Thy beauty, Israel, is gone : <br />Slaine in the places high is he. <br />The mighty now are ouerthrowne ! <br />Oh ! thus how commeth it to be ? <br />Let not this newes their streets throughout <br />In Gath or Askalon be told; <br />For fear Philistia's daughters flout, <br />Lest vaunt the vncircumcized should. <br /> <br />On you hereafter let no dewe, <br />You mountaines of Gilboa, fall: <br />Let there be neither showers on you, <br />Nor fields that breed an offering shall; <br />For there with shame away was throwne <br />The target of the strong, alas! <br />The shield of Saul, euen as of one <br />That neu'r with oile anoynted was. <br /> <br />Nor from their blood that slaughter'd lay, <br />Nor from the fatt of strong men slaine, <br />Came Jonathan his bow away, <br />Nor drew forth Saul his sword in vaine ; <br />In life time they were louely faire, <br />In death they undiuided ayre; <br />More swift than eagles of the air, <br />And stronger they than lions were. <br /> <br />Weepe, Israel's daughters ! vveepe for Saul, <br />Who you with skarlet hath aray'd, <br />Who clothed you with pleasures all, <br />And on your garments gold hath layd. <br />How comes it he that mighty was <br />The foyle in battell doth sustaine ? <br />Thou Jonathan ! oh, thou, alas! <br />Upon thy places high wert slaine. <br /> <br />And much distressed is my heart, <br />My brother Jonathan, for thee; <br />My very deare delight thou wert, <br />And wondrous was thy loue to me: <br />So wondrous it surpassed farre <br />The love of women eu'ry way. <br />Oh ! how the mighty fallen are! <br />How warlike instruments decay.<br /><br />George Wither<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-lamentation-of-david-over-saul-and-jonathan-his-son/
