"Like two bright eyes in a fair body plac'd, "Saul's royal house two beauteous daughters grac'd; "Merab the first, Michal the younger, nam'd; "Both equally for different glories fam'd. "Merab with spacious beauty fill'd the sight, 655 "But too much awe chastis'd the bold delight: "Like a calm sea, which to th' enlarged view

665

“Gives pleasure, but gives fear and reverence too. "Michal's sweet looks clear and free joys did move, "And no less strong, though much more gentle, love: "Like virtuous kings, whom men rejoice t' obey "(Tyrants themselves less absolute than they). "Merab appear'd like some fair princely tower; "Michal, some virgin-queen's delicious bower. "All Beauty's stores in little and in great; "But the contracted beams shot fiercest heat. "A clean and lively brown was Merab's dye, "Such as the prouder colours might envy : "Michal's pure skin shone with such taintless white, "As scatter'd the weak rays of human sight; 670 "Her lips and cheeks a nobler red did shew, "Than e'er on fruits or flowers heaven's pencil drew; "From Merab's eyes fierce and quick lightnings 66 came,

"From Michal's, the sun's mild, yet active, flame: "Merab's long hair was glossy chesnut brown; 675 "Tresses of palest gold did Michal crown.

"Such was their outward form; and one might find. "A difference not unlike it in the mind.

"Merab with comely majesty and state

"Bore high th' advantage of her worth and fate; 680

"Such humble sweetness did soft Michal show. "That none who reach so high e'er stoop'd so low. "Merab rejoic'd in her wrack'd lovers' pain, "And fortify'd her virtue with disdain :

"The griefs she caus'd, gave gentle Michal grief 685 (She wish'd her beauties less, for their relief); "Ev'n to her captives civil; yet th' excess "Of naked virtue guarded her no less.

690

"Business and power Merab's large thoughts did vex; "Her wit disdain'd the fetters of her sex: "Michal no less disdain'd affairs and noise, "Yet did it not from ignorance, but choice. "In brief, both copies were more sweetly drawn; "Merab of Saul, Michal of Jonathan.

695

"The day that David great Goliah slew, "Not great Goliah's sword was more his due "Than Merab; by Saul's publick promise she "Was sold then, and betroth'd to Victory; "But haughty she did this just match despise "(Her pride debauch'd her judgment and her eyes). "An unknown youth, ne'er seen at court before, "Who shepherd's staff, and shepherd's habit, bore, "The seventh-born son of no rich house were still "Th' unpleasant forms which her high thoughts did

"fill:

"And much aversion in her stubborn mind 705 "Was bred by being promis'd and design'd.

Long had the patient Adriel humbly borne "The roughest shocks of her imperious scorn: "Adriel the rich; but riches were in vain,

"And could not set him free, nor her enchain. 710

"Long liv'd they thus-but, as the hunted deer, "Closely pursued, quits all her wonted fear, "And takes the nearest waves; which from the shore "She oft with horror had beheld before:

4

"So, whilst the violent maid from David fled, 716 "She leap'd to Adriel's long-avoided bed; "The match was nam'd, agreed, and finish'd, straight; "(So soon comply'd Saul's envy with her hate!) "But Michal, in whose breast all virtues move, "That hatch the pregnant seeds of sacred love, 720 "With juster eyes the noble object meets, "And turns all Merab's poison into sweets: "She saw, and wonder'd how a youth unknown "Should make all fame to come so soon his own: "She saw, and wonder'd how a shepherd's crook 725 "Despis'd that sword at which the sceptre shook; "Though he seventh-born, and though his house "but poor,

"She knew it noble was, and would be more. "Oft had she heard, and fancy'd oft the sight, "With what a generous calm he march'd to fight; "In the great danger how exempt from fear, 731 "And after it from pride, he did appear.

"Greatness and goodness, and an air divine,

"She saw through all his words and actions shine; "She heard his eloquent tongue, and charming

"lyre,

"Whose artful sounds did violent love inspire, 736 66 Though us'd all other passions to relieve:

"She weigh'd all this; and well we may conceive

"When those strong thoughts attack'd her doubtful

breast,

740

745

"His beauty no less active than the rest. "The fire thus kindled soon grew fierce and great, "When David's breast reflected back its heat. "Soon she perceiv'd (scarce can Love hidden lie "From any sight, much less the loving eye) "She conqueror was, as well as overcome, "And gain'd no less abroad than lost at home. "Ev'n the first hour they met (for such a pair, "Who in all mankind else so matchless were, "Yet their own equals, Nature's self does wed) "A mutual warmth through both their bosoms "spread:

750

"Fate gave the signal; both at once began "The gentle race, and with just pace they ran. "Ev'n so, methinks, when two fair tapers come "From several doors, entering at once the room, "With a swift flight, that leaves the eye behind, 755 "Their amorous lights into one light are join'd. "Nature herself, were she to judge the case, "Knew not which first began the kind embrace. "Michal her modest flames sought to conceal, "But love ev'n th' art to hide it does reveal: 760 "Her soft unpractis'd eyes betray'd the theft, "Love pass'd through them, and there such footsteps

" left!

"She blush'd when he approach'd, and when he

"spoke ;

"And suddenly her wandering answers broke

"At his name's sound; and, when she heard him

"prais'd,

765

"With concern'd haste her thoughtful looks she

"rais'd.

"Uncall'd-for sighs oft from her bosom flew,

"And Adriel's active friend she' abruptly grew. "Oft, when the Court's gay youth stood waiting by; "She strove to act a cold indifferency;

"In vain she acted so constrain'd a part,

770

"For thousand nameless things disclos'd her heart. "On th' other side, David with silent pain "Did in respectful bounds his fires contain : "His humble fear t' offend, and trembling awe, 775 "Impos'd on him a no-less rigorous law "Than modesty on her; and, though he strove "To make her see 't, he durst not tell his love. "To tell it first, the timorous youth made choice "Of musick's bolder and more active voice; "And thus, beneath her window, did he touch "His faithful lyre; the words and numbers such "As did well worth my memory appear,

"And may perhaps deserve your princely ear:

"AWAKE, awake, my Lyre!

"And tell thy silent master's humble tale,

780

785

"In sounds that may prevail;

"Sounds that gentle thoughts inspire:

"And I so lowly be,

"Though so exalted she,

790

"Tell her, such different notes make all thy harmony.