"Which he resolves. Scorn not, said he, mine age;

"For victory comes not, like an heritage,

"At set-years :—when my father's flock I fed, "A bear and lion, by fierce hunger led,

"Broke from the wood, and snatch'd my lambs 66 away; 515

"From their grim mouths I forc'd the panting prey: "Both bear and lion ev'n this hand did kill; "On our great oak the bones and jaws hang still. "My God's the same, which then he was, to-day, "And this wild wretch almost the same as they; 520 "Who from such danger sav'd my flock, will he "Of Israel, his own flock, less careful be?

"Be 't so then, Saul bursts forth; and Thou on

"Who oft in weakness dost most strength descry "At whose dread beck conquest expecting stands, "And casts no look down on the fighters' hands"Assist what Thou inspir'st; and let all see, "As boys to giants, giants are to Thee.

"Thus and with trembling hopes of strange

"In his own arms he the bold youth does dress. 530 "On's head an helm of well-wrought brass is plac'd, "The top with warlike plume severely grac'd; "His breast a plate cut with rare figures bore, "A sword much practis'd in death's art he wore, "Yet David, us'd so long to no defence, "But those light arms of Spirit and Innocence, "No good in fight of that gay burthen knows, "But fears his own arms' weight more than his foes.

535

540

"He lost himself in that disguise of war, "And guarded seems as men by prisons are ; "He therefore, to exalt the wondrous sight, Prepares now, and disarms himself for fight, “'Gainst shield, helm, breast-plate; and, instead of [chose, "Five sharp smooth stones from the next brook he "And fits them to his sling; then marches down; "For sword, his enemy's he esteem'd his own. 546 "We all with various passions strangely gaz'd, "Some sad, some sham'd, some angry; all amaz’d. "Now in the valley 'he stands; through 's youth

"those,

"ful face

"Wrath checks the beauty, and sheds manly grace, "Both in his looks so join'd, that they might move "Fear ev'n in friends, and from an enemy love. "Hot as ripe noon, sweet as the blooming day, "Like July furious, but more fair than May. "Th'accurs'd Philistian stands on th' other side, 555 "Grumbling aloud, and smiles'twixt rage and pride. "The plagues of Dagon! a smooth boy, said he, "A cursed beardless foe, oppos'd to me!

"Hell! with what arms (hence, thou fond child!) "he's come!

"Some friend his mother call, to drive him home. "Not gone yet! if one minute more thou stay, 561 “The birds of heaven shall bear thee dead away. "Gods! a curs'd boy!-the rest then murmuring

He walks, and casts a deadly grin about.

"David, with cheerful anger in his eyes, "Advances boldly on, and thus replies:

565

"Thou com'st, vain man! all arm'd into the field, "And trustest those war toys, thy sword and shield: 66 Thy pride's my spear, thy blasphemies my sword; "My shield, thy Maker, fool! the mighty Lord 570 "Of thee and battles; who hath sent forth me "Unarm'd thus, not to fight, but conquer, thee. "In vain shall Dagon, thy false hope, withstand; "In vain thy other god, thine own right hand : "Thy fall to man shall Heaven's strong justice shew; "Wretch ! 't is the only good which thou canst de. "He said; our host stood dully silent by;

"And durst not trust their ears against the eye; "As much their champion's threats to him they "fear'd,

"As when the monster's threats to them they heard. "His flaming sword th' enrag'd Philistian shakes, "And haste t' his ruin with loud curses makes; "Backward the winds his active curses blew, "And fatally round his own head they flew : "For now from David's sling the stone is fled, 585 "And strikes with joyful noise the monster's head; "It strook his forehead, and pierc'd deeply there, "As swiftly as it pierc'd before the air:

"Down, down he falls, and bites in vain the ground; "Blood, brain, and soul, crowd mingled through "the wound!

590

"So a strong oak, which many years had stood "With fair and flourishing boughs, itself a wood

"Though it might long the axe's violence bear, "And play'd with winds which other trees did tear"Yet by the thunder's stroke from th' root 't is rent: "(So sure the blows that from high Heaven are "sent!)

596

"What tongue the joy and wonder can express, "Which did that moment our whole host possess ! "Their jocond shouts th' air like a storm did tear, "'Th' amazed clouds fled swift away with fear: 600 "But far more swift th' accurs'd Philistines fly, "And, their ill fate to perfect, basely die.

"With thousand corpse the ways around are strown, "Till they by the day's flight secure their own. "Now through the camp sounds nought but David's

66 name,

605

"All joys, of several stamp and colours, came "From several passions: some his valour praise, "Some his free speech, some the fair popular rays "Of youth, and beauty, and his modest guise; "Gifts that mov'd all, but charm'd the female eyes. "Some wonder, some they thought 't would be so, 66 swear;

611

"And some saw angels flying through the air: "The basest spirits cast back a crooked glance "On this great act, and fain would give 't to Chance. "Women our host with songs and dances meet, 615 "With much joy Saul, David with more, they greet. "Hence the king's politick rage and envy flows, "Which first he hides, and seeks his life t'expose "To generous dangers, that his hate might clear, "And Fate or Chance the blame, nay David, bear.626

"So vain are man's designs! for Fate and Chance, "And Earth and Heaven, conspir'd to his advance: "His beauty, youth, courage, and wondrous wit, "In all mankind byt Saul did love beget.

"Not Saul's own house, not his own nearest blood, "The noble cause's sacred force withstood. 626 "You 've met no doubt, and kindly us'd, the fame "Of God-like Jonathan's illustrious name; "A name which every wind to heaven would bear, "Which men to speak, and angels joy to hear. 630 "No angel e'er bore to his brother Mind "A kindness more exalted and refin'd,

"Than his to David; which look'd nobly down, "And scorn'd the false alarums of a crown.

"At Dammin field he stood, and from his place 635 Leap'd forth, the wondrous conqueror to em66 brace;

"On him his mantle, girdle, sword, and bow, "On him his heart and soul, he did bestow : "Not all that Saul could threaten or persuade, "In this close knot the smallest looseness made, 640 "Oft his wise care did the king's rage suspend; "His own life's danger shelter'd oft his friend; "Which he expos'd a sacrifice to fall

"By th' undiscerning rage of furious Saul. "Nor was young David's active virtue grown 645 Strong and triumphant in one sex alone;

66

Imperious Beauty too it durst invade,

"And deeper prints in the soft breast it made: "For there, t' Esteem and Friendship's graver name, "Passion was pour'd, like oil into the flame.

650