And all gifts which the world offers singly, on one head combine! On one head, all the beauty and strength, love and rage, like the throe That, a-work in the rock, helps its labor, and lets the gold go: High ambition and deeds which surpass it, fame crowning them,--all Brought to blaze on the head of one creature--King Saul!" And lo, with that leap of my spirit, heart, hand, harp, and voice, Each lifting Saul's name out of sorrow, each bidding rejoice Saul's fame in the light it was made for--as when, dare I say, The Lord's army in rapture of service, strains through its array, And upsoareth the cherubim-chariot--"Saul!" cried I and stopped, And waited the thing that should follow. Then Saul, who hung propped By the tent's cross-support in the centre, was struck by his name. Have ye seen when Spring's arrowy summons goes right to the aim, And some mountain, the last to withstand her, that held, (he alone, While the vale laughed in freedom and flowers) on a broad bust of stone A year's snow bound about for a breastplate,--leaves grasp of the sheet? Fold on fold all at once it crowds thunderously down to his feet, And there fronts you, stark, black but alive yet, your mountain of old, With his rents, the successive bequeathings of ages untold-- Yea, each harm got in fighting your battles, each furrow and scar Of his head thrust 'twixt you and the tempest--all hail, there they are! Now again to be softened with verdure, again hold the nest Of the dove, tempt the goat and its young to the green on his crest For their food in the ardors of summer! One long shudder thrilled All the tent till the very air tingled, then sank and was stilled, At the King's self left standing before me, released and aware. What was gone, what remained? All to traverse 'twixt hope and despair-- Death was past, life not come--so he waited. Awhile his right hand Held the brow, helped the eyes left too vacant forthwith to remand To their place what new objects should enter: 'twas Saul as before. I looked up and dared gaze at those eyes, nor was hurt any more Than by slow pallid sunsets in autumn, ye watch from the shore At their sad level gaze o'er the ocean--a sun's slow decline Over hills which, resolved in stern silence, o'erlap and entwine Base with base to knit strength more intense: so, arm folded arm O'er the chest whose slow heavings subsided.