Classic Poem

Saul. (rising from his couch.) Oh! that I knew the black and midnight arts
Of wizard sorcery! that I could call
The slumb'ring spirit from the shades of hell!
Or, like Chaldean sages, could foreknow
Th' event of things unacted! I might then
Anticipate my fortune. How I'm fallen!
The sport of vain chimeras, the weak slave
Of fear and fancy; coveting to know
The arts obscene, which foul diviners use.
Thick blood and moping melancholy lead
To baleful superstition, — that fell fiend,
Whose withering charms binst the fair bloom of virtue.
Why did my wounded pride with scorn reject
The wholesome truths which holy Samuel told me?
Why drive him from my presence? he might now
Raise my sunk soul and my benighted mind
Enlighten with religion's cheering ray.
He dared to menace me with loss of empire;
And I, for that bold honesty, dismiss'd him.
" Another shall possess thy throne, " he cried:
" A stranger! " This unwelcome prophecy
Has lined my crown and strewed my couch, with thorns.
Each ray of op'ning merit I discern
In friend or foe, distracts my troubled soul,
Lest he should prove my rival. But this morn,
E'en my young champion, lovely as he look'd
In blooming valour, struck me to the soul
With jealousy's barb'd dart. O jealousy,
Thou ugliest fiend of hell! thy deadly venom
Preys on my vitals, turns the healthful hue
Of my fresh cheek to haggard sallowness,
And drinks my spirit up!
The combat is decided. Hark! again
Those shouts proclaim it! Now, O God of Jacob,
If, yet thou hast not quite withdrawn from Saul
Thy light and favour, prosper me this once!
But Abner comes! I dread to hear his tale!
Fair hope, with smiling face but lingering foot,
Has long deceiv'd me.
Ab. King of Israel, hail!
Now thou art king indeed. The youth has conquered:
Goliath's dead.
Saul. Oh speak thy tale again,
Last my fond ears deceive me!
Ab. Thy young champion
Hath slain the giant.
Saul. Then God is gracious still,
In spite of my offences! But good Abner!
How was it? Tell me all. Where is my champion?
Quick let me press him to my grateful heart,
And pay him a king's thanks. And yet, who knows,
This forward friend may prove an active foe!
No more of that. Tell me the whole, brave Abner!
And paint the glorious acts of my young hero!
Ab. Full in the centre of the camp they stood:
Th' opposing armies ranged on either side
In proud array. The haughty giant stalk'd,
Stately across the valley. Next, the youth
With modest confidence advanced. Nor pomp,
Nor gay parade, nor martial ornament,
His graceful form adorn'd. Goliath straight,
With solemn state, began the busy work
Of dreadful preparation. In one place
His closely-jointed mail an op'ning left
For air, and only one: the watchful youth
Mark'd that the beaver of his helm was up.
Meanwhile the giant such a blow devised
As would have crushed him. This the youth perceiv'd,
And from his well-directed sling quick hurl'd,
With dext'rous aim, a stone, which sunk, deep ledg'd,
In the capacious forehead of the foe.
Then with a cry, as loud and terrible
As Libyan lions roaring for their young,
Quite stunn'd, the furious giant stagger'd, reel'd,
And fell: the mighty mass of man fell prone.
With its own weight his shatter'd bulk was bruis'd.
His clattering arms rang dreadful through the field,
And the firm basis of the solid earth
Shook. Choked with blood and dust, he curs'd his gods,
And died blaspheming! Straight the victor youth
Drew from its sheath the giant's ponderous sword,
And from th' enormous trunk the gory head
Furious in death he sever'd. The grim visage
Look'd threat'ning still, and still frown'd horribly.
Soul . O, glorious deed! O, valiant conqueror!
Ab. The youth so calm appear'd, so nobly firm,
So cool, yet so intrepid, that these eyes
Ne'er saw such temperate valour so chastis'd
By modesty.
Saul . Thou dwell'st upon his praise
With needless circumstance. 'Twas nobly done;
But others too have fought!
Ab. None, none so bravely.
Saul . What followed next?
Ab. The shouting Israelites
On the Philistines rush'd, and still pursue
Their routed remnants. In dismay, their hands
Disorder'd fly, while shouts of loud acclaim
Pursue their brave deliverer. Lo, he comes!
Bearing the giant's head and shining sword.
His well-earsed trophies.

Saul , A DNER , D AVID .

Saul . Welcome to my heart,
My glorious champion! My deliverer, welcome!
How shall I speak the swelling gratitude
Of my full heart! or give thee the high praise
Thy gallant deeds deserve!
Dav. O mighty king!
Sweet is the breath of praise when given by those
Whose own high merit claims the praise they give.
But let not this one prosperous event,
By Heav'n directed, be ascrib'd to me;
I might have fought with equal skill and courage,
And not have gain'd this conquest; then had shame,
Harah obloquy, and foul disgrace befall'n me:
But prosp'rous fortune gains the praise of valour.
Saul . I like not this. In every thing superior!
He soars above me Modest youth, thou'rt right.
And fortune, as thou say'st, deserves the praise
We give to human valour.
Dav. Rather say
The God of hosts deserves it.
Saul . Tell me, youth,
What is thy name, and what thy father's house?
Dav. My name is David, Jesse in my sire;
An humble Bethlehemite of Judah's tribe.
Saul . David, the son of Jesse! Sure, that name
Has been familiar to me. Nay, thy voice,
Thy form, and fentures, I remember too,
Though faint and indistinctly.
Ab. In this hero
Behold thy sweet musician; he whose harp
Expell'd the melancholy fiend, whose power
Enslav'd thy spirit.
Saul . This the modest youth,
Whom for his skill and virtues I preferr'd
To bear my armour?
Dav. I am he, O king!
Saul . Why this concealment? tell me, valiant David,
Why didst thou hide thy birth and name till now!
Dav. O king! I would not aught from favour claim,
Or on remember'd services presume;
But on the strength of my own actions stand,
Ungraced and unsupported.
Ab. Well he merits
The honours which await him. Why, O king,
Dost thou delay to bless his doubting heart
With his well-earn'd rewards? Thy lovely daughter,
By right of conquest his!
Saul True: thou hast won her.
She shall be thine. Yes, a king's word is past.
Dav. O boundless blessing! What! shall she be mine,
For whom contending monarchs might renounce
Their slighted crowns!
Saul . How's this? what sounds of joy
Salute my ears? What means this needless pomp?
This merry sound of tabret and of harp?
What mean these idle instruments of triumph?
These women, who in fair procession move,
Making sweet melody?
Ab. To pay due honour
To David are they come.
Saul A rival's praise
Is discord to my ear! They might have spar'd
This idle pageantry: it wounds my soul!

I.

Prepare! your festal rites prepare!
Let your triumphs rend the air!
Idol gods shall reign no more:
We the living Lord adore!
Let heathen hosts on human helps repose,
Since Israel's God has routed Israel's foes.

II.

Let remotest nations know
Proud Goliath's overthrow.
Fallen, Philistia, is thy trust,
Dagon mingles with the dast!
Who foars the Lord of glory, need not fear
The brazon armour or the lifted spear.

III.

See the routed squadrons fly!
Hark! their clamours rend the sky!
Blood and carnage stain the field!
See, the vanquish'd nations yield!
Dismay and terror fill the frighten'd land,
While conquering David routs the trembling band.

IV.

Lo! upon the tented field
Royal Saul has thousands kill'd!
Lo! upon th' ensanguin'd plain
David has ten thousand slain!
Let mighty Saul his vanquish'd thousands tell,
While tunfold triumphs David's victories swell.