Classic Poem

E LID , A DINADAD , A DNER , I SRAELITES .

El. Still is th' event of this long war uncertain;
Still do the adverse hosts on either side,
Protract, with lingering caution, an encounter,
Which must to one be fatal.
Abin. This descent,
Thus to the very confines of our land,
Proclaims the sanguine hope that fires the foe.
In Ephes-dammim boldly they encamp:
Th' uncircumcis'd Philistines pitch their tents
On Judah's hallow'd earth.
El. Full forty days
Has the insulting giant, proud Goliath,
The champion of Philistia, fiercely challenged,
Some Israelitish foe. But who so vain
To dare such force unequal? who so bent
On sure destruction, to accept his terme,
And rush on death, beneath the giant force
Of his enormous bulk?
Abin. 'Tis near the time
When in th' adjacent valley which divides
Th' opposing armies, he is wont to make
His daily challenge.
El. Much I marvel, brother,
No greetings from our father reach our ears.
With ease and plenty bless'd, he little recks
The daily hardships which his sons endure.
But see! behold his darling boy approaches!
Abin. How, David here! whence this unlook'd for guest?
El. A spy upon our actions; sent, no doubt,
To scan our deeds, with beardless gravity
Affecting wisdom; to observe each word,
To magnify the venial faults of youth,
And construe harmless mirth to foul offence.

Dav. All hail, my dearest brothers!
El. Means thy greeting
True love, or arrogant scorn?
Dav. Oh, most true love!
Sweet as the precious ointment which bedew'd
The sacred head of Aaron, and descended
Upon his hallow'd vest; so sweet, my brothers,
Is fond fraternal amity: such love
As my touch'd bosom feels at your approach.
El. Still that fine glozing speech, those holy saws
And all that trick of studied sanctity,
Of smooth-turn'd periods and trim eloquence,
Which charms thy doting father! But confess,
What dost thou here? Is it to soothe thy pride,
And gratify thy vain desire to roam
In quest of pleasures unallow'd? or com'st thou,
A willing spy, to note thy brothers' deeds?
Where hast thou left those few poor straggling sheep,
More suited to thy ignorance and years
The care of those, than here to wander idly:
Why cam'st thou hither?
Dav. Is there not a cause?
Why that displeasure kindling in thine eye,
My angry brother? why those taunts unkind?
Not idly bent on sport; not to delight
Mine eye with all this gay parade of war;
To gratify a roving appetite,
Or fondly to indulge a curious ear
With any tale of rumour, am I come;
But to approve myself a loving brother.
I bring the blessing of your aged sire,
With gifts of such plain eates and rural viands
As suit his frugal fortune. Tell me now.
Where the bold captain of your host encamps?
El. Wherefore inquire? what boots it thee to know?
Behold him there: great Abner, fam'd in arms.
Dav. I bring thee, mighty Abner, from my father,
(A simple shepherd swain in yonder vale,)
Such humble gifts as shepherd swains bestow.
Ab. Thanks, gentle youth! with pleasure I receive
The grateful off'ring. Why does thy quick eye
Thus wander with unsatisfied delight?
Dav. New as I am to all the trade of war,
Each sound has novelty; each thing I see
Attracts attention; every noise I hear
Awakes confus'd emotions; indistinct,
Yet full of charming tumult, sweet distractions.
'Tis all delightful hurry! oh! the joy
Of young ideas painted on the mind,
In the warm glowing colours fancy spreads
On objects not yet known, when all is new,
And all is lovely! Ah! what warlike sound
Salutes my ravish'd ear?
Ab. 'Tis the Philistine,
Proclaiming, by his herald, through the ranks,
His near approach. Each morning he repeats
His challenge to our bands.
Dav. Ha! what Philistine?
Who is he?
El. Wherefore ask? for thy raw youth
And rustic ignorance, 'twere fitter learn
Some rural art I some secret to prevent
Contagion in thy flocks; some better means
To save their fleece immaculate. These mean arts
Of soft inglorious peace far better suit
Thy low obscurity, than thus to seek
High things pertaining to exploits of arms.
Dav. Urg'd as I am, I will not answer thee.
Who conquers his own spirit, O my brother!
He is the only conqueror. — Again
That shout mysterious! Pray you, tell me who
This proud Philistine is, who sends defiance
To Israel's hardy chieftains?
Ab. Stranger youth!
So lovely and so mild is thy demeanour,
So gentle and so patient; such the air
Of candour and of courage which adorns
Thy blooming features, thou hast won my love;
And I will tell thee.
Dav. Mighty Abner, thanks!
Ab. Thrice, and no more, he sounds, his daily rule!
This man of war, this champion of Philistia,
Is of the sons of Anak's giant race:
Goliath is his name. His fearful stature,
Unparallel'd in Israel, measures more
Than twice three cubits. On his tow'ring head
A helm of burnish'd brass the giant wears,
So pond'rous, it would crush the stoutest man
In all our hosts. A coat of mailed armour
Guards his capacious trunk! compar'd with which
The amplest oak that spreads his rugged arms
In Bashan's groves, were small. About his neck
A shining corslet hangs. On his vast thigh
The plaited cuirass, firmly jointed, stands.
But who shall tell the wonders of his spear,
And hope to gain belief! Of massive iron
Its temper'd frame; not less than the broad beam
To which the busy weaver hangs his loom;
Not to be wielded by a mortal band,
Save by his own. An armour-hearer walks
Before this mighty champion, in his hand
Bearing the giant's shield. Thrice ev'ry morn
His herald sounds the trumpet of defiance!
Off'ring at once to end the long-drawn war
In single combat, 'gainst that hardy foe
Who dares encounter him.
Dav. Say, mighty Abuer,
What are the haughty terms of his defiance?
Ab. Proudly he stalks around th' extremest bounds
Of Elah's vale. His herald sounds the note
Of offer'd battle. Then the furious giant,
With such a voice as from the troubled sky
In vollied thunder breaks, thus sends his challenge;
" Why do you set your battle in array,
Ye man of Israel? Wherefore waste the lives
Of needless thousands? Why protract a war
Which may at once be ended? Are not you
Servants to Saul your king? and am not I,
With triumph let me speak it, a Philistine?
Choose out a man from all your armed hosts,
Of courage most approv'd, and I will meet him;
His single arm to mine. Th' event of this
Shall fix the fate of Israel and Philistin.
If victory favour him, then will we live
Your tributary slaves; but if my arm
He crown'd with conquest, you shall then live ours:
Give me a man, if your effeminate bands
A man can boast. Your armies I defy! "
Dav. What shall be done to him who shall subdue
This vile idolater?
Ab. He shall receive
Such ample bounties, such profuse rewards,
As might inflame the old, or warm the coward,
Were not the odds so desperate.
Dav. Say, what are they?
Ab. The royal Saul has promis'd that hold hero
Who should encounter and subdue Goliath,
All dignity and favour; that his house
Shall be set free from tribute, and ennobled
With the first honours Israel has to give.
And for the galiant conqueror himself,
No less a recompense than the fair princess,
Our monarch's peerless daughter.
Dav. Beauteous Michal!
It is indeed a boon which kings might strive far,
And has none answer'd yet this hold defiance?
What! all this goodly host of Israelites!
God's own peculiar people! all afraid
T' assert God's injur'd honour and their own?
Where is the king, who, in his early youth
Wrought deeds of fame? Where princely Jonathan?
Not so the gallant youth Philistia fear'd
At Bozez and at Seneh; when the earth
Shook from her deep foundations, to behold
The wond'rous carnage of his single hand
On the uncircumcised. When he exclaim'd,
With glorious confidence — " Shall numbers awe me?
God will protect his own: with him to save,
It boots not, friends, by many or by few. "
This was an hero! Why does he delay
To meet this boaster? For thy courtesy,
Thrice noble Abner, I am bound to thank thee!
Would'st thou complete thy gen'rous offices?
I dare not ask it.
Ab. Speak thy wishes freely:
My soul inclines to serve thee.
Dav. Then, O Abner,
Conduct me to the king! There is a cause
Will justify this boldness!
El. Braggard, hold!
Ab. I take thee at thy word; and will, with speed,
Conduct thee to my royal master's presence.
In yonder tent the anxious monarch waits
Th' event of this day's challenge.
Dav. Noble Abner,
Accept my thanks. Now to thy private ear,
If so thy grace permit, I will unfold
My secret soul, and ease my lab'ring breast,
Which pants with high designs, and beats for glory.