THE

CONTENTS.

Avids 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 Moabs Court, a Digression of the History of Lot, Father of the Moabites, represented in Picture. Melchors Song at the Feast; Moab desires Joab to relate the story of David. Which he does; His Extraction, his excellency in Poesie, and the effects of it in curing Sauls malady. The Philistims Army encamped at Dammin, the Description of Goliah and his Arms, his Challenge to the Israelites, Davids 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 Philistims Army. Sauls envy to David. The Characters of Merab and Michol. The Love between David and Michol, his Song at her window, his expedition against the Philistims, and the Dowry of two hundred foreskins for Michol, with whom he is married. The Solemnities of the Wedding; Sauls relapse, and the causes of Davids flight into the Kingdom of Moab.

DAVIDEIS.

R

The third Book.

Ais'd with the news he from high Heav'en receives, s Straight to his diligent God just thanks he gives. 1 To divine Nobe directs then his flight,

A small Town great in Fame by Levy's right,
2 Is there with sprightly wines, and hallowed bread,
(But what's to Hunger hallowed?) largely fed.
3 The good old Priest welcomes his fatal Guest,
And with long talk prolongs the hasty feast.
4 He lends him vain Goliahs Sacred Sword,
(The fittest help just Fortune could afford)

A Sword whose weight without a blow might slay,
Able unblunted to cut Hosts away,

A Sword so great, that i[t] was only fit

To take off his great Head who came with it.
Thus he arms David; I your own restore,
Take it (said he) and use it as before.

I saw you then, and 'twas the bravest sight
That e're these Eyes ow'ed the discov'ering light.
When you stept forth, how did the Monster rage,
In scorn of your soft looks, and tender age!
Some your high Spirit did mad Presumption call,
Some piti'ed that such Youth should idly fall.
Th'uncircumcis'ed smil'ed grimly with disdain;
I knew the day was yours: I saw it plain.
Much more the Reverend Sire prepar'ed to say,
Rapt with his joy; how the two Armies lay;
Which way th'amazed Foe did wildly flee,
All that his Hearer better knew then He.

But Davids hast denies all needless stay;
To Gath an Enemies Land, he hastes away,
Not there secure, but where one Danger's near,
The more remote though greater disappear.

So from the Hawk, Birds to Mans succour flee,
So from fir'ed Ships Man leaps into the Sea.
There in disguise he hopes unknown t'abide!
Alas! in vain! what can such greatness hide?
Stones of small worth may lye unseen by Day,
But Night it self does the rich Gem betray.
5 Tagal first spi'ed him, a Philistian Knight,
Who erst from Davids wrath by shameful flight
Had sav'd the sordid remnant of his age;
Hence the deep sore of Envy mixt with Rage.
Straight with a band of Souldiers tall and rough,
Trembling, for scarce he thought that band enough,
On him he seises whom they all had fear'd,
Had the bold Youth in his own shape appear'd.
And now this wisht-for, but yet dreadful prey
To Achis Court they led in hast away,
With all unmanly rudeness which does wait
Upon th'Immoderate Vulgars Joy and Hate.
His valour now and strength must useless ly,
And he himself must arts unusu’al try;
Sometimes he rends his garments, nor does spare
The goodly curles of his rich yellow haire.
Sometimes a violent laughter scru'd his face,
And sometimes ready tears dropt down apace.
Sometimes he fixt his staring eyes on ground,
And sometimes in wild manner hurl'd them round.
More full revenge Philistians could not wish,
6 But call't the Justice of their mighty Fish.
They now in height of anger, let him Live;
And Freedom too, t'encrease his scorn, they give.
He by wise Madness freed does homeward flee,
And Rage makes them all that He seem'd to be.
Near to Adullam in an aged Wood,

7

An Hill part earth, part rocky stone there stood,
Hollow and vast within, which Nature wrought
As if by 'her Scholar Art she had been taught.

Hither young David with his Kindred came,
Servants, and Friends; many his spreading fame,
Many their wants or discontents did call;
Great men in war, and almost Armies all!
8 Hither came wise and valiant Joab down,
One to whom Davids self must owe his Crown,
A mighty man, had not some cunning Sin,
Amidst so many Virtues crowded in.
With him Abishai came by whom there fell
At once three hundred; with him Asabel:
9 Asahel, swifter then the Northern wind;

Scarce could the nimble Motions of his Mind
Outgo his Feet; so strangely would he runne,
That Time it self perceiv'ed not what was done.
Oft o're the Lawns and Meadows would he pass,
His weight unknown, and harmless to the grass;
Oft o're the sands and hollow dust would trace,
Yet no one Atome trouble or displace.
Unhappy Youth, whose end so near I see!
There's nought but thy Ill Fate so swift as Thee.
IO Hither Jessides wrongs Benaiah drew,
He, who the vast exceeding Monster slew.
Th'Egyptian like an Hill himself did rear,
Like some tall Tree upon it seem'd his Spear.
But by Benaiahs staff he fell orethrown;
The Earth, as if worst strook, did loudest groan.
Such was Benaiah; in a narrow pit
He saw a Lyon, and leapt down to it.
As eas'ily there the Royal Beast he tore
As that it self did Kids or Lambs before.
Him Ira follow'ed, a young lovely boy,
But full of Spirit, and Arms was all his joy.
Oft when a child he in his dream would fight
With the vain air, and his wak'ed Mother fright.
Oft would he shoot young birds, and as they fall,
Would laugh, and fansie them Philistians all.
And now at home no longer would he stay,
Though yet the face did scarce his Sex betray.
Dodos great Son came next, whose dreadful hand
Snatcht ripened Glories from a conque'ring band;

Who knows not Dammin, and that barley field,
Which did a strange and bloody Harvest yield?
Many besides did this new Troop encrease;
Adan, whose wants made him unfit for peace.
Eliel, whose full quiv'er did alwaies beare
As many Deaths as in it Arrows were.

None from his hand did vain or inn'ocent flee,
Scarce Love or Fate could aim so well as Hee.
Many of Judah took wrong'ed Davids side,
And many of old Jacobs youngest Tribe;
But his chief strength the Gathite Souldiers are,
Each single man able t'orecome a Warre!

Swift as the Darts they fling through yielding air,
And hardy all as the strong Steel they bare,
A Lyons noble rage sits in their face,

Terrible comely, arm'ed with dreadful grace!

1 Chro. 11. 46.

1 Chr. 12.

16.

I Chro. 12. 8.

Th'undaunted Prince, though thus well guarded here, I Chr. 12. 8.

Yet his stout Soul durst for his Parents fear;
He seeks for them a safe and qui[et] seat,
Nor trusts his Fortune with a Pledge so great.
So when in hostile fire rich Asias pride
For ten years siege had fully satisfi'ed,
Eneas stole an act of higher Fame,

And bore Anchises through the wondring flame,
A nobler Burden, and a richer Prey,
Then all the Gracian forces bore away.
Go pious Prince, in peace, in triumph go;
Enjoy the Conquest of thine Overthrow;

To have sav'd thy Troy would far less glorious be;
By this thou Overcom'est their Victorie.

11 Moab, next Judah, an old Kingdom, lies;
12 Jordan their touch, and his curst Sea denies.
13 They see North-stars from o're Amoreus ground,
14 Edom and Petra their South part does bound.
15 Eastwards the Lands of Cush and Ammon ly,
The mornings happy beams they first espy.
The region with fat soil and plenty's blest,
A soil too good to be of old possest

16 By monstrous Emins; but Lots off-spring came
And conquer'ed both the People and the Name.

Virg. a.

En.