Dav. Pardon, O king! the coat of plaited mail These limbs have never known; it would not shield, "Twould but encumber one who never felt The weight of armour. Saul. Take thy wish, my son ! Thy sword then, and the God of Jacob, guard thee! DAVID AND GOLIATH. PART IV. SCENE-Another Part of the Camp. DAVID (kneeling). ETERNAL Justice! in whose awful scale Address thee; Lord of Glory! hear me now: Be present with me now! 'Tis thine own cause! Of high design, though by a feeble arm! I feel a secret impulse drive me on; And my soul springs impatient for the fight! Of sanguine youth with which my bosom burns; DAVID, ELIAB, ISRAELITES. El. What do I hear? thou truant! thou hast dar'd E'en to the awful presence of the king Bear thy presumption ! Dav. He who fears the Lord Shall boldly stand before the face of kings, And shall not be asham'd. El. But what wild dream Has urg'd thee to this deed of desperate rashness! Thou mean'st, so I have learnt, to meet Goliath, His single arm to thine. Dav. 'Tis what I purpose, E'en on this spot. Each moment I expect El. Go home; return, for shame! Nor madly draw destruction on thy head. Thy doating father, when thy shepherd's coat, But whence that glitt'ring ornament which hangs Dav. El. Art bent to seek thy death? Dav. Then thou indeed And what is death? Is it so terrible to die, my brother? We could by stratagem elude the blow, The universal lot, then fond self-love, Then cautious prudence, boldly might produce When sprightly youth, with many a new-born joy, (Ah, how unmeet!) but less unworthy far, Than the world's leavings; than a worn-out heart, By vice enfeebled, and by vain desires I see him not, but hear his measur'd pace. El. Look, where his pond'rous shield is borne before him! Dav. Like a broad moon its ample disk protends. But soft! - what unknown prodigy appears? A moving mountain cas'd in polish'd brass! El. [getting behind DAVID.] How's this? thou dost not tremble. Thy firm joints Betray no fear; thy accents are not broken; Thy cheek retains its red; thine eye its lustre ! He comes more near! Dost thou not fear him now ? Dav. The vast colossal statue nor inspires No. Respect nor fear. Mere magnitude of form, Strikes not my soul with rev'rence or with awe. El. Near and more near he comes! I hold it rash To stay so near him, and expose a life Which may hereafter serve the state. Farewell. [Exit. |