 | Poems and Songs by E. H. B. [i.e. E. H. Bickersteth] |  |
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DAVID'S LAMENTATION OVER SAUL AND JONATHAN.
I
Hark!—heard ye not that loud lament?Lo! Saul and all his sons are slain;
The mighty fallen—wide o'er the plain
The wail of desolation's sent,
And David mourns o'er Israel's king:
Oh! Jonathan is dead!—
Thy might and beauty fled!—
Oh! tell it not in Gath—ye fields, no off'ring bring.—
Daughters of proud Philistia's host,
Rejoice not o'er the prostrate form;
Nor boasting nor vain triumph borne,
Nor dew upon the mount be lost—
The early nor the latter rain;
For there—oh! there—
Unheard the prayer
Arose—the mighty shield fell thund'ring o'er the plain.
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II
Oh! ye were lovely in your life;E'en death could not divide his prey—
Together on life's mazy way
Ye trod—together bore the battle's strife;
And drew the bow, and bared the sword—
Swifter than eagle's wing—
Strong as the forest king—
Let Israel's daughters weep with loud lament their lord;
Who clad them in their bright array,
And flung around their forms of love
The jewelled gem, all cost above.—
How fell the mighty on that day
Amid the battle's fearful ire!
Slain—slain—on high
Uprose the cry—
O Jonathan—no more shall wake to weep his prostrate sire!
III
And David is distressed for thee—For thee, oh more than brother dear,
And mourns thee with a brother's tear:
How pleasant hast thou been to me!
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Lo! Jonathan is dead—
His might and beauty fled—
Oh! tell it not in Gath—ye fields, no off'ring bring!
More wonderful to me thy love
Than e'er fond woman's heart could know;
And death has passed and laid thee low—
Thee—whose affections round me wove,
Passing all earthly love beside—
The mighty—slain—
Far o'er the plain
Have perished—and their weapons lie all in the crimson tide.
| Poems and Songs by E. H. B. [i.e. E. H. Bickersteth] | |