University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

SCENE I.

A Camp.
Saul, Jonathan, Abner, Eliab.
Saul.
The proud Philistine Host is come in view,
And e're the Fight, does our faint Men subdue:
We strive to raise their Courages in vain,
As soon we might recall them who last Fight were slain.

Eli.
They hope no succour from their Spears or Shields,
Against those Troops that cover Dannum Fields:
Whose tender Grass, supprest beneath their weight,
Too much resembles our approaching Fate.
For so our Neighbours court their great Success,
That nothing, but our Fears, can more encrease.

Abn.
I saw them, Sir, as on their Hill they stood;
Their Spears out-vy'd the thickest of our Wood:
Our Men at Distance cannot make a shew
So great as theirs in closest Order do.
Yet still their Camp did with new Aids abound,
Which had they wanted, they had never found.
But Succours crowd to them who needed none;
As Streams still to the o'er-charg'd Ocean run.

Jon.
To Conquer us they do not want Supplies,
Our selves are grown our greatest Enemies;
Who, by our Cowardise and base Despair,
Pull on our Heads the Mischiefs which we fear.
Like timorous Fools, who often blindly run
On greater Dangers than they strive to shun.

[Shouts without.
Eli.
From the Foes Camp loud Acclamations ring,
Like joyful Shouts made after Conquering.

Saul.
Enquire the Cause—
[To El. who goes out.
Their Confidence does soar too great a height,
To boast a Victory before the Fight.

Jon.
May it ev'n to the highest pitch aspire;
It then must fall, when it can mount no higher.

Abn.
Why then, my Lord, do we dejected lie,
Since we are quite as low as they are high?

Jon.
The fault is ours, who truckle to their Pride,
And no Defence against it dare provide:
From our mean Spirits they their Rise derive;
They had no Wings, but what our Fears did give.
Our Fortunes did in equal ballance lie,
Till we, by sinking first, rais'd them so high.
And thus exalted, they must so remain,
Till we, by rising, bring them down again.
We must their Fury calm, or must endure;
Who ne're attempts can ne're effect a Cure.

Saul.
My Jonathan, how am I blest, my Son,
[Embracing him.
To see my Age thus by thy Youth out-done!
Thy Virtue clearly through those Clouds does shine,
Whose Darkness has eclips'd the Rays of mine.
O Abner! how can we of Conquest miss,
[To Abner.
When aided with a Courage great as this!
Our Enemies may their vast Numbers boast,
But thou art to be priz'd above their Host.

[To Jonathan.
Jon.
All I possess I owe, Dread Sir, to you,
From whom my Courage, as my Life, I drew.
But Eliab comes—

[Enter Eliab.
Saul.
What made the Shouts so loud?

Eli.
The different Passions, Sir, of either Crowd.
They did from Hope in the Foes Camp proceed;
In ours, Despair did the sad Out-cry breed.

Sa.
What cou'd beget such Hope and such Despair?

Eli.
That which will raise your Wonder, Sir, to hear.
While on their several Hills both Armies stood,
Like Conqu'rours theirs, but ours like Men subdu'd,
A Noise from the Philistine Camp was sent,
Like Thunder ratling through the Air it went!
Nothing cou'd more augment their Souldiers Fear,
But that more dreadful sight which after did appear.

Jon.
What was the sight?

Eli.
A Man—(if such he was, who, in esteem,
Did a Contraction of their Army seem)
With strange contempt descends into the Plain,
Pressing the Earth—
Which Nature made him fitter to sustain:
Such was his Stature, he o're-look'd the Hill,
As much as that the Valley he did fill.
A Dwarf (for such the rest seem'd) march'd before,
Sweating beneath a Target which he bore.
Thus usher'd, tow'rds our Camp his way he took,
Viewing our Men with a disdainful Look;
Then made a Challenge in a Voice so loud,
It drowned all the Clamors of the Crowd.

Jon.
What was the Substance of it? let us hear.

Eli.
These, or like these, the words he utter'd were.
Why, Men of Israel, will ye chuse to die?
The doubtful Chance of War why will ye try?
What need you hasten your whole Armies Fall?
Save, save your Lives, and let one die for all.
This day, a Man to answer me prepare,
(If any can so much o'ercome his Fear)
Between us let the Armies Cause be try'd;
We will the Difference with our Blood decide:
Israel shall with her Champion lose the Field,
Or the Philistines with Goliah yield.
Will no one come?—But one why do I call?
A thousand of you were too few—come all.

Saul.
But were our Men so much to Fear betray'd,
None durst accept the Challenge which he made?

Eli.
Who singly cou'd engage with him in Fight
Who vanish'd your whole Army with his sight?

Jon.
Let the whole Army tremble at his words,
And dread them more than the Philistine Swords;
Though he cou'd Do as much as he can boast,
I will go meet him, were he all the Host:
And, arm'd with Israel's Cause, kill Israel's Foe.

[Is going.
Saul.
Come back, my Son—
I charge you on your Duty, do not go.

Jon.
Ah, Sir, must Israel be in this Distress,
While none the Wrongs she suffers dares redress!
Make me her Champion, and her Foes shall see
That Courage which this Army wants, in me.

Saul.
Urge me no more, you must not, shall not go;
Or go from me for ever if you do:
Rather than you, I wou'd my self expose,
And naked dare the Vengeance of my Foes.

Jon.
Staying I lose the Glory I have won.

Saul.
Obedience is the Glory of a Son.
But you have got a Name you cannot lose
While Valour in the Rank of Virtues goes:
Too well your Enemies at Micmash knew,
You could alone their Garrisons subdue:
But if for Fame you from your Duty swerve,
You lose what you endeavour to preserve.

Jon.
Why have I here two Evils left to chuse,
The King meditates alone.
And must take one, though I shou'd both refuse?
I must neglect what I entirely love,
And false to Duty or to Honour prove.
Duty shall be observ'd, let Honour go;
I glory in its loss to lose it so.

Saul.
Heav'n has my Marriage with two Daughters blest,
Of all the Treasures Nature gives possest.
Go Abner, and this Promise publick make,
That he who dares the Combat undertake,
If he succeeds, shall, as his just Reward,
Be to the Elder Merab's Bed preferr'd:
He shall be next my Jonathan in Pow'r,
And only give the Gyant's Head for Dow'r.

Jon.
Rewards like these, ev'n Cowards might inflame,
Riches and Pow'r work more on such than Fame.

[Exeunt.
Doeg alone.
Do.
Now Fate to grant my frequent Wish complies,
And smiling seems to say, Now Doeg rise:
By Shallum's Death the way is clear and free,
He long has stood between my Hopes and me.
The Place of Armor-bearer to the King,
(The only Office worth my Coveting)
Which, by Saul's word, was long before made mine
As soon as envy'd Shallum did resign;
Who by his Death—
Has giv'n the King an opportunity
To keep his Promise, and be just to me.
Yet I in vain on Saul and Fate depend,
Unless my self in this my self befriend:
For still new Thoughts invade a Prince's Breast,
By which the old are wholly dispossest.
But, that I may renew for me his Care,
I must repeat my own Attendance here:
He shou'd be often in his Sov'raign's eye,
Who is ambitious in his Heart to lie.

[Exit.
David, Eliab.
Eli.
Enquire no more—I know your haughty Mind;
To see the Fight was what you most design'd.
To Bethlem, Boy, and move in your own sphere,
You are unskill'd, and have no bus'ness here.

Dav.
Sure, to behold a Fight, and not engage,
Does neither want Experience nor Age:
These only need be in the Actors shown;
Though Cowards cannot fight, they may look on.

Eli.
Be gone, I say, and let our Father know,
How I and all thy other Brethren do:
You will be mist at home, and must not stay;
A Messenger should not his time delay.

Dav.
No more will I when Glory calls away.
I have not yet old Samuel's words forgot,
Who said this Kingdom shou'd become my Lot.

Eli.
You build your Hopes on what he said, in vain:
First know the means which must your Crown obtain.

Dav.
How can I doubt the truth of what he said,
Who have such proof of his great Knowledge made?
Ev'n thus to Saul he a like Message brought,
And gave a Kingdom which he never sought.
Besides, this Thought has still possest my Mind,
That I for Pow'r and Greatness was design'd:
When other Youths in ev'ry Exercise
Made me their Chief, presaging thus my Rise:
And I then kept a more than usual State,
Fancying I was what I did personate.

Eli.
If then you must o'er Israel bear sway,
You shou'd attain it by some noble way.
A Crown shews dim that is not merited,
And sits but loose on a Usurper's Head.

Dav.
A ready way now to Deserve is shewn,
And the first step to raise me to the Throne;
Propitious Heav'n does put it in my hand,
To save the People which I must command.
My self against the Challenger will go,
Fall with my Country, or destroy its Foe.

Eli.
You may with ease Design great Deeds like this;
The difficulty in Performance is.

Dav.
In vain the Gyant braves all Israel's Host,
And does his Strength and his Experience boast:
Let him with those small Odds his Fancy please,
My Courage gives me more Advantages.

Eli.
This rash Design you may too late repent;
But if you are resolv'd—
That way directs you to the General's Tent.

[Exeunt severally.
Doeg alone.
Do.
[Enter Adriel,

Adr.

Do.
I grieve, my Lord, that you this Cross have met,
But more, that you must find a greater yet:
With which I will acquaint you in the Tent;
It will not here be so convenient.

Adr.
Let us retire—
Does it in all the pow'r of Fate remain,
To lay more weight on than I now sustain?
It cannot be, Fate has no trouble more,
No burthen which I have not born, in store.

[Exeunt.
After several Shouts, Saul and Jonathan discover'd in the Tent Royal. Abner and David enter to them.
Sa.
What Shouts are these which through the Camp resound?

Ab.
Sir, distrest Israel has a Champion found.
This Youth, who lately to the Army came,
Does bravely, to his Honour and our Shame,
Accept the Challenge we did all decline.

Sa.
Alas! what Rashness urges this Design?
How can he hope that, wanting Strength and Skill,
He shou'd a Gyant, and experienc'd, kill?
Can he be able, with his single hand,
To meet that Force our Army dares not stand?

Dav.
Did want of Years defect of Courage shew,
You might, with Reason, judge, Sir, as you do;
Valour and Life Heav'n does together give,
These no addition can from Time receive.

Sa.
Courage in Action only is descry'd;
The Brave and Base are equal while untry'd.
Then to confirm the Truth of what you said,
Produce some Proofs of Valour you have made.

Dav.
Once, Sir, as by my Father's Flock I stood,
Behold, a Lyon from the Neighb'ring Wood
Snatch'd up a new-yean'd Lamb, and bore away
In his grim Jaws the faintly bleting Prey.
I soon was with the Sight and Cry alarm'd,
And, Lyon-like, with my own Courage arm'd,
Pursu'd the Ravisher, who scorn'd to fly,
But, facing, crusht his Prey, and laid it by:
Then with his Tail giving his Side a stroke,
His wonted Rage and Fury to provoke,
Boldly I seiz'd his Beard, and made him roar
Louder than he had made himself before.
As he my Lamb, I did his Carcass tear,
And made him all the Pains he threatned bear.
And as this Lyon, so a Bear I slew;
Let this procure me Credit, Sir, with you.
Were greatest Spirits in largest bulks exprest,
The Elephant would be the Noblest Beast:
But the small Tiger's Heart out matches his
More than his Limbs exceeds the other's size.

Jon.
All this spoke asids, while Saul and Abner are in Consultation about David.
[To Saul.

Sa.
Rashly to cast the Fortune of my Land,
Thus on a single and a feeble Hand,
The Dictates of my Reason do deny.

Jon.
Reason, Sir, rather prompts you to comply:
For tho' the Match does much unequal seem,
Between the monstrous Challenger and him;
Yet, who both Armies does survey, may see
Between them just the same Disparity;
And he who of this Victory despairs,
Can hope no more our Men shou'd conquer theirs.

Abn.
You need not doubt, Sir, which to make your Choice,
Since single Combat has the Peoples Voice
Thus at the worst, you but one Subject lose;
By Battle all the Army you expose:
Your Person, Off-spring, Subjects, and your Throne,
All hope too of Recovery will be gone;
To pay small Tribute all your Loss will be,
And better part with that than Liberty.

Sa.
Then go, brave Youth, and may'st thou meet Success,
Great as the Courage which thou dost express.

Jon.
And may thy Arm o're the Philistin be
As pow'rful as thy Worth has been o're me.

Sa.
See that he has a Suit of Armor on,
Our Care for him cannot enough be shown.

Da.
I, but my Sling, no other Arms will use,
It is the safest Weapon I can chuse:
Arming my self, I arm my Enemy too,
And by Example make him Cautious grow;
But seeing me approach him unprepar'd,
He will not stand so much upon his Guard:
Thus I shall, naked, an Advantage gain,
Which arm'd, I should expect to find, in vain.
Men soon are vanquisht, when of Conquest sure,
And in most danger live, when most secure.

[Exeunt.
Adriel, Doeg.
Adr.
Must Merab the Reward of Vict'ry be?
This was an Ill I never cou'd foresee!
Shall she, in whom alone I can be blest,
Be, by another, while I live possest!
Tho' I without her, some short time might live,
I hardly can the Thoughts of this survive,
To see her proffer'd to another Bed,
Who proudly mine, tho' courted to it, fled.

Do.
No way to hinder it but this I know,
To fight the Giant, and deserve her so.

Adr.
But should I be in doubtful Combat slain,
I lose what I endeavour to obtain:
Perhaps thro' Fear all will the Fight decline,
Then still my Hopes are fair to make her mine.

Do.
Yet thus you get her Father on your side,
A Title too which cannot be deny'd;
Duty and Right will then your Wishes aid,
And must effect what Love in vain essay'd.

Adr.
Alas! ev'n these wou'd weak and fruitless prove,
To bend her high and stubborn Heart to love.
Her Father of her Person may dispose;
Her Love no Father, no Obedience knows;
And all my Hopes wou'd perish by this course,
For by compelling I incense her worse.
While I consider, you enquiry make
If any does the Combat undertake;
Let him the Merit of his Conquest boast,
I will deserve her best by loving most.

[Exeunt severally.
SCENE, A Field.
After several shouts some Philistins run over the Stage.
1. Phil.
Fly, fly away, behold our Strength, our Shield!
Behold the mighty Gathite Champion kill'd!

[Exeunt.
Several other Philistins follow.
2. Phil.
The Hand that cut off great Goliah's Head,
With the same blow struck all our Army dead.

[Exeunt.
David, as in pursuit, kills one flying.
Da.
Thus may the Enemies of Israel fall,
May Death and strange Confusion seize them all.

To him Jonathan and Abner.
Jon.
In vain, Sir, you pursue the Enemy,
[To David.
Wing'd with their Fear, beyond your reach they fly;
Their Speed encreases at the thoughts of you.

Da.
Their Fright, not my Pursuit, does make it so.

Jon.
Come, let us, Sir, to the King's Tent repair,
You will receive a joyful Welcome there:
The greatest Thanks that Israel can pay,
Will be the least you have deserv'd to day.

Da.
Too high, my Lord, you my mean Glory raise;
My Merit is not equal to your Praise:
Fighting in Saul's and Israel's defence,
Is, for it self sufficient Recompence.

[Exeunt.
SCENE, The Tent Royal.
Saul, Adriel, Doeg.
Sa.
How do my Joys fast on each other flow!
My Childrens Health, and Conquest o're my Fo!
You come, a pleasing Message to relate,
[To Adriel.
And meet News here acceptable as that:
Methinks you do not Joy enough express.

Adr.
It would be greater if its Cause were less.
[Aside.
Small Joys, Sir, from our Breasts do highly flow,
The greater with a slower motion go;
While, to be seen, each crowds to get away,
They stop the Passage and prolong their stay.

[Shouts.
Do.
These joyful Shouts proclaim the Victor near.

Adr.
Rather wou'd I behold the Enemy here.

[Aside.
Jonathan, David, Abner, Eliab, with Goliah's Head.
Jon.
Behold here, Sir, the Man to whom you owe
Your safety, and Goliah's overthrow;
Presents David to Saul.
Whom the Philistine Army dreaded more,
Than ours their boasting Champion heretofore.

Da.
Accept this

[The Head.

, Sir, and what besides I bring,
Zeal for my Country, Honour for my King.

Sa.

Da.
Since you vouchsafe to know, Sir, who I am,
Bethlem my Country, David is my Name;
My Father Jess, an honest Man, tho' Poor,
Who loves the King tho' he can do no more.

Sa.
Your Brothers long have serv'd me in my War;
They Men of Courage and Deserving are.

Da.
To visit them I hither came, which past,
I back to Bethlem and to Jess must hast;
And so for leave become your Supplicant.

Sa.
You ask the only thing I must not grant:
I cannot eas'ly with a Treasure part,
So much endear'd, as you are to my Heart;
You must with us to Gibeah repair,
Tast Joys of Peace, as well as Toils of War:
Since our great Happiness was gain'd by you,
It is but just you should partake it too.

[Exeunt Jon. and Da.
Jon.
Stay, Sir, and let me tell you e're you go,
You gain'd a Conquest which you did not know;
When you cut off the great Goliah's Head,
You then my Heart, your Valour's, Captive made.

Da.
That Valour you are pleas'd, Sir, to admire,
Was only what your Presence did inspire;
And all I have perform'd to that I owe;
Who could want Courage when beheld by you!
And since that Courage I from you derive,
You only merit the Applause you give.

Jon.
Alas! there is but little Virtue shown,
In him, who while another fights, looks on:
Can he that other bold and forward make,
To Actions which he dares not undertake?
Few Men take Courage from their General's sight;
They best by his Example learn to fight.
No, Sir, you do your self an Injury,
Ascribing what is only yours, to me.
I saw with Wonder and Astonishment,
How fearless you to meet the Giant went.
I saw your Danger with more fear than you,
And did with greater Joy your Safety view:
Yet griev'd that I cou'd no Desert pretend,
Which might me to your Friendship recommend;
But from your Goodness I this Hope conceive,
That what I cannot merit you will give.

Da.
Were it, my Lord, a Present worthy you,
How readily wou'd I my Heart bestow:
But you, Sir, are too high, and I too low.
Your Breast is for my Heart too rich a Case,
And mine for yours too humble and too base.

Jon.
Compar'd with you, 'tis I am Mean and Poor,
Your Worth a loftier flight than mine does soar,
And Virtues which I want you have in store:
Only in this we may unequal prove,
That I do more abound than you in Love:
Yet you the tenders of that Love despise,
And slight his Heart—
Who yours does more than greatest Treasures prize.

Da.
Sooner would Misers proffer'd Gold refuse,
Sooner Ambitious Souls, Retirement chuse;
Sooner wou'd Lovers, when they may obtain,
Neglect that Bliss they su'd for long in vain:
Your Favour is an Honour so sublime,
That but to wish it, were in me a Crime;
But more, shou'd I be backward to receive,
What you so freely condescend to give.

Jon.
Take then and keep the Empire of my Heart,
[Embracing him.
And render me in yours an equal part;
Let mine be still with you and yours with me,
And but one Soul in both our Bodies be.

Da.
Thus I receive the Heart which you resign,
[Bowing.
And give you back the poor exchange of mine;
At this low rate thus I your Friendship hold,
As Men for Trifles purchase Ophir's Gold.

[Exeunt.