Collected Works of Michael Drayton

by Michael Drayton

  Nature no secrets shuts, and heauen reueales

  Those things which else from reason it conceales)

  Those men conclude the spirit that thus had harm’d

  Their soueraigne Saul, with Musick must be charm’d.

  And hauing heard of Israels deare delight,

  Beloued David the braue Bethlemite,

  What wondrous things by Musick he had done,

  How he fierce Tigars to his hand had wonne,

  Had layd the Lion, and the Beare to sleepe,

  And put such spirit into his silly sheepe

  By his high straines, as that they durst oppose

  The Woolfe and Fox, their most foes:

  Of this Musitian they informe the King,

  And all assure him, there was no such thing

  For him as Musick, and this man was he

  That his in this kinde must be.

  When Saul dispaicht his messengers away

  To aged I shay, that without delay,

  His yong’st sonne David should to Court be sent:

  The speedy Post relating the intent

  To the old man: which in his heart was glad,

  For at the first he great suspition had,

  That angry Saul might else haue bin acquainted,

  By Samuels hand his sonne had bin anointed,

  And therefore caused David to be sought,

  As of his death he direly had forethought.

  The good old man o’r ioy’d with this good newes,

  Cals home his darling from his teeming Ewes,

  And to the care of Israels God commends

  His loued boy, and kindly by him sends

  Of Bread and Wine a present to the King.

  They him no sooner to Sauls presence bring,

  But Davids beauty so extreamly tooke

  The doting King, thatin each glance or looke,

  He thought he saw high valour mixt with truth,

  And neare his person takes the louely Youth,

  And who but David then with mighty Saul

  His only fauorite is, his all in all?

  Not long it is e’r Saul the spirit doth seele

  To stirre within him, and begins to reele,

  And suddainly into a Trance he fals,

  And with his hands lyes grasping at the wals,

  When David takes his well-run’d Harpe in hand.

  By which the spirit he meaneth to command;

  His quauering fingers he doth now aduance

  Aboue the trembling strings, which gin to dance

  At his most cleere tuch, and the winged sound

  About the spacious Roome began to bound,

  The Aers flew high, and euery dainty straine

  Betters the former, which doth so detaine,

  The eares of those stood by, that they heare not

  Sauls sad complaints, and suddainly forgot

  To list or stirre him, and the standers by,

  Were so intransed with the melody,

  That to a holy madnesse some it brought,

  Others againe to Prophecy it wrought.

  The Wyery cords now shake so wondrous cleere,

  As one might thinke an Angels voyce to heare

  From euery quauer, or some spirit had pent

  It selfe of purpose in the Instrument;

  The harmony of the vntuned’st string

  Torments the spirit which so torments the King,

  Who as he faintly, or he strongly groanes,

  This braue Musitian altreth so his tones,

  With sounds so soft, as like themselues to smother,

  Then like lowd Ecchoes answering one the other:

  Then makes the spirit to shift from place to place,

  Still following him with a full Diapase:

  Thus day by day as th’euill spirit opprest

  Diseased Saul, David himselfe addrest,

  Tawayte the houres, before the King to play,

  Vntill he made th’vnruly fiend obay

  The force of Musick, more then that to feare

  But the least sound of Davids Harpe to heare.

  When now the King by Davids cunning cur’d,

  Old Ishais Sonne who thought he had indur’d

  Restraint too long, gets leaue of Saul to goe

  To Bethlem back (Gods holy will was so)

  He rather chose to view his well-shorne Sheepe,

  His yeaning Ewes, and late-falne Lambes to keepe,

  Then on a Bed of silke himselfe repose,

  And the delights of the fresh fields to lose.

  When now Philistia horribly enragd.

  With Gods owne people had it selfe engag’d,

  With a reuengefull deadly hand to smile

  The still-preseru’d oft-troubled Israelite,

  Who had in Battaile many times before

  Vpon the earth spilt her vnhallowed gore.

  Grim-visag’d warre, more sternely doth awake,

  Then it was wont, and furiously doth shake

  Her lightning sword, intruding with the force

  Of men of warre both skilfull foot and horse.

  Two mighty nations are now vp in armes,

  And to both sides the Souldiers come in swarmes:

  The fields with Ensignes, ast’were flowers are deckt

  Which their refulgence euery way reflect

  Vpon the Mountaines and the vallies nie

  And with their splendor seeme to court the skie.

  Two mighty Armyes on the playne appeare,

  These Isralites, and those Philistines were;

  Their great Commanders, proued men of warre:

  Their long experience, who had fetcht from sarre,

  To order fights as they occasion found

  T’offend the foe, by fitting with the ground,

  Which chosen Israels infantry doth call

  In this defensiue warre to follow Saul

  And aged Isha faithfully to show

  The loue to Saul, and Israel he doth owe,

  His eldest three into the Army sent,

  That to the field, as well appointed went,

  As on their brauery they that bare them most,

  Nor was there, in the Israelitish hoste

  Three goodlier men, especially when they

  Were in their Armes, the most vnclouded day

  That euer shone, tooke not with such delight

  The glad beholders, as the wondring sight

  Of these braue Youths, still as they marched by.

  Now in the fields the mighty Armieslye

  On the wide champaine, each in others sight;

  But as the Trumpets showte them out to fight,

  From the Philistians hoste a Gyant came,

  Whose splendrous Armes shone like a mighty flame

  Against the sunne; Goliah nam’d of Gath;

  The onely Champion that Philistia hath:

  This huge Colossus, then sixe Cubits height

  More by a handfull: and his ponderous weight.

  Wheresoe’re he made but any little stay,

  Shew’d that his bredth, it answered euery way:

  Neuer such might in mortall man there was,

  From head to foot at all poynts arm’d with brasse,

  Fiue thousand sheckles his prou’d Curats way’d,

  Vpon whose temper, wondrous cost was layd:

  His Shield and Harnesse well might load a Teame,

  His Lance as big as any Weauers beame;

  Whose very Pyle vpon the poyse contain’d

  A hundred sheckles, he a lesse disdain’d:

  His Browes like two steepe Penthouses hung downe

  Ouer his eye-lids, and his angry frowne

  Was like a cloud, when it like Pitch appeares,

  And some sterne tempest in its bosome beares:

  His voyce was hoarse, and hollow, yet so strong,

  As when you heare the murmuring of a throng

  In some vaste arched Hall, or like as when

  A Lordl
y Lyon angred in his den,

  Grumbles within the earth, such his resembled,

  That when he spake, th’ affrighted hearers trembled:

  His Squire before him marching to the field,

  Who for this Champion bare a second shield.

  Vpon two easie hils the Armies laye

  A valley ‘twixt them in the middle way:

  Into the midst of which, goliah came,

  And thus doth to the Israelites proclaime,

  If there be found in all your host quoth he

  A man so valiant, that dare fight with me,

  If I shall fall vnder his mighty sword,

  Israel shall then be the Philistinas Lord:

  But if I by my puissance shall preuaile

  Ouer your Champion (that shall me assaile)

  Then as our slaues, of you we will dispose;

  And vse at pleasure, as our conquered foes,

  For he that’s God of the Philistians, boasts

  Himselfe more powerfull then your Lord of hosts.

  Which challenge thus, not onely troubled Saul,

  But bred amazement through the host in all.

  For forty dayes thus vs’d he forth to goe,

  Offring by combate to decide it so.

  Old Ishay now desiring much to heare,

  Of his three Sonnes (in what estate they were)

  Doubting lest they some needfull things might want,

  As in the Army, victuals might grow scant;

  Wherefore he cals yong Dauid from his sheepe,

  And to another giues his charge to keepe.

  My Boy quoth he, haste to the Campe and see

  In what estate my Sonnes your Brothers be:

  Beare them parcht corne, and cakes, though homely food,

  Yet simple cates may doe poore Souldiers good:

  And to the Generall, ten fine Cheeses beare,

  Such in the Campe are not found euery where.

  And if for need t’ haue pawn’d ought of esteeme,

  Take money with you, and their Pledge redeeme.

  Dauid, make haste, for I desive to know

  ‘Twixt the two puissant hosts, how businesse goe.

  No maruaile Dauid in his heart were glad,

  That he such cause to view the Armies had:

  From his braue thoughts, and to himselfe he told,

  The wondrous things that he should there behold.

  The rare Deuices by great Captaines worne,

  The fiue-fald Plumes their Helmets that adorne.

  Armours with stones, and curious studs enricht,

  And in what state they their Pauilions pitcht,

  There should he see their marshalling a warre,

  The iron-bound Chariot, and the armed Carre:

  As where consisted either armies force,

  Which had aduantage by their foot or horse:

  The seuerall weapons either nation beare,

  The long Sword, Bow, the Polax and the Speare:

  There the Philistian gallantry, and then

  His Israels brauery answering them agen:

  And heare them tell th’ aduentures had bin done,

  As what braue man had greatest honour wonne.

  Dauid bestirres him presently, and packes

  Vp his prouision, puts it into sackes,

  And by his Seruant on his Mule doth laye,

  Then towards Sauls Army takes the ready way.

  And his no tediousiourney so contriues,

  That in short time he at the Campe ariues:

  And at his comming; instantly bestowes

  His needfull prouant, to the charge of those

  That tend the Carriage, and of them doth learne

  (As neere as he could make them to discerne

  By his description) Ishas Sonnes, who led,

  And in the Army where they quartered:

  By whose direction he his Brothers sought,

  And told them what prouision he had brought:

  And to all three, their Fathers pleasure show’d,

  And how the Cheeses he would haue bestow’d.

  As they were talking, suddainly a noyse

  Ran through the Army, and the generall voyce,

  Was the Philistian, the Philistian see,

  comes, ordain’d our scourge to be.

  Who as his vsed manner was, defies

  The host of Israel, and thus loudly cryes,

  Bring downe your Champion, that with me dares fight,

  And this our warre shall be decided streight:

  But Israels God, for feare drawes backe his hand,

  Nor is there one against me that dare stand.

  Which Dauid hearing, his yong bloud doth rise,

  And fire was seene to sparkle from his eyes:

  His spirits begin to startle, and his rage

  Admits no reason that may it asswage:

  No nerue of his, but to it selfe doth take

  A double strength, as though his arme could shake

  The Iron Lance that great Goliah beares:

  And beate his brazen Shield about his eares.

  His strugling thoughts now being set a worke,

  Awake that flame, which lately seem’d to lurke

  In his meeke breast, which into passion breakes,

  And to himselfe thus Princely Dauid speakes.

  Despised nation, Israel quoth he,

  Where be those valiant men that liu’d in thee,

  What are our soules in lesser moulds now cast,

  Then at the first, with time or doe they waste?

  What slaued people, but we can stand by,

  And heare this base Philistian Dogge defie

  God and his people, must he stand to boast

  His strength and valour, and in all the hoast

  No man dare vndertake him; might I proue

  My Manhood on him, I should so one remoue

  The worlds opinion, and both hosts should know

  Hee’s but a Dogge, on vs that raileth so:

  And to one standing neere him, thus he spake,

  Of this huge Beast, what wonder doe ye make:

  What shall be done to that one man that shall

  Fight with this Gyant, and before ye all,

  His pride and horrid blasphemies shall quell,

  And take this shame away from Israel?

  When one that heard him, quickly thus replyes,

  He by whose hand this huge Goliah dyes,

  For Wise to him, Sauls Daughter shall be giuen,

  One of the goodliest Creatures vnder heauen;

  And yet this surther, his reward shall be

  His Fathers house in Israel shall goe free.

  With this yet Dauid closeth not his eare,

  But of some other likewise doth enquire

  For his reward, the that should slay,

  The formers words, which like a lesson say,

  None of them thinking, this yet man,

  Should strike to death the proud

  His Brother Eliab, now which ouer-heard,

  Young Dauids questions, and was much afeard

  His ouer-daring spirit might draw him on,

  To worke their shame, and his consusion:

  Thinkes with himselfe, it greatly him behooues,

  To checke his boldnesse, and him thus reprooues.

  Fond Boy, quoth he, why stand’st thou to enquire

  After these things, thy businesse lyes not here:

  I would not (sure) but you the Campe should view,

  A Sheepe-Coate Sir, would better sute with you:

  Who haue you left, after your Flocke to looke,

  Your Scrip (no question) or your shepheards Crooke.

  Sirra, my Father sent you not to vs,

  About the Army to lye loytering thus:

  I thinke’tis time to get you on your way,

  Our Father thinkes that we inforce your stay.

  At Eliabs speeches, Dauid somewhat mon’d

  To heare himselfe thus scornefully re
prou’d:

  Brother quoth he, few words might haue suffic’d,

  Had you but knowne how lightly they are priz’d

  Of me, these speeches you would haue forborne,

  Vpon some other and haue spent your scorne.

  I come to view the Campe, you say, ’tis so,

  And I will view it better ere I goe.

  Why may not I, as well as other men,

  I’le goe when I shall please, and not till then?

  When time may me more liberty alow,

  I may beare Armes perhaps as you doe now:

  Looke to your warfare, and what is your owne,

  Good Brother Eliab, and let me alone:

  For of my selfe I know how to dispose,

  And thus away resolued Dauid goes.

  And as he went, still as he heares the cry

  After Goliah, still more hie and hie,

  His spirit is mounted, and his oft demand,

  What his reward should be, whose valiant hand

  Should kill Goliah, through the Army went,

  And was the common talke in euery Tent,

  (But in the most bred sundry doubts and feares.

  When as they way’d his tendernesse of yeares)

  Vntill his Fame, by going, getting strength

  In Sauls Pauilion is cry’d vp at length:

  Who with much speed, sent out to haue him sought,

  And to his presence caus’d him to be brought.

  Who with a constant and delightfull cheere,

  Comes to the King, and doth to him appeare

  With such a sprightfull, and maiesticke grace,

  As victory were written in his face:

  And being by Saul, demanded if ‘twere he,

  That Israels Champion vndertooke to be;

  He with a meeke smile, boldly doth reply,

  I am the man my Soueraigne, ’tis euen I:

  My Leege quoth he, be not at all dismaid,

  Nor let Gods chosen Israel be afraid.

  This mighty Monster in the peoples sight,

  So terrible, whose shape doth so affright

  The multitude, I doe no more esteeme,

  Then if a Dwarfe, nor he to me doth seeme

  But such a thing, my onely enuy’s this.

  That he is not much greater then he is.

  The more his strength, the more his fall will be,

  And Israels God more glorifi’d in me.

  Quoth Saul againe, thou art of tender age,

  And in respect of him a very Page;

  Beside, the other Armes that he doth beare,

  Thou art not able to lift halfe his Speare:

  If he strike at thee, and thy body misse,

  Yet on his side, there this aduantage is,

  The winde of his huge weapon hath the force

  To driue the breath out of thy slender Coarse:

  And this vaste man, beside his wondrous might,

  No man as he, so skilfull is in fight;