Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Asia: Vols. XXI–XXIII. 1876–79.
Lamentation of David over Saul and Jonathan
By George Sandys (1577–1644)T
Sunk to the dead;
How are the valiant fallen! the slain
Thy mountains stain.
O, let it not in Gath be known,
Nor in the streets of Ashkelon.
Their dire delight!
Lest in the torrent of our woe
Their pleasure flow;
Lest their triumphant daughters ring
Their cymbals, and their pæans sing.
You offerings pay;
No morning dew, nor fruitful showers,
Clothe you with flowers:
Saul and his arms there made a spoil,
As if untouched with sacred oil.
Great battles won;
His arrows on the mighty fed,
With slaughter red.
Saul never raised his arm in vain,
His sword still glutted with the slain.
They lived with men!
Than eagles swifter, stronger far
Than lions are;
Whom love in life so strongly tied,
The stroke of death could not divide.
Lament his fall,
Who fed you with the earth’s increase,
And crowned with peace;
With robes of Tyrian purple decked,
And gems which sparkling light reflect.
Of war devoured!
O Jonathan! the better part
Of my torn heart!
The savage rocks have drunk thy blood:
My brother! O, how kind! how good!
To man man bore!
No woman when most passionate
Loved at that rate!
How are the mighty fallen in fight!
They and their glory, set in night!