BETA

David and Jonathan.

“ O heart of fire ! misjudged by wilful man, 1
Thou flower of Jesse’s race !2
What woe was thine, when thou and Jon-
athan3
Last greeted face to face !4
He doomed to die, thou on us to impress5
The portent of a blood-stained holiness.6
Yet it was well :— for so, ’mid cares of
rule7
And crime’s encircling tide,8
A spell was o’er thee, zealous one, to cool9
Earth-joy and kingly pride ;10
With battle-scene and pageant, prompt to
blend11
The pale calm spectre of a blameless friend.12
Ah ! had he lived before thy throne to
stand,13
Thy spirit keen and high,14
Sure it had snapped in twain love’s slender
band,15
So dear in memory ;16
Paul, of his comrade reft, the warning
gives,—17
He lives to us who dies, he is but lost who
lives.”18