Page:Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.djvu/50

His monarch saw him coming from the war,
And thus demanded of the son of Ner.

"Say, who is this amazing youth?" he cry'd,

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When thus the leader of the host reply'd;
"As lives thy soul I know not whence he sprung,
"So great in prowess though in years so young:"
"Inquire whose son is he," the sov'reign said,

"Before whose conq'ring arm Philistia fled."

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Before the king behold the stripling stand,
Goliath's head depending from his hand:
To him the king: "Say of what martial line
"Art thou, young hero, and what sire was thine?"

He humbly thus; "the son of Jesse I:

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"I came the glories of the field to try.
"Small is my tribe, but valiant in the fight;
"Small is my city, but thy royal right."
"Then take the promis'd gifts," the monarch cry'd,

Conferring riches and the royal bride:

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"Knit to my soul for ever thou remain
"With me, nor quit my regal roof again."

Thoughts