DAVID IN THE CAVE OF ADULLAMDAVID IN THECAVE OFADULLAM
DAVID IN THE CAVE OF ADULLAMDAVID IN THECAVE OFADULLAM
DAVID IN THECAVE OFADULLAM
VIII
Davidand his three captains boldKept ambush once within a hold.It was in Adullam’s caveNigh which no water they could have.Nor spring, nor running brook, was nearTo quench the thirst that parch’d them there.Then David, King of Israel,Straight bethought him of a wellWhich stood beside the city gateAt Bethlem; where, before his stateOf kingly dignity, he hadOft drunk his fill, a shepherd lad;But now his fierce Philistine foeEncamp’d before it he does know.Yet ne’ertheless, with heat oppress’d,Those three bold captains he address’d,And wish’d that one to him would bringSome water from his native spring.His valiant captains instantlyTo execute his will did fly.Those three brave men the ranks broke throughOf armed foes, and water drewFor David, their beloved king,At his own sweet native spring.Back through their enemies they haste,With the hard-earn’d treasure graced.What with such danger they had soughtWith joy unto their king they brought.But when the good king David foundWhat they had done, he on the groundThe water pour’d, “Because,” said he,“That it was at the jeopardyOf your three lives this thing ye did,That I should drink it God forbid!”
Davidand his three captains boldKept ambush once within a hold.It was in Adullam’s caveNigh which no water they could have.Nor spring, nor running brook, was nearTo quench the thirst that parch’d them there.Then David, King of Israel,Straight bethought him of a wellWhich stood beside the city gateAt Bethlem; where, before his stateOf kingly dignity, he hadOft drunk his fill, a shepherd lad;But now his fierce Philistine foeEncamp’d before it he does know.Yet ne’ertheless, with heat oppress’d,Those three bold captains he address’d,And wish’d that one to him would bringSome water from his native spring.His valiant captains instantlyTo execute his will did fly.Those three brave men the ranks broke throughOf armed foes, and water drewFor David, their beloved king,At his own sweet native spring.Back through their enemies they haste,With the hard-earn’d treasure graced.What with such danger they had soughtWith joy unto their king they brought.But when the good king David foundWhat they had done, he on the groundThe water pour’d, “Because,” said he,“That it was at the jeopardyOf your three lives this thing ye did,That I should drink it God forbid!”
Davidand his three captains boldKept ambush once within a hold.It was in Adullam’s caveNigh which no water they could have.Nor spring, nor running brook, was nearTo quench the thirst that parch’d them there.Then David, King of Israel,Straight bethought him of a wellWhich stood beside the city gateAt Bethlem; where, before his stateOf kingly dignity, he hadOft drunk his fill, a shepherd lad;But now his fierce Philistine foeEncamp’d before it he does know.Yet ne’ertheless, with heat oppress’d,Those three bold captains he address’d,And wish’d that one to him would bringSome water from his native spring.His valiant captains instantlyTo execute his will did fly.Those three brave men the ranks broke throughOf armed foes, and water drewFor David, their beloved king,At his own sweet native spring.Back through their enemies they haste,With the hard-earn’d treasure graced.What with such danger they had soughtWith joy unto their king they brought.But when the good king David foundWhat they had done, he on the groundThe water pour’d, “Because,” said he,“That it was at the jeopardyOf your three lives this thing ye did,That I should drink it God forbid!”
Davidand his three captains bold
Kept ambush once within a hold.
It was in Adullam’s cave
Nigh which no water they could have.
Nor spring, nor running brook, was near
To quench the thirst that parch’d them there.
Then David, King of Israel,
Straight bethought him of a well
Which stood beside the city gate
At Bethlem; where, before his state
Of kingly dignity, he had
Oft drunk his fill, a shepherd lad;
But now his fierce Philistine foe
Encamp’d before it he does know.
Yet ne’ertheless, with heat oppress’d,
Those three bold captains he address’d,
And wish’d that one to him would bring
Some water from his native spring.
His valiant captains instantly
To execute his will did fly.
Those three brave men the ranks broke through
Of armed foes, and water drew
For David, their beloved king,
At his own sweet native spring.
Back through their enemies they haste,
With the hard-earn’d treasure graced.
What with such danger they had sought
With joy unto their king they brought.
But when the good king David found
What they had done, he on the ground
The water pour’d, “Because,” said he,
“That it was at the jeopardy
Of your three lives this thing ye did,
That I should drink it God forbid!”
(Illustration)