations the
poet concludes this part of his elegy with a device that
reminds us of the function of the chorus in the Greek
drama. We see the kings of all other nations in
amazement at the fate of Jerusalem.^ The mountain
city had the reputation of being an impregnable fortress,
at least so her fond citizens imagined. But now she
has fallen. It is incredible ! The news of this wholly
unexpected disaster is supposed to send a shock through
foreign courts. We are reminded of the blow that
stunned St. Jerome when a rumour of the fall of Rome
reached the studious monk in his quiet retreat at
Bethlehem. Men can tell that a severe storm has been
raging out in the Atlantic if they see unusually great
rollers breaking on the Cornish crags. How huge a
calamity must that be the mere echo of which can pro-
duce a startling effect in far countries ! But could these
kings really be so astonished seeing that Jerusalem had
been captured twice before ? The poet's language rather
points to the overweening pride and confidence of the
Jews, and it shows how great the shock to them must
have been since they could not but regard it as a
wonder to the world. Such then is the picture drawn
by our poet with the aid of the utmost artistic skill in
bringing out its striking effects. Now before we turn
away from it let us ask ourselves wherein its true
significance may be said to lie. This is a study in
black and white. The very language is such ; and
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