The Country Child, When Overpraised

EXCERPT The Country Child, When Overpraised by Allan Gurganus Hendrick ter Brugghen Dutch, 1 588-1629 DavidPraised by the Israelite Women, 1623 Oil on canvas, 32V16 ? 41 Vi in. North Carolina Museum of Art Gift of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation 60.17.66 26 Condensed from First Samuel, Chapter 1 7, King James Bible And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and he came to the trench, and shouted for the batde. And, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine ofGath, Goliath by name, whose height was six cubits and a span. And all the men ofIsrael, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. And David said unto King Saul, I, thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou are not able to go against this Philistine to fight: for thou art but a youth, and he a man ofwar from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock. And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth. And Saul said unto David, Go and the Lord be with thee. And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet ofbrass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these, for I have not proved with them. And David put them off. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out ofthe brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou has defied. And I will smite thee, and take thy head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took then a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. But there was no sword in the hand of David. The Country Child, When Overpraised 27 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and ofJudah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem. nd, verily, the head did weigh twenty-seven pounds. And to hold it before him—as you would lift a lantern—costs the young David much strength. Was not his day's strength already well used by killing so great a warrior? Trumpets sounded on towers of the city that, seen from afar, looked sand-colored, a toy, and perfect. Twelve gates were being opened, slow, by vast crowds, even those gates long-bolted against the Philistines. Bright robes of the thousands now appeared along Jerusalem's upper walls. And David lifted a grimacing head so huge it proved visible from the far setdement . A strange first roar did lift. And the power, which was the knowledge ofhis sudden power, was borne unto this rough subde...