Page images
PDF
EPUB

Of Elah's vale. His herald sounds the note
Of offer'd battle. Then the furious giant,
With such a voice as from the troubled sky

In vollied thunder breaks, thus sends his challenge:
Why do you set your battle in array,

66

Ye men of Israel? Wherefore waste the lives
Of needless thousands? Why protract a war
Which may at once be ended? Are not you
Servants to Saul, your king? And am not I,
With triumph let me speak it, a Philistine?
Choose out a man from all your armed hosts,
Of courage most approv'd, and I will meet him;
His single arm to mine. Th' event of this
Shall fix the fate of Israel and Philistia.

If victory favour him, then will we live
Your tributary slaves; but if my arm

Be crown'd with conquest, you shall then live ours. Give me a man, if your effeminate bands

A man can boast. Your armies I defy!"

Dav. What shall be done to him who shall subdue This vile idolater?

Ab.

He shall receive

Such ample bounties, such profuse rewards,

As might inflame the old, or warm the coward,
Were not the odds so desperate.

Dav.

Say, what are they?

Ab. The royal Saul has promis'd that bold hero, Who should encounter and subdue Goliath, All dignity and favour; that his house Shall be set free from tribute, and ennobled With the first honours Israel has to give. And for the gallant conqueror himself,

No less a recompense than the fair princess,
Our monarch's peerless daughter.

Dav.

Beauteous Michal!

It is indeed a boon which kings might strive for.
And has none answer'd yet this bold defiance?
What! all this goodly host of Israelites !
God's own peculiar people! all afraid

T' assert God's injur'd honour and their own?
Where is the king, who in his early youth
Wrought deeds of fame? Where princely Jonathan?
Not so the gallant youth Philistia fear'd
At Bozez and at Seneh*; when the earth
Shook from her deep foundations, to behold
The wondrous carnage of his single hand
On the uncircumcis'd. When he exclaim'd,
With glorious confidence—“ Shall numbers awe me?
God will protect his own: with him to save,
It boots not, friends, by many or by few.”
This was a hero! Why does he delay
To meet this boaster? For thy courtesy,
Thrice noble Abner, I am bound to thank thee.
Would'st thou complete thy gen'rous offices?
I dare not ask it.

Ab.

Speak thy wishes freely:

Then, O Abner,

My soul inclines to serve thee.

Dav.

Conduct me to the king! There is a cause

Will justify this boldness!

El.

Braggard, hold!

Ab. I take thee at thy word; and will, with speed, Conduct thee to my royal master's presence.

# 1 Samuel, xiv.

In yonder tent the anxious monarch waits
Th' event of this day's challenge.
Dav. Noble Abner,

Accept my thanks. Now to thy private ear,
If so thy grace permit, I will unfold

My secret soul, and ease my lab'ring breast,
Which pants with high designs, and beats for glory.

DAVID AND GOLIATH.

PART III.

SCENE-Saul's tent.

SAUL.

WHY was I made a king? what I have gain'd
In envied greatness and uneasy pow'r,
I've lost in peace of mind, in virtue lost!
Why did deceitful transports fire my soul
When Samuel plac'd upon my youthful brow
The crown of Israel? I had known content,
Nay happiness, if happiness unmixt

To mortal man were known, had I still liv'd
Among the humble tents of Benjamin.

A shepherd's occupation was my joy,

And every guiltless day was crown'd with peace:
But now, a sullen cloud for ever hangs
O'er the faint sunshine of my brightest hours,
Dark'ning the golden promise of the morn.
I ne'er shall taste the dear domestic joys

My meanest subjects know. True, I have sons,
Whose virtues would have charm'd a private man,
And drawn down blessings on their humble sire.
I love their virtues too; but 'tis a love
Which jealousy has poison'd. Jonathan
Is all a father's fondness could conceive

Of amiable and good - Of that no more!
He is too popular; the people doat
Upon th' ingenuous graces of his youth.
Curs'd popularity! which makes a father
Detest the merit of a son he loves:
How did their fond idolatry, perforce,
Rescue his sentenc'd life, when doom'd by lot
To perish at Beth-aven, for the breach
Of strict injunction, that of all my bands,
Not one that day should taste of food and live!
My subjects clamour at this tedious war,
Yet of my num'rous armed chiefs, not one
Has courage to engage this man of Gath.
Oh for a champion bold enough to face
This giant-boaster, whose repeated threats
Strike thro' my inmost soul! There was a time—
Of that no more! I am not what I was.
Should valiant Jonathan accept the challenge,
"Twould but increase his influence, raise his fame,
And make the crown sit loosely on my brow.
Ill could my wounded spirit brook the voice
Of harsh comparison 'twixt sire and son.

SAUL, ABNER.

Ab. What meditation holds thee thus engag'd, O king! and keeps thine active spirit bound; When busy war far other cares demands

Than ruminating thought and pale despair?

Saul. Abner, draw near. My weary soul sinks down

Beneath the heavy pressure of misfortune.

* 1 Samuel, xiv.

« PreviousContinue »