The Lamentation of David Over Saul and Jonathan His Son

II. Sam. i: 17.

I

THY beauty, Israel, is gone

Slain in the places high is he;

The mighty now are overthrown;

O thus how cometh it to be!

Let not this news their streets throughout

In Gath or Askalon be told;

For fear Philistia’s daughters flout,

Lest vaunt the uncircumcised should.

On you, hereafter, let no dew,

You mountains of Gilboa, fall;

Let there be neither showers on you

Nor fields that breed an offering shall.

For there with shame away was thrown

The target of the strong (alas),

The shield of Saul, e’en as of one,

That ne’er with oil anointed was.

III

Nor from their blood that slaughter’d lay,

Nor from the fat of strong men slain,

Came Jonathan his bow away,

Nor drew forth Saul his sword in vain.

In lifetime they were lovely fair,

In death they undivided are.

More swift than eagles of the air

And stronger they than lions were.

Weep, Israel’s daughters, weep for Saul,

Who you with scarlet hath array’d;

Who clothed you with pleasures all

And on your garments gold hath laid.

How comes it he, that mighty was

The foil in battle doth sustain!

Thou, Jonathan, oh thou (alas)

Upon thy places high wert slain.

And, much distressèd is my heart,

My brother Jonathan, for thee;

My very dear delight thou wert,

And wonderous was thy love to me;

So wonderous, it surpasséd far

The love of woman (every way).

Oh, how the mighty fallen are!

How warlike instruments decay!