| |
| DAVID and his three captains bold | |
| Kept ambush once within a hold. | |
| It was in Adullam’s cave, | |
| Nigh which no water they could have, | |
| Nor spring nor running brook was near | 5 |
| To quench the thirst that parched them there. | |
| Then David, King of Israel, | |
| Straight bethought him of a well, | |
| Which stood beside the city gate, | |
| At Bethlem; where, before his state | 10 |
| Of kingly dignity, he had | |
| Oft drunk his fill, a shepherd lad; | |
| But now his fierce Philistine foe | |
| Encamped before it he does know. | |
| Yet ne’er the less, with heat opprest, | 15 |
| Those three bold captains he addrest; | |
| And wished that one to him would bring | |
| Some water from his native spring. | |
| His valiant captains instantly | |
| To execute his will did fly. | 20 |
| The mighty Three the ranks broke through | |
| Of armed foes, and water drew | |
| For David, their beloved king, | |
| At his own sweet native spring. | |
| Back through their armed foes they haste, | 25 |
| With the hard-earned treasure graced. | |
| But when the good King David found | |
| What they had done, he on the ground | |
| The water poured. “Because,” said he, | |
| “That it was at the jeopardy | 30 |
| Of your three lives this thing ye did, | |
| That I should drink it, God forbid.” | |
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