B. I.]
DAVIDEIS.
193
But down like lightning, which him struck, he came;
And roar'd at his first plunge into the flame;
Myriads of spirits fell wounded round him there;
With dropping lights thick shone the singed air;
Since when, the dismal solace of their woe
Has only been weak mankind to undo; 100
Themselves at first against themselves they' excite,
(Their dearest conquest and most proud delight)
And, if those mines of secret treason fail,
With open force man's virtue they assail;
Unable to corrupt, seek to destroy, 105
And, where their poisons miss, the sword employ.
Thus sought the tyrant-fiend young David's fall,
And 'gainst him arm'd the powerful rage of Saul:
He saw the beauties of his shape and face,
His female sweetness, and his manly grace: 110
He saw the nobler wonders of his mind,
Great gifts! which for great works he knew design'd:
He saw (t' ashame the strength of man and hell)
How by 's young hands their Gathite champion fell:
He saw the reverend prophet boldly shed 115
The royal drops round his enlarged head;
And well he knew what legacy did place
The sacred sceptre in blest Judah's race,
From which th' eternal Shilo was to spring;
A knowledge which new hells to hell did bring! 120
And, though no less he knew himself too weak
The smallest link of strong-wrought Fate to break,
Yet would he rage and struggle with the chain;
Lov'd to rebel, though sure that 't was in vain.
And roar'd at his first plunge into the flame;
Myriads of spirits fell wounded round him there;
With dropping lights thick shone the singed air;
Since when, the dismal solace of their woe
Has only been weak mankind to undo; 100
Themselves at first against themselves they' excite,
(Their dearest conquest and most proud delight)
And, if those mines of secret treason fail,
With open force man's virtue they assail;
Unable to corrupt, seek to destroy, 105
And, where their poisons miss, the sword employ.
Thus sought the tyrant-fiend young David's fall,
And 'gainst him arm'd the powerful rage of Saul:
He saw the beauties of his shape and face,
His female sweetness, and his manly grace: 110
He saw the nobler wonders of his mind,
Great gifts! which for great works he knew design'd:
He saw (t' ashame the strength of man and hell)
How by 's young hands their Gathite champion fell:
He saw the reverend prophet boldly shed 115
The royal drops round his enlarged head;
And well he knew what legacy did place
The sacred sceptre in blest Judah's race,
From which th' eternal Shilo was to spring;
A knowledge which new hells to hell did bring! 120
And, though no less he knew himself too weak
The smallest link of strong-wrought Fate to break,
Yet would he rage and struggle with the chain;
Lov'd to rebel, though sure that 't was in vain.
