The Destruction of Sennacherib
The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold,
And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold;
And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea,
When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.
Like the leaves of the forest when Summer is green,
That host with their banners at sunset were seen:
Like the leaves of the forest when Autumn hath blown,
That host on the morrow lay withered and strown.
For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast,
And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed;
And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill,
And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!
And there lay the steed with his nostril all wide,
But through it there rolled not the breath of his pride;
And the foam of his gasping lay white on the turf,
And cold as the spray of the rock-beating surf.
And there lay the rider distorted and pale,
With the dew on his brow, and the rust on his mail:
And the tents were all silent, the banners alone,
The lances unlifted, the trumpet unblown.
And the widows of Ashur are loud in their wail,
And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal;
And the might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword,
Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord!
Commentary
Continuing the Bertie Wooster theme…
(Pub. 1815)
One of Byron’s more memorable poems - it’s little wonder Bertie liked quoting it. From its stirring rhythms to its vivid imagery, with neither a syllable out of place in the former nor a word in the latter, the poem cries out to be recited, memorised and quoted at random passersby.
However, after its magnificent opening, the poem lacks a certain something - excitement, perhaps, or dramatic tension; it has the feel of a painting rather than a narrative. To see what I mean, compare passages from Horatius, which has not just the rhythms and images, but the atmosphere of a battle. This difference may well be deliberate, for after all the destruction of Sennacherib was not via battle; rather
The might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord
Nonetheless, it robs the poem of a certain appeal, and may explain why the beginning and ending are far better known than the poem itself.
Notes
Sennacherib is pronounced senak’rib
Here’s a summary of the Biblical account on which Byron’s poem is based:
His own account of this invasion, as given in the Assyrian annals, is in these words: “Because Hezekiah, king of Judah, would not submit to my yoke, I came up against him, and by force of arms and by the might of my power I took forty-six of his strong fenced cities; and of the smaller towns which were scattered about, I took and plundered a countless number.
…
Hezekiah was not disposed to become an Assyrian feudatory. He accordingly at once sought help from Egypt. Sennacherib, hearing of this, marched a second time into Palestine. Sennacherib sent envoys to try to persuade Hezekiah to surrender, but in vain. He next sent a threatening letter, which Hezekiah carried into the temple and spread before the Lord. Isaiah again brought an encouraging message to the pious king. “In that night” the angel of the Lord went forth and smote the camp of the Assyrians. In the morning, “behold, they were all dead corpses.” The Assyrian army was annihilated.
This great disaster is not, as was to be expected, taken notice of in the Assyrian annals
– http://www.htmlbible.com/kjv30/easton/east3273.htm
(somewhat elided - go read the whole thing)
The last line is noteworthy - the official Assyrian history indeed makes no mention of the defeat…
In 701 a rebellion, backed by Egypt, though probably instigated by Merodach-Baladan (2 Kings 20:12-18; Isaiah 39:1-7), broke out in Palestine. Sennacherib reacted firmly, supporting loyal vassals and taking the rebel cities, except for Jerusalem, which, though besieged, was spared on payment of a heavy indemnity (2 Kings 18:13-19:36; Isa. 36:1-37:37). The biblical narrative has been interpreted as implying two campaigns against Jerusalem, but this receives no support from Assyrian sources
– EB
Links
Sennacherib:
http://www.htmlbible.com/kjv30/easton/east3273.htm
http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/5/0,5716,,00.html
Byron:
Biography at poem #169
Other poems:
Poem #510 There is a pleasure in the pathless woods
Poem #62 So We'll Go No More a-Roving
Poem #547 The Isles of Greece
Theme
As before, if you find the relevant passages from Wodehouse where Sennacherib is quoted, do send them in.
— Martin
Show 12 commentsHide comments
From the Wondering Minstrels mailing list, 1999–2008.
ando · 12 August 2001
Dear Reader,
I am a student in grade 11 currently working on an assignment for english. The aim of the assignment is to compare and contrast two poems, one of which is “The Charge Of The Light Brigade” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson and the other, “Destruction of Sennacherib” by George Gordon, Lord Byron. I would be quite appreciative if you could prodive any extra information or even analysis’ of the poems as im stuck looking for information and quite anxious to get the assignment under way so i can get it proofread by my teacher. All your help will be greatly appreciated, yours sincerely,
Michael
Trinity Living Center · 11 April 2002
I learned this poem in the fifth grade. My mother ,now deceased ,helped me to memorize it. In middle age I began to read the bible and lo, Sennacherib! I could only recall the first two verses and couldn’t remember the author. I even asked an English professor of a nearby Christian college and he hadn’t heard of the poem. I just happened onto your web site and there it was. Thanks for being a great resource.
Dick
Olaf Bode · 7 May 2003
Were you able to get an analysis on the poem that could be sent on to me? I am presently after an analysis myself for my English class.
Samuel Galí · 15 October 2003
Help, I need (rush) an analysis of the poem “The Destruction of Sennacherib”. I have to make an Essay and I have three questions:
- How is dead view in this poem and what tone does the speaker adopt toward it. In other words, do they seem to fear it? Do they welcome it?, etc.
If you have an analysis of this poem, please, sent it to me.
Thank You.
Samuel Gali
Brian Hall · 23 April 2004
I agree with the analysis; perhaps the rousing, fearsome start is in deliberate contrast to the mysterious anticlimax of the angel’s intervention. Interesting contrast between the impression from the poem that they died in full flight into battle and the biblical account, which has them dying in camp. Poetic license can be blamed, of course.
–
Brian Hall
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AnwKh3 · 20 December 2004
hi am in year 11 and i need to contrast and compare the two poem one is The Charfe Of The Light Brigade and the other is The Destruction Of The Sennacherib please may i have ur help plz i really need it to complete the work
Ashok Patel · 5 February 2005
hiya!!
i am a yaer 10 student and im currently doing an essay on analysing poems. please can u help me as i have to compare the destruction of sennacherib, the charge of the light brigade and come up from the fields father… i have to write how these poems get over the reality of war! so please help me!! from chiz
Tararyan91 · 30 June 2005
I need to map out the meter of this poem for an assignment. I need some help because I am so confused when it comes to this. I’ve tried and tried to figure it out, but there must be something I’m missing because I don’t even know where to start.
Thanks in advance!
Tara
SARA GREEN · 1 May 2006
i am also comparing to poems which are the destruction of sennacherib and the charge of the light brigade. i was wondering if you could help me by telling me what striking feature does the destruction of sennacherib use i was thinking on the lines of anti-war or something. thanks
SSRA · 12 September 2006
The As 1 came 2 like the 3 on the 4,
And his 1 horts were 2 ng in 3 ple and 4;
And the 1 of their 2 was like 3 on the 4,
When the 1 wave rolls 2 ly on 3 Gali 4.
Bill Brusick · 8 August 2007
This is such a powerful poem - Byron’s imagery is astounding. For those of you who enjoy this work and want to take it another level, you need to check out the seldom heard but truly awesome choral and orchestral setting of this poem, The Destruction of Sennacherib” by the Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky. The middle two stanzas (the Angel of Death) are set in an 8 part chorus that will definitely give chills. It is included on a CD of Mussorgsky works conducted by Claudio Abbado. You won’t be disappointed.
Bill Brusick
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Geraldine Van De Kleut · 20 March 2008
Why are all of you high school students trying to get other people to do your homework?