able fellows though they are, so many of them, yet,
when I have gone through their whole land with the caravans, the chances
have been that any serious-minded man spoke of no God but this '_He_'
of David's."
"What is his name?"
"They do not know themselves, I believe."
"Well, as I said an hour ago, God's man or Dagon's man,--for those are
good names enough for me,--I care little; but I should like to sing as
that young fellow does."
"My boy," said the old man, "have not you heard him enough to see that
it is not _he_ that sings, near as much as this love of his for a Spirit
he does not name? It is that spirited heart of his that sings."
"_You_ sing like him? Find his life, boy; and perhaps it may sing for
you."
"We should be more manly men, if he sang to us every night."
"Or if the other did," said an Ionian sailor.
"Yes," said the chief. "And yet, I think, if your countryman sang every
night to me, he would make me want the other. Whether David's singing
would send me to his, I do not feel sure. But how silly to compare them!
As well compare the temple in Accho with the roar of a whirlwind--"
"Or the point of my lance with the flight of an eagle. The men are in
two worlds."
"O, no! that is saying too much. You said that one could paint
pictures--"
"--Into which the other puts life. Yes, I did say so. We are fortunate
that we have them together."
"For this man sings of men quite as well as the other does; and to have
the other sing of God--'
"--Why, it completes the song. Between them they bring the two worlds
together."
"He bows the heavens, and comes down," said the boy of the olive-harp,
trying to hum David's air.
"Let us ask them--"
And just then there rang along the valley the sound of a distant
conch-shell. The soldiers groaned, roused up, and each looked for his
own side-arms and his own skin.
But the poets talked on unheeding.
The old chief knocked down a stack of lances; but the crash did not
rouse them. He was obliged himself to interrupt their eager converse.
"I am sorry to break in; but the night-horn has sounded to rest, and the
guard will be round to inspect the posts. I am sorry to hurry you away,
sir," he said to David.
David thanked him courteously.
"Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest," said Homer, with a smile.
"We will all meet to-morrow. And may to-night's dreams be good omens!"
"If we dream at all," said Homer again:--
"Without a
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