Davideis :: :: University of Virginia Library

NOW wrap thyself, my muse, in sable weed,
While thou relates a most inhuman deed
As e'er was done; lay by thy laurels now,
And wreath thy temples with a cypress bough.
Thou, who of all the nine, ne'er known to smile,
Art held inventress of the tragick stile,
Speak through my quill, and on a doleful string,
In mournful notes, a tragick story sing.

It was not long e'er Saul's attentive ear
Of David and his new-rais'd men did hear,
And calling to remembrance that his son,
Whose courage was inferior to none,
On the affront was put upon him last,
When he at meat, his jav'lin at him cast,
Was in displeasure from the court retir'd,
His fear suggested that they both conspir'd
Against him, and confederated were
His crown and scepter 'twixt themselves to share;
Which well he knew could not be done, but he
Must, if not slain, at least dethroned be.
The thought of which, as it did horror breed
In him, whose fear did from his guilt proceed,

So did it blow his anger to a rage,
Beyond the force of reason to assuage.

In this turmoil he chanc'd abroad to be,
Beneath the umbrage of a spreading tree,
Under whose shady boughs, in chair of state,
He sate himself to cool and recreate;
About him stood his servants in a ring,
Waiting the pleasure of their angry king.

As chafing thus he sate, 'twixt wrath and fear.
Vibrating, in his palsied hands, his spear,
His terror-striking eye he roll'd about,
And in a while his choler thus brake out:

‘Hear now, ye Benjamites, will Jesse's son,
‘When he the crown of Israel hath won,
‘To ev'ry one of you, who succour yields
‘Unto him now, rich vineyards give and fields?
‘Will he you all, of thousands, captains make,
‘That ye so ready are his part to take?
‘That all of you against me have conspir'd,
‘And not a man, since Jonathan retir'd,
‘Hath shew'd me that my son a league hath made
‘With Jesse's son, and that I am betray'd?
‘Are ye so well assur'd of David's grace,
‘That he will each of you promote to place
‘Of trust and honour, that among you none
‘In pity hath inform'd me that my son
‘Hath stirred up my servant war to make,
‘And both my crown and life away to take?’

This unexpected speech the courtiers strook,
Amaz'd they stand, and on each other look;
Each man among them knew himself to be
From treasonable combination free;
For though their love to David did remain,
Yet did they still their loyalty retain:
But when the king's stern visage they beheld,
His pouting lips, his cheeks with anger swell'd,
His stormy brow, his fiery sparkling eye,
His foaming mouth with fury drawn awry,
His fuming breath puff'd like a smoking brand,
A trembling motion in his restless hand;
Though free from guilt, they were not free from fear,
Knowing how apt he was to cast the spear.

While thus the courtiers in a silent maze,
Upon the king and one another gaze,
Forth Doeg step'd, sprung from the Edomites,
Of herdsmen chief, and chief of parasites,
The same who t'other day with leering eye,
Did David in the tabernacle spy;
He now, to curry favour with his lord,
Told how the priest and David did accord,
How he himself at Nob had lately been,
And David with Ahimelech had seen,
How kind the priest, how ready to inquire
Of God, in David's case, at his desire;
Adding, the priest with food had David stor'd,
And arm'd him also with Goliath's sword;
In short, he told whate'er Ahitub's son,
Had unto David said, or for him done,

And in such terms the matter did relate,
As were most apt the king to irritate,
Hiding what would have freed the priest from blame,
That David went as in the royal name.

The king in pain, through rage too closely pent,
Within his swollen breast, for want of vent,
Was glad this charge against the priests to hear,
Resolving to discharge his fury there.

Forthwith a pursuivant was sent to bring
The priests from Nob before the wrathful king.
The priests, the royal summons to obey,
Immediately advanc'd upon the way,
And, in a body, with a good intent,
Themselves at Gib'ah to the king present.

No sooner did the king the priest espy,
But with a frowning brow and flaming eye,
Upon them fix'd; he to the pontiff brake,
His mind in accents which his fury spake.

‘Hear now,’ said he, Ahitub's son (whose word
To him again was, “Here am I, my lord,”)
‘Why hast thou with a treasonable mind,
‘Against thy lord, with Jesse's son combin'd?
‘Thy treason's plain: for first ye did conspire
‘Against my life, then of the Lord inquire;
‘That thereby he to rise against me might,
‘Embold'ned be his sov'reign Lord to smite;
‘Thou with provisions too didst him supply,
‘That he, as now he doth, in wait might lie,

‘Nay, thou into his hand a sword didst put,
‘That he my head might from my shoulders cut.’

So spake the king, and more perhaps had spoke,
But that this choler did him almost choke.
To whom Ahimelech, with due respect,
Return'd an answer much to this effect:

‘May't please the king, what service I have done
‘For David was, as David was thy son,
‘Thy son-in-law, who always freely went,
‘On whatsoever service by thee sent,
‘One whom the king admitted to his table,
‘And in thy house was always honourable;
‘Nor thought I any one more true to thee,
‘Amongst thy great retinue, than was he;
‘So may he prove: if otherwise he be,
‘His being so was never known to me;
‘'Twas in thy bus'ness that he said he came,
‘Nor had I him receiv'd, but in thy name.
‘Did I then first to seek the Lord begin
‘For him, that this should now be made my sin?
‘Have I not oft before for him inquir'd?
‘Yet ne'er before was charg'd to have conspir'd;
‘From me far be it, e'er to entertain
‘A thought that may my loyalty distain;
‘And from the king, far be it too I pray,
‘Unto his servant's charge this thing to lay,
‘Or to my father's house, for we are clear,
‘And can our innocency make appear;

‘God is my witness, what I speak is true,
‘Thy servant of this matter nothing knew.”

So spake the reverend Ahimelech,
And, with his last words, bow'd his aged neck:
The other priests, to shew they did agree
To what he said, bow'd ev'ry man his knee.

So just the priest's defence was, and so clear,
Unto the standers-by did he appear,
That all the courtiers ready were to shout
For joy: when, on a sudden Saul broke out,
And, with a vehemence of voice, did cry,
‘Thou, thou Ahimelech, shalt surely die,
‘And all thy father's house.’ O cruel word!
More cruel mind! to be by all abhorr'd:
Abhorr'd it was; each courtier hung his head,
And ev'ry face grew pale which had been red.
The dismal sentence did with horror strike
The hearers, deep fetch'd sighs shew'd their dislike;
A trembling murmur at one side began,
And spreading, through the whole assembly ran,
Which ended in an universal groan,
Enough to melt all hearts, but those of stone.