Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, KYNGE DAVID, HYS LAMENTE OVER THE BODYES OF KYNGE SAUL OF ISRAEL, by PHILIP SIDNEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

KYNGE DAVID, HYS LAMENTE OVER THE BODYES OF KYNGE SAUL OF ISRAEL, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Now lette us shede the brinie teare
Last Line: How still the weapons of the war.
Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; David (d. 962 B.c.); Jews; War; Judaism


I

NOW lette us shede the brinie teare,
And lette us heave the pityinge moane!—
But whyle we strowe the willowe biere
For Ysrael's pryde to lye upon;
Oh! lette not Gath the tidynges heare
Oh, tell yt not yn Askalon,
Lest every wayling sounde of ours
Rayse triumpe-shoutes in heathen bowers!

II

May raine or dew droppe neuer lyghte
Upon thy mountaynes, Gilboa!
May offerynge flame ne'er crowne thyne heighte
In deepe of nyght or noon of daye!
Where worsted yn unholie fyghte
The myghtie flung hys shielde away;
Cast meanlie on the foulèd greene,
As he had ne'er anoynted beene!

III

From battel fyelde they turned them ne'er
With bowe unstrunge, or blade untryede—
Pleasant They Were Yn Life, and Fayre
Nor Yette Did Deathe Theyre Loues Divide—
Theyre nervous armes mighte scathelesse dare
To bearde the lyon yn hys pryde;
Yette theyre lyghte limbs made fleeter speede
Than eagles stoopynge o'er the meade.

IV

Ye daughteres of the lande, deplore,
For Saule the bounteous and the bolde,
Whose kynglie hande hath founde you store
Of crimson geare and clothe of golde.
Alack! that hande can giue noe more,
That worthie harte ys stille and colde;
Unknown amongst the deade and dyinge,
The mightie with the mean are lying!—

V

Ah! Jonathan! my brother! lorne
And friendless I must looke to be!—
That harte whose woe thou ofte hast borne
Is sore and strickene nowe for thee.
Young brydegroome's loue on brydal morne,
Oh! yt was lyghte to thyne for me.
Thy tymelesse lotte I now must playne,
Even on thyne owne high places slayne!
How lowlie now the mightie are!
How still the weapons of the war.





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