 | Morning Songs |  |
57
DEATH OF ABSALOM
Throughout the courts and palace halls,
Resounds a mighty warrior's call;
The notes from out his trumpet horn,
Reechoes on the early morn;
Enchanted by its warlike sound,
His gallant charger paws the ground,
And champs his bit with rage.
Resounds a mighty warrior's call;
The notes from out his trumpet horn,
Reechoes on the early morn;
Enchanted by its warlike sound,
His gallant charger paws the ground,
And champs his bit with rage.
All, summoned by bold Joab's call,
Ten thousand soldiers, large and tall,
And archers with their bows in hand,
Did form in line at his command.
Ten thousand soldiers, large and tall,
And archers with their bows in hand,
Did form in line at his command.
Out through the swinging palace gates,
March valorous men with spears and plates,
And war-steeds robed in trappings gay,
Canters and prance; their piercing neigh,
Commingles with the warrior's lay,
In one harmonious sound.
March valorous men with spears and plates,
And war-steeds robed in trappings gay,
Canters and prance; their piercing neigh,
Commingles with the warrior's lay,
In one harmonious sound.
While through the swinging gates they go,
Footmen, with battle-ax and bow,
War-chariots bearing gallant knights,
Went up against the Israelites.
Footmen, with battle-ax and bow,
War-chariots bearing gallant knights,
Went up against the Israelites.
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King David stood beside the gate,
His trouble was a ponderous weight,
And while he breathes a silent prayer,
His eyes the sign of weeping wear;
To passing captains one by one,
He says, “deal gently with my son.”
His trouble was a ponderous weight,
And while he breathes a silent prayer,
His eyes the sign of weeping wear;
To passing captains one by one,
He says, “deal gently with my son.”
So Joab and his men of might,
Arrayed their armies for the fight;
With spear and battle-ax they stood,
Among the oaks of Ephriam's wood.
Arrayed their armies for the fight;
With spear and battle-ax they stood,
Among the oaks of Ephriam's wood.
The traitorous Israelites came down,
Upon King David's host;
Amidst defying trumpet sound,
Throughout the wood, and waste around,
Fell men by thousands, lost
Upon King David's host;
Amidst defying trumpet sound,
Throughout the wood, and waste around,
Fell men by thousands, lost
The clashing of the sword and shield,
Through Ephriam's wood resound;
Brave soldiers fell upon that field,
And trampled by the horses' heel,
Lay prostrate on the ground.
Through Ephriam's wood resound;
Brave soldiers fell upon that field,
And trampled by the horses' heel,
Lay prostrate on the ground.
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War-steeds, blood-stained and riderless,
Down through the ranks, with fright did press,
Their eyes like fire, flashed left and right,
While captains urged their men to fight.
And long before the set of sun,
A noble victory was won.
Down through the ranks, with fright did press,
Their eyes like fire, flashed left and right,
While captains urged their men to fight.
And long before the set of sun,
A noble victory was won.
The blast of Joab's trumpet loud,
Subdued the tumult of the crowd,
Brave warriors in their triumph came
With broken sabers; men of fame,
With gory ax and broken shield,
Returned victorious from that field.
Subdued the tumult of the crowd,
Brave warriors in their triumph came
With broken sabers; men of fame,
With gory ax and broken shield,
Returned victorious from that field.
Out through the land the tidings spread,
How Israel's traitorous host had fled;
How valorous men were overcome,
The death of willful Absalom.
How Israel's traitorous host had fled;
How valorous men were overcome,
The death of willful Absalom.
Up to the chamber o'er the gate,
With breaking heart from troubles great,
He rose, and weeping as he went,
In dire distress, his sad form bent,
His troubled soul most overcome,
Cried, Absalom! Oh, Absalom!
Rebellious in thy youthful pride,
Oh, that for thee, I could have died!
With breaking heart from troubles great,
He rose, and weeping as he went,
In dire distress, his sad form bent,
His troubled soul most overcome,
Cried, Absalom! Oh, Absalom!
Rebellious in thy youthful pride,
Oh, that for thee, I could have died!
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