Whom should he counsel ask, with whom advise, Who reason and God's counsel does despise? Whose headstrong will no law or conscience daunt, Dares he not sin, do you think, without your grant? Yes, if the truth of our fixed love he knew, He would not doubt, believe it, to kill even you.' The prince is moved, and straight prepares to find The deep resolves of his grieved father's mind. The danger now appears, love can soon show it, And force his stubborn piety to know it. They agree that David should concealed abide, Till his great friend had the Court's temper tried; Till he had Saul's most sacred purpose found, And searched the depth and rancour of his wound. 'Twas the year's seventh-born moon; the solemn feast, That with most noise its sacred mirth express'd. From opening morn till night shuts in the day, On trumpets and shrill horns the Levites play: Whether by this in mystic type we see The new-year's day of great eternity, When the changed moon shall no more changes make, And scattered death's by trumpets' sound awake; Or that the law be kept in memory still, Given with like noise on Sinai's shining hill; Or that (as some men teach) it did arise From faithful Abram's righteous sacrifice, Who, whilst the ram on Isaac's fire did fry, His horn with joyful tunes stood sounding by; Obscure the cause, but God his will declared, And all nice knowledge then with ease is spared. At the third hour Saul to the hallowed tent, 'Midst a large train of priests and courtiers, went; The sacred herd marched proud and softly by, Too fat and gay to think their deaths so nigh. Hard fate of beasts more innocent than we! Prey to our luxury and our piety! Whose guiltless blood on boards and altars spilt, Serves both to make and expiate, too, our guilt! Three bullocks of free neck, two gilded rams, Two well-washed goats, and fourteen spotless lambs, With the three vital fruits, wine, oil, and bread, (Small fees to Heaven of all by which we're fed) Are offered up: the hallowed flames arise, And faithful prayers mount with them to the skies. From thence the King to the utmost court is brought, Where heavenly things an inspired prophet taught, And from the sacred tent to his palace gates, With glad kind shouts the assembly on him waits; The cheerful horns before him loudly play, And fresh-strewed flowers paint his triumphant way. Thus in slow pace to the palace-hall they go, Rich dressed for solemn luxury and show: Ten pieces of bright tapestry hung the room, The noblest work e'er stretched on Syrian loom, For wealthy Adriel in proud Sidon wrought, And given to Saul when Saul's best gift he sought, The bright-eyed Merab; for that mindful day No ornament so proper seemed as they.