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DAVIDEIS.

BOOK IV.

The Argument.

Moab carries his guests to hunt at Nebo; in the way falls into discourse with David, and desires to know of him the reasons of the change of government in Israel; how Saul came to the crown, and the story of him and JonathanDavid's speech, containing the state of the commonwealth under the Judges; the motives for which the people desired a king; their Deputies' speech to Samuel upon that subject, and his reply-The assembling of the people at the tabernacle, to inquire God's pleasure-God's speechThe character of Saul; his anointing by Samuel, and election by lot; the defection of his people-The war of Nahash king of Ammon against Jabesh-Gilead; Saul and Jonathan's relieving of the town-Jonathan's character; his single fight with Nahash, whom he slays, and defeats his army-The confirmation of Saul's kingdom at Gilgal, and the manner of Samuel's quitting his office of JudgeThe war with the Philistines at Macmas: their strength, and the weakness of Saul's forces; his exercising the priestly function, and the judgment denounced by Samuel against him-Jonathan's discourse with his Esquire; their falling alone upon the enemy's out-guards at Senes, and after upon the whole army; the wonderful defeat of itSaul's rash vow, by which Jonathan is to be put to death, but is saved by the people.

THOUGH state and kind discourse thus robbed the Of half her natural and more just delight, [night Moab (when temperance did still vigorous keep, And regal cares had used to moderate sleep)

Up with the sun arose; and, having thrice
With lifted hands bow'd towards his shining rise,
And thrice towards Phegor, his Baal's holiest hill
(With good and pious prayers, directed ill),
Call'd to the chase his friends, who for him stay'd;
The glad dogs bark'd, the cheerful horses neigh'd.
Moab his chariot mounts, drawn by four steeds,
The best and noblest that fresh Zerith breeds,
All white as snow, and spriteful as the light,
With scarlet trapp'd, and foaming gold they bite.
He into it young David with him took,
Did with respect and wonder on him look
Since last night's story, and with greedier ear
The man, of whom so much he heard, did hear.
The well-born youth of all his flourishing court
March gay behind, and joyful, to the sport: [ride;
Some arm'd with bows, some with straight javelins,
Rich swords and gilded quivers grace their side.
'Midst the fair troop David's tall brethren rode,
And Joab, comely as a fancied god;
They entertain'd the' attentive Moab lords
With loose and various talk that chance affords,
Whilst they paced slowly on; but the wise king
Did David's tongue to weightier subjects bring.
Much," said the king, "much I to Joab owe,
For the fair picture drawn by him of
you;
"Twas drawn in little, but did acts express
So great, that largest histories are less.
I see, methinks, the Gathian monster still;
His shape last night my mindful dreams did fill.
Strange tyrant Saul, with envy to pursue
The praise of deeds whence his own safety grew!
I've heard (but who can think it?) that his son
Has his life's hazard for your friendship run;

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His matchless son, whose worth (if fame be true)
Lifts him 'bove all his countrymen but you,
With whom it makes him one." Low David bows,
But no reply Moab's swift tongue allows. [he
"And pray, kind guest! whilst we ride thus," says
(To gameful Nebo still three leagues there be),
The story of your royal friend relate,

And his ungovern'd sire's imperious fate;
Why your great State that nameless family chose,
And by what steps to Israel's throne they rose."

He said: and David thus: "From Egypt's land
You've heard, Sir, by what strong unarmed hand
Our fathers came, Moses their sacred guide;
But he in sight of the given country died;
His fatal promised Canaan was on high,
And Joshua's sword must the' active rod supply:
It did so, and did wonders.

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From sacred Jordan to the Western main,
From well-clad Libanus to the Southern plain
Of naked sands, his winged conquests went;
And thirty kings to hell uncrown'd he sent.
Almost four hundred years, from him to Saul,
In too much freedom pass'd, or foreign thrall.
Oft strangers' iron sceptres bruised the land
(Such still are those borne by a conquering hand);
Oft pitying God did well-form'd spirits raise,
Fit for the toilsome business of their days,
To free the groaning nation, and to give
Peace first, and then the rules in peace to live.
But they whose stamp of power did chiefly lie
In characters too fine for most men's eye,
Graces and gifts divine ;-not painted bright
With state to awe dull minds, and force to' af-
fright;-

Were ill obey'd whilst living, and at death
Their rules and pattern vanish'd with their breath.
The hungry rich all near them did devour;
Their judge was Appetite, and their law was Power.
Not Want itself could luxury restrain;

For what that emptied, Rapine fill'd again.
Robbery the field, Oppression sack'd the town;
What the Sword's reaping spared, was glean'd
by the' Gown.

At courts, and seats of justice, to complain,
Was to be robbed more vexingly again.
Nor was their Lust less active or less bold,
Amidst this rougher search of blood and gold ;
Weak beauties they corrupt, and force the strong;
The pride of old men that, and this of young.
You've heard perhaps, Sir, of lewd Gibeah's shame,
Which Hebrew tongues still tremble when they

name:

Alarmed all by one fair stranger's eyes,
As to a sudden war, the town does rise,
Shaking and pale, half-dead ere they begin
The strange and wanton tragedy of their sin :
All their wild lusts they force her to sustain,
Till by shame, sorrow, weariness, and pain,
She midst their loath'd and cruel kindness dies;
Of monstrous lust the innocent sacrifice.
This did, 'tis true, a civil war.create
(The frequent curse of our loose-govern'd state);
All Gibeah's and all Jabesh' blood it cost;
Near a whole tribe, and future kings, we lost.
Firm in this general earthquake of the land,
How could Religion, its main pillar, stand?
Proud and fond man his Father's worship hates,
Himself, God's creature, his own god creates !

Hence in each household several deities grew,
And when no old one pleased, they framed a new :
The only land which served but One before,
Did the' only then all nations' gods adore.

They served their gods at first, and soon their kings
(Their choice of that this latter slavery brings);
Till special men, arm'd with God's warrant, broke
By justest force the' unjustly-forced yoke;
All matchless persons, and thrice worthy they
Of power more great, or lands more apt to' obey.
At last the priesthood join'd, in Ithamar's son,
More weight and lustre to the sceptre won;
But, whilst mild Eli and good Samuel were
Busied with and the' altar's sacred care,

age,

To their wild sons they their high charge commit,
Who' expose to scorn and hate both them and it.
Eli's cursed house the' exemplar vengeance bears
Of all their blood, and all sad Israel's tears;
His sons abroad, himself at home, lie slain;
Israel's captived, God's ark and law are ta'en.
Thus twice are nations by ill princes vex'd,
They suffer By them first, and For them next.
Samuel succeeds;-since Moses, none before
So much of God in his bright bosom bore.
In vain our arms Philistian tyrants seized;
Heaven's magazines he open'd when he pleased:
He rains and wind for auxiliaries brought;
He muster'd flames and thunders when he fought.
Thus thirty years with strong and steady hand
He held the' unshaken balance of the land;
At last his sons the' indulgent father chose
To share that state which they were born to lose:
Their hateful acts that change's birth did haste,
Which had long grown i' the' womb of ages past,

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