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202 DAVID'S LA~IENT FOR ABSALOM.
R eversed, beside him j and the jewelled hilt,
Whose diamonds lit th e passage of his blade,
R ested, like mockery , on his covered brow.
The soldiers of the king trod to and fro,
Clad in the garb of battle j and their chief,
The mighty J oab, stood beside the bier,
And zazed upon the dark pall steadfastly,
A s if he feared the slumberer might sti r.
3. A slow step startled him. H e grasped his blade,
As if a trumpet rang ; bnt the bent form
Of David entered, and he ga\'e command,
I n a low tone, to his few followers, .
A nd left him with his dead. The kin g stood still
Till the last echo died j then th rowing off
The sackcloth from his brow, and laying back
The pall from th e still features of his child,
lIe bowed his head npon him, and broke forth,
In th e resistless eloquence of woe:-
4." Alas, my noble boy! that th ou shouldst die!
Th ou, who wert made so beautifully fair !
That Death should settle in thy glorious eye,
And leave his stillness in thi s clustering hair I
H ow could he mark thee for the silent. tomb,
1IIy proud boy Absalom l
5." Cold is thy brow, my son! and I am chill.
A s to my bosom I have tried to press thee,
H ow was I wont to feel my pulses thrill,
Lik e a rich harp-string. yearning to caress thee,
And hear thy sweet ' Jf y father/' from these dumb
A nd cold lips, A bsalom !
6." The grave hath won t hee! I shall hear th e gush
Of music, and th e voices of the )'oung j
And life will pass me in th e mantl ing blush,
And the dark tresses to the soft winds flung j-