355

"When Saul's rude paffions did most tumult keep; "With his foft notes they all dropp'd down asleep: 350 "When his dull fpirits lay drown'd in death and night, "He with quick ftrains rais'd them to life and light. "Thus chear'd he Saul, thus did his fury 'fwage, "Till wars began, and times more fit for rage. "To Helah plain Philistian troops are come, "And war's loud noise ftrikes peaceful mufic dumb. « Back to his rural care young David goes; "For this rough work Saul his ftout brethren chose: "He knew not what his hand in war could do, "Nor thought his fword could cure men's madness too. "Now Dammin 's deftin'd for this fcene of blood; "On two near hills the two proud armies stood, "Between, a fatal valley stretch'd-out wide, "And death feem'd ready now on either fide; "When lo ! their hoft rais'd all a joyful shout,

365

[out,

"And from the midst an huge and monftrous man ftepp'd "Aloud they fhouted at each step he took; "We, and the earth itself beneath him, shook

"Vaft as the hill, down which he march'd, he' appear'd; "Amaz'd all eyes, nor was their army fear'd. 370 “A young tall 'fquire (though then he seem'd not fo) "Did from the camp at first before him go;

"At first he did, but fcarce could follow ftrait,

Sweating beneath a fhield's unruly weight,

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

L

"One flings a mountain, and its river too, "Torn up with 't; that rains back on him that threw : "Some from the main to pluck whole islands try ; "The sea boils round with flames fhot thick from sky; "This he believ'd, and on his shield he bore,

· And prais'd their strength, but thought his own was

"more.

"The valley now this monfter feem'd to fill; 385 "And we, methoughts, look'd up t'him from our hill. "All arm'd in brafs, the richest drefs of war "(A dismal glorious fight!) he fhone afar; "The fun himself started with fudden fright,

390

To fee his beams return fo dismal bright : "Brafs was his helmet, his boots brafs; and o'er "His breaft a thick plate of strong brass he wore ; "His fpear the trunk was of a lofty tree, "Which Nature meant fome tall fhip's maft should be; Th' huge iron head fix hundred shekels weigh'd, 395 "And of whole bodies but one wound it made; "Able Death's worst command to overdo,

400

"Thus arm'd he ftood; all direful, and all gay, And round him flung a fcornful look away: "So, when a Scythian tiger, gazing round, "An herd of kine in fome fair plain has found, Lowing fecure, he fwells with angry pride, And calls forth all his spots on every fide; Then ftops, and hurls his haughty eyes at all, 405 In choice of fome strong neck on which to fall;

3

** Almoft

Almoft he fcorns fo weak, fo cheap a préy, "And grieves to fee them trembling haste away. "Ye men of Jury, 'he cries, if men you be,

"And fuch dare prove yourselves to fame and me, 410 "Chufe out 'mongst all your troops the boldest knight, "To try his ftrength and fate with me in fight : "The chance of war let us two bear for all, "And they the conqueror ferve whose knight shall fall." "At this he paus'd awhile: Strait, I defy

415.

"Your gods and you; dares none come down and die ? "Go back for fhame, and Egypt's flavery bear, "Or yield to us, and ferve more nobly here. "Alas! ye 'ave no more wonders to be done, "Your forcerer Mofes now, and Joshua, 's gone; 420 “Your magic trumpets then could cities take,

"And founds of triumph did your battles make.

Spears in your hands and manly fwords are vain; "Get you your fpells and conjuring rods again.

"Is there no Sampfon here? Oh that there were! 425 "In his full ftrength, and long, enchanted hair; "This fword fhould be in the weak razor's ftead; "It should not cut his hair off, but his head.

"Thus he blafphem'd aloud; the vallies round Flattering his voice, reftor'd the dreadful found : 430 "We turn'd us trembling at the noise, and fear'd "We had behind fome new Goliah heard.

"Twas Heaven, Heaven fure (which David's glory

" meant

"Through this whole act) fuch facred terror sent

435

"To all our hoft; for there was Saul in place, "Who ne'er faw fear but in his enemy's face; "His god-like fon there in bright armour shone, "Who fcorn'd to conquer armies not alone : "Fate her own book mistrusted at the fight; "On that fide war, on this a fingle fight. "There ftood Benaiah, and there trembled too, He who th' Egyptian proud Goliah flew ; "In his pale fright, rage through his eyes fhot flame, "He faw his staff, and blufh'd with generous fhame; "Thousands befide stood mute and heartlefs there, 445 "Men valiant all; nor was I us'd to fear.

440

450

"Thus forty days he march'd down arm'd to fight, "Once every morn he march'd, and once at night. "Slow rofe the fun, but gallop'd down apace, "With more than evening blushes in his face : "When Jeffe to the camp young David fent; "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 difdain his heart poffefs'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. "Thefe to their juft intentions ftrongly move, "But chiefly God, and his dear country's love. "Refoly'd for combat, to Saul's tent he 's brought, "Where thus he spoke, as boldly as he fought:

460

"Henceforth

"Henceforth no more, great Prince, your facred

"breaft

"With that huge talking wretch of Gath, moleft; "This hand alone fhall end his curfed breath; 465 "Fear not, the wretch blafphemes 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 ftrength of man should find just cause for pride! "Firm like fome rock, and vaft, he seems to ftand, "But rocks we know were op'd at thy command:, "That foul, which now does fuch large members sway,

Through one fmall wound will creep in hafte away; "And he who now dares boldly Heaven defy,

475

480

"To every bird of heaven a prey shall lie : "For 'tis not human force we ought to fear. "Did that, alas! plant our forefathers here ? "Twice fifteen kings did they by that fubdue? "By that whole nations of Goliahs flew ? "The wonders they perform'd may still be done; "Mofes and Joshua is, but God 's not, gone. "We 'ave lost their rod and trumpets, not their skill; Prayers and belief are as ftrong witchcraft ftill:

"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 ftronger far than I, my God than his. "Amazement seiz'd on all, and fhame, to fee

C

"Their own fears fcorn'd by one fo young as he. 490