 | David and Goliath |  |
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2. PART II.
SCENE, The Camp. ELIAB, ABINADAB, ABNER, ISRAELITES.ELIAB.
Still is th' event of this long war uncertain:
Still do the adverse hosts, on either side,
Protract, with ling'ring caution, an encounter,
Which must to one be fatal.
ABINADAB.
This descent,
Thus to the very confines of our land,
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In Ephes-dammim boldly they encamp:
Th' uncircumcis'd Philistines pitch their tents
On Judah's hallow'd earth.
ELIAB.
Full forty days
Has the insulting giant, proud Goliath,
The champion of Philistia, fiercely challeng'd
Some Israelitish foe. But who so vain
To dare such force unequal? who so bent
On sure destruction, to accept his terms,
And rush on death beneath the giant force
Of his enormous bulk?
ABINADAB.
'Tis near the time,
When, in th' adjacent valley which divides
Th' opposing armies, he is wont to make
His daily challenge.
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Much I marvel, brother!
No greetings from our father reach our ears.
With ease and plenty bless'd, he little recks
The daily hardships which his sons endure.
But see! behold his darling son approaches!
ABINADAB.
How, David here? whence this unlook'd for guest?
ELIAB.
A spy upon our actions; sent, no doubt,
To scan our deeds, with beardless gravity
Affecting wisdom; to observe each word,
To magnify the venial faults of youth,
And construe harmless mirth to foul offence.
Enter DAVID.
DAVID.
All hail, my dearest brothers!
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Means thy greeting
True love, or arrogant scorn?
DAVID.
Oh, most true love!
Sweet as the precious ointment which bedew'd
The sacred head of Aaron, and descended
Upon his hallow'd vest; so sweet, my brothers,
Is fond fraternal amity; such love
As my touch'd bosom feels at your approach.
ELIAB.
Still that fine glozing speech, those holy saws,
And all that trick of studied sanctity,
Of smooth-turn'd periods, and trim eloquence,
Which charms thy doating father. But confess,
What dost thou here? Is it to soothe thy pride,
And gratify thy vain desire to roam,
In quest of pleasures unallow'd? or com'st thou,
A willing spy, to note thy brother's deeds?
Where hast thou left those few poor straggling sheep?
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The care of those, than here to wander idly.
Why cam'st thou hither?
DAVID.
Is there not a cause?
Why that displeasure kindling in thine eye,
My angry brother? why those taunts unkind?
Not idly bent on sport; not to delight
Mine eye with all this gay parade of war;
To gratify a roving appetite,
Or fondly to indulge a curious ear
With any tale of rumour, am I come:
But to approve myself a loving brother.
I bring the blessing of your aged sire,
With gifts of such plain cates, and rural viands,
As suit his frugal fortune. Tell me now
Where the bold captain of your host encamps?
ELIAB.
Wherefore enquire? what boots it thee to know?
Behold him there: great Abner, fam'd in arms!
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I bring thee, mighty Abner, from my father,
(A simple shepherd swain in yonder vale)
Such humble gifts as shepherd swains bestow.
ABNER.
Thanks, gentle youth! with pleasure I receive
The grateful off'ring. Why does thy quick eye
Thus wander with unsatisfied delight?
DAVID.
New as I am to all the trade of war,
Each sound has novelty; each thing I see
Attracts attention; every noise I hear
Awakes confus'd emotions; indistinct,
Yet full of charming tumult, sweet distraction.
'Tis all delightful hurry! Oh! the joy
Of young ideas painted on the mind,
In the warm glowing colours fancy spreads
On objects not yet known, when all is new,
And all is lovely! Ah! what warlike sound
Salutes my ravish'd ear?
[Sound of Trumpet.
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'Tis the Philistine,
Proclaiming, by his herald, through the ranks,
His near approach. Each morning he repeats
His challenge to our bands.
DAVID.
Ha! what Philistine?
Who is he?
ELIAB.
Wherefore ask? for thy raw youth,
And rustic ignorance, 'twere fitter learn
Some rural art; some secret to prevent
Contagion in thy flocks; some better means
To save their fleece immaculate. These mean arts,
Of soft inglorious peace, far better suit
Thy low obscurity, than thus to seek
High things, pertaining to exploits of arms.
DAVID.
Urg'd as I am, I will not answer thee.
Who conquers his own spirit, O my brother!
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That shout mysterious! Pray you tell me who
This proud Philistine is, who sends defiance
To Israel's hardy chieftains?
ABNER.
Stranger youth!
So lovely and so mild is thy demeanor,
So gentle, and so patient; such the air
Of candor and of courage, which adorns
Thy blooming features, thou hast won my love;
And I will tell thee.
DAVID.
Mighty Abner! thanks!
ABNER.
Thrice, and no more, he sounds, his daily rule,
This man of war, this champion of Philistia,
Is of the sons of Anak's giant-race.
Goliath is his name. His fearful stature,
Unparallel'd in Israel, measures more
Than twice two cubits. On his tow'ring head
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So pond'rous, it wou'd crush the stoutest man
In all our hosts. A coat of mailed armour
Guards his capacious trunk; compar'd with which
The amplest oak, that spreads his rugged arms
In Bashan's groves, were small. About his neck
A shining corslet hangs. On his vast thigh
The plaited cuirass firmly jointed stands.
But who shall tell the wonders of his spear,
And hope to gain belief? of massive iron
Its temper'd frame; not less than the broad beam
To which the busy weaver hangs his loom;
Not to be wielded by a mortal hand,
Save by his own. An armour-bearer walks
Before this mighty champion, in his hand
Bearing the giant's shield. Thrice, every morn,
His herald sounds the trumpet of defiance,
Off'ring at once to end the long-drawn war,
In single combat, 'gainst that hardy foe
Who dares encounter him.
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Say, mighty Abner!
What are the haughty terms of his defiance?
ABNER.
Proudly he stalks around th' extremest bounds
Of Elah's valley. 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,
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?
Chuse 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.
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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.”
DAVID.
What shall be done to him who shall subdue
This vile idolator?
ABNER.
He shall receive
Such ample bounties, such profuse rewards,
As might inflame chill age, or cowardice,
Were not the odds so desperate.
DAVID.
Say what are they?
ABNER.
The royal Saul has promis'd that bold hero,
Who shall encounter and subdue Goliath,
All dignity and favour; that his house
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With the first honours Israel has to give.
And for the gallant conqueror himself,
No less a recompence than the fair princess,
Our monarch's peerless daughter.
DAVID.
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?
The king himself, who in his early youth
Wrought deeds of fame! the 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
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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 an hero! Why does he delay
To meet this boaster? For thy courtesy,
Thrice noble Abner, I am bound to thank thee!
Woud'st thou complete thy gen'rous offices?
I dare not ask it.
ABNER.
Speak thy wishes freely.
My soul inclines to serve thee.
DAVID.
Then, O Abner,
Conduct me to the king! There is a cause
Will justify this boldness.
ELIAB.
Braggard, hold!
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I take thee at thy word, and will, with speed,
Conduct thee to my royal master's presence.
In yonder tent, the anxious monarch waits
Th' event of this day's challenge.
DAVID.
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.
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