B. I.]
DAVIDEIS.
211
Here Michal first an armed troop espies
(So faithful and so quick are loving eyes!) 555
Which march'd, and often glister'd, through a wood,
That on right-hand of her fair palace stood;
She saw them; and cry'd out, "They're come to kill
"My dearest lord; Saul's spear pursues thee still.
"Behold his wicked guards! haste quickly, fly! 560
"For Heaven's sake, haste! my dear lord, do not die!
"Ah, cruel father! whose ill-natur'd rage
"Neither thy worth, nor marriage, can assuage!
"Will he part those he join'd so late before? 564
"Were the two-hundred foreskins worth no more?
"He shall not part us;" (then she wept between).
"At yonder window thou mayst 'scape unseen;
"This hand shall let thee down! stay not, but haste;
"'T is not my use to send thee hence so fast."
"Best of all women!" he replies—and this 570
Scarce spoke, she stops his answer with a kiss;
"Throw not away," said she, "thy precious breath;
"Thou stay'st too long within the reach of death."
Timely he' obeys her wise advice; and straight
To unjust force she' opposes just deceit: 575
She meets the murderers with a virtuous lye,
And good dissembling tears; "May he not die
"In quiet then?" said she, "will they not give
"That freedom, who so fear lest he should live?
"Ev'n Fate does with your cruelty conspire, 580
"And spares your guilt, yet does what you desire.
(So faithful and so quick are loving eyes!) 555
Which march'd, and often glister'd, through a wood,
That on right-hand of her fair palace stood;
She saw them; and cry'd out, "They're come to kill
"My dearest lord; Saul's spear pursues thee still.
"Behold his wicked guards! haste quickly, fly! 560
"For Heaven's sake, haste! my dear lord, do not die!
"Ah, cruel father! whose ill-natur'd rage
"Neither thy worth, nor marriage, can assuage!
"Will he part those he join'd so late before? 564
"Were the two-hundred foreskins worth no more?
"He shall not part us;" (then she wept between).
"At yonder window thou mayst 'scape unseen;
"This hand shall let thee down! stay not, but haste;
"'T is not my use to send thee hence so fast."
"Best of all women!" he replies—and this 570
Scarce spoke, she stops his answer with a kiss;
"Throw not away," said she, "thy precious breath;
"Thou stay'st too long within the reach of death."
Timely he' obeys her wise advice; and straight
To unjust force she' opposes just deceit: 575
She meets the murderers with a virtuous lye,
And good dissembling tears; "May he not die
"In quiet then?" said she, "will they not give
"That freedom, who so fear lest he should live?
"Ev'n Fate does with your cruelty conspire, 580
"And spares your guilt, yet does what you desire.
