The Death of Saul

f peerless lives;
And Saul is numbered 'mongst the broken drift.
Saul, though the Lord's anointed, saw not God:
But--curse of life! ingratitude prevailed.
His faith waxed weak as days of trial came:
And when, deserted by his teeming hosts
At Gilgal, he the Prophet's priestly right
In faithless haste assumed, the Prophet cried
"The Lord hath said no son of thine shall reign
O'er Israel!" (_c_) Yet, heedless of the voice
Of warning which a patient God vouchsafed,
With disobedience lurking in his heart,
He strove to shield the King of Amalek--
He whom the Lord commanded him to kill--
Seizing his flocks and herds for selfish gain
Beneath the garb of sacrificial faith--
Sin so distasteful to the Lord that Saul
Sat in the dark displeasure of his God. (_d_)
And out from this displeasure, like the dawn
From dusky night, the youthful David sprang--
The Lord's anointed, yea, the Lord's beloved:
Sweet Bard of Bethlehem! whose harp divine