SONG OF SAUL BEFORE HIS LAST BATTLE. 1. WARRIORS and Chiefs! should the shaft or the sword Pierce me in leading the host of the Lord, Heed not the corse, though a king's, in your path: Bury your steel in the bosoms of Gath! 2. Thou who art bearing my buckler and bow, Should the soldiers of Saul look away from the foe, Stretch me that moment in blood at thy feet! Mine be the doom which they dared not to meet. 3. Farewell to others, but never we part, SAUL. 1. THOU whose spell can raise the dead, 66 King, behold the phantom seer!" Earth yawn'd; he stood the centre of a cloud: His hand was wither'd, and his veins were dry; 2. Why is my sleep disquieted? "Who is he that calls the dead? "Is it thou, Oh King? Behold "Bloodless are these limbs, and cold: "Such are mine; and such shall be "Thine to-morrow, when with me: "Ere the coming day is done, "Such shalt thou be, such thy son. "Fare thee well, but for a day; “Then we mix our mouldering clay. "Thou, thy race, lie pale and low, "Pierced by shafts of many a bow; "And the falchion by thy side "To thy heart, thy hand shall guide : "Crownless, breathless, headless fall, "Son and sire, the house of Saul!" "ALL IS VANITY, SAITH THE PREACHER." 1. FAME, wisdom, love, and power were mine, My goblets blush'd from every vine, I sunn'd my heart in beauty's eyes, 2. I strive to number o'er what days Remembrance can discover, Which all that life or earth displays Would lure me to live over. There rose no day, there roll'd no hour Of pleasure unembitter'd; And not a trapping deck'd my power That gall'd not while it glitter'd. 3. The serpent of the field, by art And spells, is won from harming; But that which coils around the heart, Oh! who hath power of charming? It will not list to wisdom's lore, The soul that must endure it. |