Royal Saul was disconcerted,
And a gloom was o’er him spread,
As his trusty captain, trembling,
To the fight his army led.
Even now, at the arrival
Of the dreaded battle hour,
He was loath to face the foeman,
For he felt he lacked the power.

Coming up from vale of Elah,
On one slope his army lay,
While the other slope frowned grandly,
With a Philistine array.
Now for two score days succeeding,
Morn and eve, he’d seen his men,
Break their ranks and flee as cowards,
From a giant Philistine.

And once more, with great composure,
And bedecked in armor bright,
Now Saul sees the haughty champion,
Coming proudly forth to fight.
Sees his mammoth head is covered
With a brazen helmet grand,
And his coat of mail shines fiercely,
And a spear is in his hand.

Lo, the giant, ’tween his shoulders,
Loudly grinds his coat of mail.
And the clash of greaves, that mingle
Sends an echo down the vale.
With his ponderous form erected,
Flash of demon in his eyes,
With a mighty voice Goliath
All Saul’s frightened host defies.

“Why now march ye, slaves of Israel,
With thy armor and thy din,
Come to conquer me, Goliath?
Am not I a Philistine?
Ho! you cowards, from amongst you,
Choose and send one man to me,
If I’m conquered in the conflict,
Then thy servants we shall be!

But, if he, before me bleeding,
Fallen, be Goliath’s prey,
Then ye Israelites shall serve us,
Humbly, meekly, all thy day.
Now King Saul was disconcerted,
And a terror o’er him spread,
As with trembling forms, dejected,
From the fight, his army fled.

But now, from amongst the soldiers.
With a heart that knows not fears,
Flustered sore with indignation,
Steps a youth, of tender years.
Head of curly locks flow idly,
And in shepherd’s dress he stands.
And his comely face, exalted,
Re-assures each faltering man.

How boasts now this great Philistine—
That the host of God defied?
What is offered by our sovereign—
To redeem fair Israel’s pride?
Thus so freely he converses,
With his elders, close at hand.
And the courage he displayeth.
Seems more fitted to a man.

But Eliab, his own brother,
Hears the ponderous threat he’s made,
To attack the mighty giant,
And the youth he sore upbraids.
Thou art but an awkward stripling,
Unused thee to war and men!
Cease thy vain and idle bragging,
Get thee back to Bethlehem!

With whom didst thou leave thy sheep there,
In the dangerous wilderness?
Get thee back unto thy duty—
Well I know thy naughtiness!
But young David, never daunted,
Hath with might impressed them all;
And despite his brother’s censure,
They repeat his words to Saul.

And when to the king he’s summoned,
With a boldness to appall,
David tells of his intention
To revoke the shame of all.
But the king, with apprehension,
Speaks with confidence and truth—
He is old and tried in battle,
Thou, art but a tender youth.

Oh king! now the youth respondeth;
“While I watched my father’s flocks,
Did a lion snatch a lambkin,
And ran roaring to the rocks;
I pursued him, faced him fearless,
And we struggled o’er the lamb;
By his tawny beard I pulled him,
And I slew him with my hand.

Oh great king! the Lord is with me,
And I go at His command;
He hast saved me from the lion,
And He’ll arm me for this man.
Doubtful is King Saul still, worried—
But some rays of hope now glow;
So he turneth to the stripling,
May the Lord be with thee, go.

With a coat of mail and helmet,
Saul the stripling hast arrayed;
Puts in David’s hand his own sword,
And the youth to go, assayed.
Nay, I cannot wear thine armor,
For, oh king! they are not tried;
Not thy royal sword or helmet;
And he cast them all aside,

At the brook he bends and searcheth,
And smooth stones does quickly bring;
Then he goes to meet the giant,
With his staff and trusty sling.
Lo, now with surprise, Goliath,
Just beyond his bearer true,
An effeminate, fair stripling,
In a shepherd’s dress, doth view.

As the giant cometh slowly,
Clad in heavy armor bright,
He doth ridicule the stripling,
For he scorns with him to fight.
But his fiery wrath is kindled,
At the boldness of the boy;
Savagely the youth he curses.
And he seeks him to destroy.

Come to me! then cries Goliath;
With thy flesh a feast I’ll yield,
To the wild birds of the heaven,
And the wild beasts of the field.
But young David answers calmly,
“Spear and shield on thee, I see;
In the name of God of Israel,
I have come to conquer thee.

To me God shalt thee deliver,
Slain this day by mine own hand;
And thy soldiers’ mangled bodies
Feed the creatures of the land.
Now the shepherd hastes toward him;
As he whirls his sling around,
Now the stone Jehovah speedeth.
Brings Goliath to the ground.

Now lithe youth, he hastens to him,
And the giant’s sword doth take;
Severs head from body quickly,
While the Philistines do quake.
And now suddenly, Saul’s army,
With fierce shouts and battle din,
Fell upon them with great slaughter,
Then pursued the Philistine.

Later they returned in triumph,
After plundering all their land;
Then to Saul they brought young David,
With the giant’s head in hand.
So King Saul is much elated,
And to David pledges fame,
While he looks on him with favor,
Who redeemed fair Israel’s name.

Arranged from Priscilla Jane Thompson
Ethiope Lays, 1900