As might inflame the old, or warm the coward,
Were not the odds so desperate.
Say, what are they? Ab. The royal Saul has promis'd that bold hero Who should encounter and subdue Goliath, All dignity and favour; that his house Shall be set free from tribute, aud ennobled With the first honours Israel has to give. And for the gallant conqueror himself, No less a recompense than the fair princess, Our monarch's peerless daughter.
Beauteous Michal! It is indeed a boon which kings might strive for, And has none answer'd yet this bold 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 wondrous 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?
Speak thy wishes freely :
My soul inclines to serve thee.
Conduct me to the king! There is a cause
Will justify this boldness!
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.
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.
Saul. Why was I made a king? what I have gain'd
In envied greatness and uneasy power,
I've lost in peace of mind, in virtue lost!
Why did deceitful transports fire my soul
When Samuel placed upon my youthful brow
The crown of Israel? I had known content,
Nay, happiness, if happiness unmix'd
To mortal man were known, had I still liv'd
Among the humble tents of Benjamin.
A shepherd's occupation was my joy,
And every guiltless day was crown'd with peace.
But now, a sullen cloud for ever hangs
O'er the faint sunshine of my brightest hours,
Dark'ning the golden promise of the morn.
I ne'er shall taste the dear domestic joys
My meanest subjects know. True, I have sons,
Whose virtues would have charm'd a private man,
And drawn down blessings on their humble sire.
I love their virtues too; but 'tis a love
Which jealousy has poison'd. Jonathan
Is all a father's fondness could conceive
Of amiable and good-Of that no more!
He is too popular; the people dote
Upon the ingenuous graces of his youth.
Curs'd popularity! which makes a father
Detest the merit of a son he loves.
How did their fond idolatry, perforce,
Rescue his sentenced life, when doom'd by lot
To perish at Beth-aven, for the breach
Of strict injunction, that, of all my bands,
Not one that day should taste of food and live!
My subjects clamour at this tedious war,
Yet of my num'rous armed chiefs, not one
Has courage to engage this man of Gath.
Oh for a champion bold enough to face
This giant-boaster, whose repeated threats
Strike through my inmost soul! There was a time-
Of that no more!-I am not what I was.
Should valiant Jonathan accept the challenge,
Twould but increase his influence, raise his fame,
And make the crown sit loosely on my brow.
Ill could my wounded spirit brook the voice
Of harsh comparison 'twixt sire and son.
SAUL, ABNER.
Ab. What meditation holds thee thus engag'd,
O king! and keeps thine active spirit bound;
When busy war far other cares demands
Than ruminating thought and pale despair?
Saul. Abner, draw near. My weary soul sinks
Beneath the heavy pressure of misfortune.
Oh for that spirit which inflam'd my breast
With sudden fervour, when, among the seers
And holy sages my prophetic voice
Was heard attentive, and th' astonish'd throng, Wond'ring, exclaim'd, Is Saul among the prophets?"
Where's that bold arm which quell'd th' Amalekite,
And nobly spar'd fierce Agag and his flocks?
"Tis past! the light of Israel now is quench'd!
Shorn of his beams, my sun of glory sets!
Rise Moab, Edom, angry Ammon, rise!
Come Gaza, Ashdod come! let Ekron boast,
And Askelon rejoice, for Saul is-nothing.
Ab. I bring thee news, O king!
What can avail thy news? A soul oppress'd
Refuses still to hear the charmer's voice,
Howe'er enticingly he charm.
Can sooth my sickly soul, while Gath's fell giant
Repeats each morning to my frighten'd hosts
His daring challenge, none accepting it?
Saul. Ha! by whom? how? when? What prince, what gen'ral, what illustrious hero, What vet'ran chief, what warrior of renown, Will dare to meet the haughty foe's defiance? Speak, my brave gen'ral! noble Abner, speak! Ab. No prince, no warrior, no illustrious chief, No vet'ran hero dares accept the challenge; But what will move thy wonder, mighty king, One train'd to peaceful deeds, and new to arms, A simple shepherd swain!
O mockery!
No more of this light tale, it suits but ill
Thy bearded gravity: or rather tell it
To credulous age, or weak believing women;
They love whate'er is marvellous, and dote
On deeds prodigious and incredible,
Which sober sense rejects. I laugh to think
Of thy extravagance. A shepherd's boy
Encounter him whom nations dread to meet !
Ab. Is valour, then, peculiar to high birth?
If heav'n had so decreed, know, scornful king,
That Saul the Benjamite had never reign'd.
No! glory darts her soul-pervading ray
On thrones and cottages, regardless still
Of all the artificial, nice distinctions
Vain human customs make.
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