A paraphrase upon the canticles and some select hymns of the New and Old Testament, with other occasional compositions in English verse. By Samuel Woodford |
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David's ELEGY
Upon the death of Saul and Jonathan. |
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 | A paraphrase upon the canticles |  |
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David's ELEGY Upon the death of Saul and Jonathan.
Considera Israel pro hiis, qui mortui.
2 Sam. 1.
I
Israels delight, the glory of our Land,How are the Mighty overthrown!
Before their Enemies Swords they could not stand,
Nor conquer'd fall by any but their own:
In Thy High-places Israel, both did fall,
A publick Victim for their Land, in view of all.
II
Let not in Gath the mournful News be known,Nor in Philistia publish it;
Stop the Report, e're it reach Ascalon,
Nor let our Captive names their Arches fit:
Lest fearful Women, whom they left at Home,
With Songs to share the Spoil, and meet their Triumph come!
III
And ye, Gilboas Mounts, may never Rain,Or fertile Showres descend on you;
But on your Heads let there abide that stain,
Which Seas, should they pour down, would but renew:
Let the curst Earth no more an Offering yield,
Nor God expect his First-fruits from the empty Field.
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IV
'Twas there the valiant Saul resign'd his Breath,And there his Shield was thrown away;
Never was such a Trophy rear'd to Death,
Nor ever sacred arms so scattered lay:
The valiant Saul's, as if he ne're had been
The Lord's Anointed, or his Chosen Peoples King.
V
From the pursuit the Bow of Jonathan,Some Regal Spoil, did daily bring;
Destruction after his fleet arrows ran,
And at the Wounds they made, Death entred in:
The Sword of Saul did never empty come,
But a new Purple, from the Blood of Kings, brought home.
VI
Alike in Life, in Death alike they were,Not more in Blood ally'd, than Mind;
Themselves alone, you with them could compare,
Who none their equals saw, or left behind:
And on their arms there hung such Victory,
That Men they only seem'd, because they both could die.
VII
For as the Eagle, to her Prey does haste,And hovering o're the Quarry flies;
Or the fierce Lion, having once a taste
Of Blood, does all the Shepherds noise despise,
And at their Slings no shew of fear does make;
Like Lions they o're-came, like Eagles did o're-take.
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VIII
And you, O Daughters of so great a King,(Our Tribes support) his Death lament,
Whose Victories you before were wont to Sing,
And clad in Scarlet to adorn them, went:
Now put on Mourning, to attend his Hearse,
Sad as your own complaints, and mournful as my Verse.
IX
For (Lo!) the Glories of our State, and Land,(Lo!) how the Mighty are o're-thrown;
Before their Enemies Swords, they could not stand,
Tho Saul by none could perish, but his own:
In thy High-places, Jonathan, thou didst fall,
A publick Victim, where thou shouldst have reigned o're all.
X
For thee, my Brother, 'tis for thee I grieve,The best of Friends, as well as Men;
In whose Death I that fatal Wound receive,
Which clos'd will ne're be, till we meet again;
And in the Mansions of the Saints above,
Enjoy, what here we vow'd, our more than mortal love.
XI
Israels Delight, the Glory of our Land,How are the Mighty overthrown!
Before his Enemies Sword one could not stand,
Nor th' other fall by any but his own:
In thy High-places, Israel, both did fall,
A publick Victim for their Land, in view of all.
| A paraphrase upon the canticles | |