me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren.' 215 Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table." Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him: "Thou son of the perverse, rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the 220 confusion of thy mother's family? For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die." And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said 225 unto him, "Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?" And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him; whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the 230 second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame. And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. And he said unto 235 his lad, “Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot." And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, "Is not the arrow 240 beyond thee?" And Jonathan cried after the lad, "Make speed, haste, stay not." And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. But the lad knew not anything; only Jonathan and 245 David knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his artillery1 unto his lad, and said unto him, "Go, carry them to the city." And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the 250 ground, and bowed himself three times; and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. And Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, 'The Lord be be255 tween me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed forever." And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city. QUESTIONS FOR STUDY Line 10. Such action was a custom of the time on swearing friendship. Why did Saul hate David? Why did Jonathan love him? How did Saul show his hatred? How did Jonathan show his love? Remember that these things happened very long ago, when moral standards were very different from those of today. What did David and Jonathan do, believing it to be right, that you would regard as wrong now? 1 Artillery, weapons. THOMAS GRAY (1716-1771) Thomas Gray is an unusual instance of a poet known almost solely through a single short poem. There was little remarkable in his life or his writ ings, excepting this single poem, An Elegy in a Country Churchyard. He was an Englishman, a graduate of Cambridge University, a quiet and re spectable man of letters, with many friends, and he wrote one great poem which has rendered him immortal. It is said that he spent eight years in polishing this poem. If this is true, the poem justified the labor. 5 1 ELEGY WRITTEN IN A COUNTRY CHURCHYARD This poem, the author's one masterpiece, is one of the most quoted single short poems in the language. It is serious without being sad, solemn but not gloomy. Especially noticeable is the beauty and forcefulness of its figures of speech. It was suggested and written at Stoke-Pogis, a small English village with its church and churchyard. 3 The curfew tolls the knell of parting 3 day, Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight, Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight, 1 An elegy is a poem in praise of the dead. 2 Curfew, a bell tolled at the evening hour to end toil, and in obedience to which people left the streets and retired within their houses. 3 Parting, departing. Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tower, The moping owl does to the moon complain Of such as, wandering near her secret bower, Molest her ancient solitary reign. Beneath those rugged elms, that yew tree's shade, Where heaves the turf in many a moldering heap, Each in his narrow cell forever laid, The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep. The breezy call of incense-breathing morn, The swallow twittering from the straw-built shed, The cock's shrill clarion, or the echoing horn, 10 15 No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed. 20 For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn, Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share. Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield, Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke: How jocund did they drive their team afield! How bow'd the woods beneath their sturdy stroke! Let not ambition mock their useful toil, 25 330 |