Page:The Muse in Arms, Osborn (ed), 1917.djvu/176

 LII

NCE an earlier David took

Smooth pebbles from the brook:

Out between the lines he went

To that one-sided tournament,

A shepherd boy who stood out fine

And young to fight a Philistine

Clad all in brazen mail. He swears

That he's killed lions, he's killed bears,

And those that scorn the God of Zion

Shall perish so like bear or lion.

But the historian of that fight

Had not the heart to tell it right.

Striding within javelin range

Goliath marvels at this strange

Goodly-faced boy so proud of strength.

David's clear eye measures the length;

With hand thrust back, he cramps one knee,

Poises a moment thoughtfully,

And hurls with a long vengeful swing.

The pebble, humming from the sling 134