De complete werken van Joost van Vondel. De Heerlijkheid van Salomon

In this richly rendered verse, a poet turns his pen toward the legendary king Solomon, weaving biblical grandeur with vivid, almost theatrical imagery. The piece opens amid praise of Solomon’s radiant court, his jeweled crown, and the divine wisdom that sets his reign apart from earthly powers. Through sweeping metaphors and reverent allusions, the work invites listeners to contemplate the fleeting splendor of mortal glory contrasted with an everlasting, heavenly kingdom.

The translation preserves the original’s elaborate spelling and punctuation, giving modern ears a taste of 17th‑century Dutch poetics while remaining accessible. As the narrator unfolds Solomon’s marriage, the building of his temple, and his counsel, the language climbs to a majestic cadence that feels both solemn and celebratory. Listeners will find themselves drawn into a timeless meditation on wisdom, faith, and the awe inspired by a ruler whose legacy was meant to echo beyond his own age.