"On which was wrought the gods' and giants' fight, "Rare work! all fill'd with terror and delight. 376 “Here a vast hill 'gainst thundering Baal was thrown, "Trees and beasts on 't fell burnt with lightning "down;

"One flings a mountain, and its river too,

"Torn up with 't; that rains back on him that 380

"threw :

"Some from the main to pluck whole islands try; "The sea boils round with flames shot thick from 66 sky;

"This he believ'd, and on his shield he bore,

"And prais'd their strength, but thought his own

"The valley now this monster seem'd to fill; 385 "And we, methoughts, look'd up t' him from our

❝ hill.

"All arm'd in brass, the richest dress of war "(A dismal glorious sight!) he shone afar; "The sun himself started with sudden fright, "To see his beams return so dismal bright: 390 "Brass was his helmet, his boots brass; and o'er "His breast a thick plate of strong brass he wore; "His spear the trunk was of a lofty tree, "Which Nature meant some tall ship's mast should

"be;

"Th' huge iron head six hundred shekels weigh'd, "And of whole bodies but one wound it made; 396 "Able Death's worst command to overdo,

"Thus arm'd he stood; all direful, and all

gay,

"And round him flung a scornful look away: 400 "So, when a Scythian tiger, gazing round, "An herd of kine in some fair plain has found, "Lowing secure, he swells with angry pride, “And calls forth all his spots on every side; "Then stops, and hurls his haughty eyes at all, 405 "In choice of some strong neck on which to fall; "Almost he scorns so weak, so cheap a prey, "And grieves to see them trembling haste away. "Ye men of Jury, 'he cries, if men you be, "And such dare prove yourselves to fame and me, "Choose out 'mongst all your troops the boldest

"knight,

411

"To try his strength and fate with me in fight: "The chance of war let us two bear for all, [fall. "And they the conqueror serve whose knight shall "At this he paus'd awhile: Straight, I defy 415 "Your gods and you; dares none come down and

"die?

"Go back for shame, and Egypt's slavery bear, "Or yield to us, and serve more nobly here. "Alas! ye 'ave no more wonders to be done, "Your sorcerer Moses now, and Joshua, 's gone; "Your magick trumpets then could cities take, 421 "And sounds of triumph did your battles make. "Spears in your hands and manly swords are vain ; "Get you your spells and conjuring rods again. "Is there no Samson here? O that there were! 425 "In his full strength, and long, enchanted hair;

"This sword should be in the weak razor's stead; "It should not cut his hair off, but his head.

"Thus he blasphem'd aloud; the valleys round, "Flattering his voice, restor'd the dreadful sound: "We turn'd us trembling at the noise, and fear'd 431 "We had behind some new Goliah heard.

"'T was Heaven, Heaven sure (which David's glory "meant

440

"Through this whole act) such sacred terror sent "To all our host; for there was Saul in place, 435 "Who ne'er saw fear but in his enemy's face; "His god-like son there in bright armour shone, "Who scorn'd to conquer armies not alone: "Fate her own book mistrusted at the sight; "On that side war, on this a single fight. "There stood Benaiah, and there trembled too, "He who th' Egyptian proud Goliah slew ; "In his pale fright, rage through his eyes shot flame, "He saw his staff, and blush'd with generous shame; "Thousands beside stood mute and heartless there, "Men valiant all; nor was I us'd to fear.

446

"Thus forty days he march'd down arm'd to fight, "Once every morn he march'd, and once at night. "Slow rose the sun, but gallop'd down apace, "With more than evening blushes in his face: 450 "When Jesse to the camp young David sent; "His purpose low, but high was Fate's intent; "For, when the monster's pride he saw and heard, "Round him he look'd, and wonder'd why they "fear'd.

" Anger and brave disdain his heart possess❜d, 455 "Thoughts more than manly swell'd his youthful "breast:

"Much the rewards propos'd his spirit enflame, "Saul's daughter much, and much the voice of Fame. "These to their just intentions strongly move, "But chiefly God, and his dear country's love. 460 "Resolv'd for combat, to Saul's tent he's brought, "Where thus he spoke, as boldly as he fought:

"Henceforth no more, great Prince, your sacred "breast

“With that huge talking wretch of Gath, molest ; "This hand alone shall end his cursed breath; 465 "Fear not, the wretch blasphemes himself to death, "And, cheated with false weight of his own might, "Has challeng'd Heaven, not us, to single fight. "Forbid it, God! that, where thy right is try'd, "The strength of man should find just cause for

" pride!

66 sway,

470

"Firm like some rock, and vast, he seems to stand, "But rocks we know were op'd at thy command: "That soul, which now does such large members [away; 66 Through one small wound will creep in haste "And he who now dares boldly Heaven defy, 475 "To every bird of heaven a prey shall lie: "For 't is not human force we ought to fear ; “Did that, alas! plant our forefathers here? "Twice fifteen kings did they by that subdue? "By that whole nations of Goliahs slew?

480

"The wonders they perform'd may still be done; "Moses and Joshua is, but God's not, gone. "We 'ave lost their rod and trumpets, not their skill; "Prayers and belief are as strong witchcraft still: "These are more tall, more giants far, than he, 485 "Can reach to heaven, and thence pluck victory. "Count this, and then, Sir, mine th' advantage is ; "He's stronger far than I, my God than his.

"Amazement seiz'd on all, and shame, to see "Their own fears scorn'd by one so young as he. 490 "Brave youth, replies the king, whose daring mind, "Ere come to manhood, leaves it quite behind; "Reserve thy valour for more equal fight, "And let thy body grow up to thy sprite. "Thou 'rt yet too tender for so rude a foe, "Whose touch would wound thee more than him 66 thy blow:

"Nature his limbs only for war made fit,

495

500

"In thine as yet nought beside love she 'has writ. "With some less foe thy unflesh'd valour try; "This monster can be no first victory. "The lion's royal whelp does not at first "For blood of Basan bulls or tigers thirst; "In timorous deer he hansels his young paws, "And leaves the rugged bear for firmer claws. "So vast thy hopes, so unproportion'd, be,

"Fortune would be asham'd to second thee.

505

"He said, and we all murmur'd an assent; "But nought moves David from his high intent. "It brave to him, and ominous, does appear, "To be oppos'd at first, and conquer here; 510

VOL. II.

BB