Excerpts from 'David'
DAVID WAITS FOR JONATHAN
Once more upon the city darkness fell,
and to the long, clear sounding of the horn
the first small crescent of the moon was born.
I knew no message would be brought at night,
and tossed and turned until the sun’s first light
appeared. The trumpets sounded as day broke
upon the city, and I saw the smoke
of ten whole-offerings the full-grown ram,
the strong young bull, the spotless yearling lamb -
whose soothing odour rose before the priest
with that of flour-and-oil cakes for each beast,
the half or third or quarter of a hin
of wine, and as an offering for sin
the single he-goat. While the altar burned,
I burned to hear some news, but that day learned
no more than that there was no news. I paced
around once more in anxious thought, then faced
another restless night, which slowly passed
and issued in the blood-red dawn. At last
I heard, with intermingled hope and fear,
the voices of two people drawing near -
the friend I could not greet that day with joy,
and with him, as our witness, a young boy.
SAUL DECIDES TO CONSULT
A MEDIUM
He wished to make inquiry of the Lord,
but Nob had felt the edge of Doeg’s sword,
and visions tossed him on his gilded couch
of silent Urim in their bloodstained pouch;
no company of prophets prophesied
since Samuel, the master-seer, had died;
and lately, at his own decree, had fled
all those who raised the spirits of the dead.
The sun and moon and planets gave no signs
of victory against the Philistines;
the sticks fell meaningless upon the earth,
and teraphim smiled on in silent mirth;
the victim’s liver showed no hopeful spots,
and fevered dreams and indecisive lots
left Saul to stare into the water-bowl
and see, alone, the medium’s control,
who might relieve, by her forbidden art,
the lonely desperation of his heart.
DAVID'S AND ISHBOSHETH'S FORCES MEET AT GIBEON
From Mahanaim, where the willow stoops
to drink the Jabbok, came my rival’s troops:
they marched with Abner down the long ravine
and crossed the Jordan where it winds between
Manasseh and the tribal lot of Gad,
then moved along the Arabah to add
a large contingent of Saul’s loyal kin,
who rallied from the hills of Benjamin.
My nephew Joab led my own troops out
in force from Hebron, so that none should doubt
the strength or the extent of David’s rule.
Our armies met at Gibeon, whose pool
lay like a vat of still fermenting wine
between them, as they waited for a sign
to fight. Then Joab, hearing Abner say,
I pray you, let the young men come and play
before us, answered, Let them; and they came,
twelve from each side, to play their deadly game.
They came up one by one, without a sound,
and made two rows of shadows on the ground;
then, leaning forward, toes dug in the dust,
each seized his fellow by the head and thrust
a dagger into his opponent’s side.
So twenty-four together fell and died,
and gave the place where they bled out their lives
its name from that time forth the Field of Knives.