Angels peep round to view this mystic thing, No longer could good David quiet bear Fix'd with amaze he stood; and time must take, To learn if yet he were at last awake. Sometimes he thinks that Heaven this vision sent, And order'd all the pageants as they went; Sometimes, that only 'twas wild Phansy's play, The loose and scatter'd relics of the day. When Gabriel (no bless'd spirit more kind or fair) Bodies and clothes himself with thicken'd air; All like a comely youth in life's fresh bloom; Rare workmanship, and wrought by heavenly loom! He took for skin a cloud most soft and bright Through the thick woods: the gloomy shades awhile Put on fresh looks, and wonder why they smile; The promised Shilo, the great mystic King: Round the whole earth his dreaded name shall sound, And reach to worlds that must not yet be found: The Southern clime him her sole lord shall style, Him all the North, even Albion's stubborn isle, My fellow-servant, credit what I tell." Straight into shapeless air unseen he fell. DAVIDEIS. BOOK III. The Argument. David's flight to Nob, and entertainment there by the High Priest; from thence to Gath in disguise, where he is discovered and brought to Achis: he counterfeits himself mad, and escapes to Adullam-A short enumeration of the forces which come thither to him-A description of the kingdom of Moab, whither David flies; his entertainment at Moab's court: a digression of the history of Lot, father of the Moabites, represented in picture-Melchor's song at the feast-Moab desires Joab to relate the story of David; which he does his extraction; his excellency in poesy, and the effects of it in curing Saul's malady-The Philistines' army encamped at Dammin; the description of Goliah and his arms; his challenge to the Israelites : David's coming to the camp; his speech to Saul, to desire leave to fight with Goliah: several speeches upon that occasion-The combat and slaughter of Goliah, with the defeat of the Philistines' army-Saul's envy to David-The characters of Merab and Michal-The love between David and Michal: his song at her window; his expedition against the Philistines, and the dowry of two hundred foreskins for Michal, with whom he is married-The solemnities of the wedding-Saul's relapse, and the causes of David's flight into the kingdom of Moab. RAISED with the news he from high Heaven receives, Straight to his diligent God just thanks he gives; To divine Nob he directs then his flight, A small town, great in fame, by Levi's right; |