Then sign'd her dower; and in few words he pray'd,
And bless'd, and gave the joyful, trembling maid
To' her lover's hands; who, with a cheerful look
And humble gesture, the vast present took.
The nuptial hymn straight sounds, and musics play,
And feasts and balls shorten the thoughtless day
To all but to the wedded; till at last
The long-wish'd night did her kind shadow cast:
At last the' inestimable hour was come
To lead his conquering prey in triumph home.
To' a palace near, dress'd for the nuptial bed,
(Part of her dower) he his fair princess led;
Saul, the high-priest, and Samuel, here they leave,
Who, as they part, their weighty blessings give.
Her vail is now put on; and at the gate
The thirty youths and thirty virgins wait
With golden lamps, bright as the flames they bore,
To light the nuptial pomp, and march before;
The rest bring home in state the happy pair
To that last scene of bliss, and leave them there
All those free joys insatiably to prove,
With which rich Beauty feasts the glutton Love. "But scarce, alas! the first seven days were pass'd,
In which the public nuptial triumphs last,
When Saul this new alliance did repent-
(Such subtle cares his jealous thoughts torment!)
He envy'd the good work himself had done;
Fear'd David less, his servant than his son.
No longer his wild wrath could he command;
He seeks to stain his own imperial hand
In his son's blood; and, that twice cheated too,
With troops and armies does one life pursue.