Davideis The life of David, King of Israel. A sacred poem. In five books. By Thomas Ellwood. The fifth edition |
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| I. |
| I. |
| II. | CHAP. II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
 | II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
 | CHAP. II. Davideis |  |
CHAP. II.
While Saul yet reign'd (altho' by God rejected,
Because he had the Lord's command neglected)
The bold Philistians with a mighty host,
Made an invasion upon Judah's coast;
Whom to repel, when Saul the danger knew,
The men of Isr'el he together drew.
Because he had the Lord's command neglected)
The bold Philistians with a mighty host,
Made an invasion upon Judah's coast;
Whom to repel, when Saul the danger knew,
The men of Isr'el he together drew.
Upon two hills the war-like camps were seen,
A valley lying in the midst between;
Each army standing in battalia rang'd,
Before a blow on either side was chang'd,
From the Philistian camp, a champion bold
Came proudly daring, dreadful to behold;
Upon his scowling brow sate fuming wrath,
His name Goliah, and his city Gath;
In height he was six cubits and a span,
In truth, a monster rather than a man;
He on his head a brazen helmet ware,
Too great for any head but his to bear,
And in a coat of mail he was array'd,
That of fine brass five thousand shekels weigh'd;
His shoulders did a brazen target bear,
And on his legs he greaves of brass did wear,
The staff too of his spear full well might seem,
For bigness to have been a weaver's beam,
The head whereof alone ('tis strange to say)
Six hundred shekels did of iron weigh;
Before him went his squire who bore his shield,
Too huge for any but himself to wield.
A valley lying in the midst between;
Each army standing in battalia rang'd,
Before a blow on either side was chang'd,
From the Philistian camp, a champion bold
Came proudly daring, dreadful to behold;
Upon his scowling brow sate fuming wrath,
His name Goliah, and his city Gath;
In height he was six cubits and a span,
In truth, a monster rather than a man;
He on his head a brazen helmet ware,
Too great for any head but his to bear,
And in a coat of mail he was array'd,
That of fine brass five thousand shekels weigh'd;
His shoulders did a brazen target bear,
And on his legs he greaves of brass did wear,
7
For bigness to have been a weaver's beam,
The head whereof alone ('tis strange to say)
Six hundred shekels did of iron weigh;
Before him went his squire who bore his shield,
Too huge for any but himself to wield.
Advancing forward tow'rds the camp of Saul,
To Israel's armies he aloud did call,
And to this purpose spake, ‘What need ye try
‘The fortune of a battle? Am not I,
‘A Philistine? You, servants unto Saul?
‘Choose you a man, the stoutest of you all;
‘If he be able me in fight to slay,
‘Then we henceforth will your commands obey;
‘But if in single combat I prevail,
‘And kill him, you to serve us shall not fail:
‘Come, shew your courage, let it now appear,
‘Ye have at least one man that's void of fear:
‘All Israel's armies, I this day defy,
‘Give me a man that may my prowess try.’
To Israel's armies he aloud did call,
And to this purpose spake, ‘What need ye try
‘The fortune of a battle? Am not I,
‘A Philistine? You, servants unto Saul?
‘Choose you a man, the stoutest of you all;
‘If he be able me in fight to slay,
‘Then we henceforth will your commands obey;
‘But if in single combat I prevail,
‘And kill him, you to serve us shall not fail:
‘Come, shew your courage, let it now appear,
‘Ye have at least one man that's void of fear:
‘All Israel's armies, I this day defy,
‘Give me a man that may my prowess try.’
Thus forty days together did he brave
The Israelites, yet none an answer gave,
For Saul himself was dreadfully afraid,
And the whole host of Israel sore dismay'd.
The Israelites, yet none an answer gave,
For Saul himself was dreadfully afraid,
And the whole host of Israel sore dismay'd.
While thus this son of earth did proudly vaunt,
And with his looks, an host of Hebrews daunt,
It so fell out, or rather God so wrought,
That little David to the camp was brought;
David, old Jesse's son, the Ephrathite,
Fitter in shew to follow sheep than fight.
And with his looks, an host of Hebrews daunt,
It so fell out, or rather God so wrought,
That little David to the camp was brought;
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Fitter in shew to follow sheep than fight.
Sev'n other son's had Jesse, eight in all,
The eldest three were serving under Saul;
To see how well they far'd, and how things went,
The good old man, his youngest, David sent,
Not empty handed. David early rose,
And to the camp with victuals laded goes,
Yet not without providing one to keep,
'Till he return'd, his father's flock of sheep.
The eldest three were serving under Saul;
To see how well they far'd, and how things went,
The good old man, his youngest, David sent,
Not empty handed. David early rose,
And to the camp with victuals laded goes,
Yet not without providing one to keep,
'Till he return'd, his father's flock of sheep.
Just as the host to fight was going out,
And for the signal, did to battle shout,
Came David to the trench; with haste he ran,
To find his brethren e'er the fight began,
And as with them he talking stood, anon
Came forth the Philistine's bold champion,
Enclos'd in brass, and with an hideous cry,
Denounc'd his challenge then as formerly;
At sight of whom, a sight that carried dread,
The men of Israel to their trenches fled.
And for the signal, did to battle shout,
Came David to the trench; with haste he ran,
To find his brethren e'er the fight began,
And as with them he talking stood, anon
Came forth the Philistine's bold champion,
Enclos'd in brass, and with an hideous cry,
Denounc'd his challenge then as formerly;
At sight of whom, a sight that carried dread,
The men of Israel to their trenches fled.
No sooner heard young David the defy,
But brave disdain did sparkle in his eye,
His mettle rose, his breast with courage swell'd,
He scarce himself from falling on withheld;
That Spirit which, from God upon him came,
At his anointing, now doth more inflame
His heart with holy zeal, and doth him bear,
Above the sense of danger and of fear;
He could not brook, that one uncircumcis'd,
Defying Isr'el, should go unchastis'd;
He talk'd with one, he turn'd him to another,
Not daunted with the chidings of his brother;
He let them both by word and gesture know,
He durst against the great Goliah go.
But brave disdain did sparkle in his eye,
His mettle rose, his breast with courage swell'd,
He scarce himself from falling on withheld;
That Spirit which, from God upon him came,
At his anointing, now doth more inflame
His heart with holy zeal, and doth him bear,
Above the sense of danger and of fear;
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Defying Isr'el, should go unchastis'd;
He talk'd with one, he turn'd him to another,
Not daunted with the chidings of his brother;
He let them both by word and gesture know,
He durst against the great Goliah go.
The rumour of him reach'd the royal tent,
And from the king a messenger was sent,
To bring him to him. In he nimbly stept,
And said, O king, the challenge I accept;
Let no man's courage fail, for in the might
Of God, I with this Philistine will fight.
And from the king a messenger was sent,
To bring him to him. In he nimbly stept,
And said, O king, the challenge I accept;
Let no man's courage fail, for in the might
Of God, I with this Philistine will fight.
Alas! said Saul, when he observ'd the lad,
A shepherd-swain, all in sheep's russet clad,
To fight with him thou art too weak by far,
Thou but a youth, and he a man of war.
Cast fear away, O king, the youth reply'd,
He's strong who has th'Almighty on his side;
I fear the God of Isr'el, and have found,
Young tho' I am, his strength in need abound;
Thy servant slew a lion, and a bear,
That from my father's flock a lamb did tear,
And since this Philistine, hath in his pride,
The armies of the living God defy'd,
Th'uncircumcised wretch no more shall be,
Than was the lion or the bear to me;
The Lord, who from the bear's and lion's paw,
Did me preserve because I lov'd his law,
Will, I believe, as in his fear I stand,
Preserve me safe from this great giant's hand.
A shepherd-swain, all in sheep's russet clad,
To fight with him thou art too weak by far,
Thou but a youth, and he a man of war.
Cast fear away, O king, the youth reply'd,
He's strong who has th'Almighty on his side;
I fear the God of Isr'el, and have found,
Young tho' I am, his strength in need abound;
Thy servant slew a lion, and a bear,
That from my father's flock a lamb did tear,
And since this Philistine, hath in his pride,
The armies of the living God defy'd,
Th'uncircumcised wretch no more shall be,
Than was the lion or the bear to me;
The Lord, who from the bear's and lion's paw,
Did me preserve because I lov'd his law,
Will, I believe, as in his fear I stand,
Preserve me safe from this great giant's hand.
10
The king amaz'd, yet glad withal to find,
In such a straight so well resolv'd a mind,
Gives his consent, and prays the Lord to bless,
His little combatant with great success:
Himself, with his own armour David arms,
To render him the more secure from harms,
Upon his head an helmet he doth put
Of massy brass, through which no sword could cut,
Then loads him also with a coat of mail,
Which, having oft been try'd, did never fail;
On this array, his sword did David gird,
And then assay'd to go; but when he stirr'd,
He too unweildly was, he found to move.
Nor durst he fight in arms he did not prove;
Saul's armour therefore David did refuse,
‘Who fight for God, must not man's weapons use:’
Saul's armour therefore leaving in his tent,
He took his trusty staff, and out he went,
His sling in t'other hand; and as he goes,
He five smooth stones out of the valley chose,
Opens his scrip, and puts the stones therein,
And then draws near unto the Philistin.
In such a straight so well resolv'd a mind,
Gives his consent, and prays the Lord to bless,
His little combatant with great success:
Himself, with his own armour David arms,
To render him the more secure from harms,
Upon his head an helmet he doth put
Of massy brass, through which no sword could cut,
Then loads him also with a coat of mail,
Which, having oft been try'd, did never fail;
On this array, his sword did David gird,
And then assay'd to go; but when he stirr'd,
He too unweildly was, he found to move.
Nor durst he fight in arms he did not prove;
Saul's armour therefore David did refuse,
‘Who fight for God, must not man's weapons use:’
Saul's armour therefore leaving in his tent,
He took his trusty staff, and out he went,
His sling in t'other hand; and as he goes,
He five smooth stones out of the valley chose,
Opens his scrip, and puts the stones therein,
And then draws near unto the Philistin.
The giant rolling round his staring eyes,
At length the little Hebrew coming spies,
At whom his haughty breast with scorn did swell,
And with such words as these he on him fell:
At length the little Hebrew coming spies,
At whom his haughty breast with scorn did swell,
And with such words as these he on him fell:
‘Am I a dog, thou despicable boy,
‘That thou attempts me thus with staves t'annoy?
‘Come hither, sirrah, and thy flesh for meat,
‘I'll give unto the fowls and beasts to eat.’
Then by his gods (what could he mention worse?)
He belches out an execrable curse,
So loud as if he meant the vale to shake,
And cause the savage beasts themselves to quake.
‘That thou attempts me thus with staves t'annoy?
‘Come hither, sirrah, and thy flesh for meat,
‘I'll give unto the fowls and beasts to eat.’
11
He belches out an execrable curse,
So loud as if he meant the vale to shake,
And cause the savage beasts themselves to quake.
When he had ended, David did begin,
And answer'd thus the haughty Philistin:—
And answer'd thus the haughty Philistin:—
‘Thou com'st to me with sword, and shield, and spear,
‘But I to thee, come in the name and fear
‘Of God the Lord of hosts, by thee defy'd,
‘The God of Isr'el, to chastise thy pride;
‘This day, I trust, into my hand he'll give
‘Thy sever'd head, no longer shalt thou live;
‘Of all your host, the carcases this day,
‘Shall to the fowls and beasts be made a prey,
‘That all who on the spacious earth do dwell,
‘May know there is a God in Israel;
‘And to this whole assembly 't shall appear,
‘That not by sword the Lord doth save, nor spear;
‘The Lord our God, the battle doth command,
‘And he will give you up into our hand.’
‘But I to thee, come in the name and fear
‘Of God the Lord of hosts, by thee defy'd,
‘The God of Isr'el, to chastise thy pride;
‘This day, I trust, into my hand he'll give
‘Thy sever'd head, no longer shalt thou live;
‘Of all your host, the carcases this day,
‘Shall to the fowls and beasts be made a prey,
‘That all who on the spacious earth do dwell,
‘May know there is a God in Israel;
‘And to this whole assembly 't shall appear,
‘That not by sword the Lord doth save, nor spear;
‘The Lord our God, the battle doth command,
‘And he will give you up into our hand.’
So spake th'undaunted youth. And at that word,
Th'enraged giant was so throughly stirr'd,
That forth he step'd, and lifting up his spear,
With direful threats to David he drew near.
To meet him David still advanc'd as fast,
And from his sling a stone he swiftly cast,
So rightly aim'd, and with a force so strong,
It pierc'd his brain, and fell'd him all along:
Prostrate he sprawling lay, the bruised earth,
Receiv'd with trembling her gigantic birth.
No sooner David this advantage spies,
But o'er the vale, he like the light'ning flies:
While stretch'd upon the ground the monster lay,
Like some great mole of earth, or bank of clay,
The nimble victor laying by his sling,
Did on his massy shoulders lightly spring,
Where standing, forth the giant's sword he drew,
And therewith did his neck asunder hew.
Th'enraged giant was so throughly stirr'd,
That forth he step'd, and lifting up his spear,
With direful threats to David he drew near.
To meet him David still advanc'd as fast,
And from his sling a stone he swiftly cast,
So rightly aim'd, and with a force so strong,
It pierc'd his brain, and fell'd him all along:
12
Receiv'd with trembling her gigantic birth.
No sooner David this advantage spies,
But o'er the vale, he like the light'ning flies:
While stretch'd upon the ground the monster lay,
Like some great mole of earth, or bank of clay,
The nimble victor laying by his sling,
Did on his massy shoulders lightly spring,
Where standing, forth the giant's sword he drew,
And therewith did his neck asunder hew.
Thus with a sling and stone did David smite,
And slay Goliah in a single fight.
O dext'rous slinger, who the prize might win,
From the left-handed sons of Benjamin!
Nay, rather let the praise to him alone
Ascribed be, who guided hand and stone!
And slay Goliah in a single fight.
O dext'rous slinger, who the prize might win,
From the left-handed sons of Benjamin!
Nay, rather let the praise to him alone
Ascribed be, who guided hand and stone!
The challenge answer'd thus, the conquest won,
In sight of both the armies looking on,
The monster's head still reeking in its gore,
In triumph then victorious David bore.
In sight of both the armies looking on,
The monster's head still reeking in its gore,
In triumph then victorious David bore.
Him thus returning, captain Abner meets,
Embraces and affectionately greets;
Extols his fearless valour to the sky,
And gratulates his happy victory.
Embraces and affectionately greets;
Extols his fearless valour to the sky,
And gratulates his happy victory.
By him conducted to the royal tent,
To Saul he doth Goliah's head present.
Mean while the Philistins, their champion dead,
With terror struck, in great disorder fled;
The Hebrews shouting, eagerly pursue,
And of them kill'd and wounded not a few.
Thus the proud Philistins the Lord did quell,
And wrought deliv'rance for his Israel.
To Saul he doth Goliah's head present.
13
With terror struck, in great disorder fled;
The Hebrews shouting, eagerly pursue,
And of them kill'd and wounded not a few.
Thus the proud Philistins the Lord did quell,
And wrought deliv'rance for his Israel.
| CHAP. II. Davideis | |