Straight bethought him of a well,
  Which stood beside the city gate,
  At Bethlem; where, before his state
  Of kingly dignity, he had
  Oft drunk his fill, a shepherd lad;
  But now his fierce Philistine foe
  Encamp’d before it he does know. 
  Yet ne’er the less, with heat opprest,
  Those three bold captains he addrest;
  And wish’d that one to him would bring
  Some water from his native spring. 
  His valiant captains instantly
  To execute his will did fly. 
  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 arm’d foes they haste,
  With the hard-earn’d treasure graced. 
  But when the good king David found
  What they had done, he on the ground
  The water pour’d ...  “Because,” said he,
  “That it was at the jeopardy
  Of your three lives this thing ye did,
  That I should drink it, God forbid.”

* * * * *

SALOME.

  Once on a charger there was laid,
  And brought before a royal maid,
  As price of attitude and grace,
  A guiltless head, a holy face.

    It was on Herod’s natal day,
  Who o’er Judea’s land held sway. 
  He married his own brother’s wife,
  Wicked Herodias.  She the life
  Of John the Baptist long had sought,
  Because he openly had taught
  That she a life unlawful led,
  Having her husband’s brother wed.

    This was he, that saintly John,
  Who in the wilderness alone
  Abiding, did for clothing wear
  A garment made of camel’s hair;
  Honey and locusts were his food,
  And he was most severely good. 
  He preached penitence and tears,
  And waking first the sinner’s fears,
  Prepared a path, made smooth a way,
  For his diviner Master’s day.

    Herod kept in princely state
  His birthday.  On his throne he sate,
  After the feast, beholding her
  Who danced with grace peculiar;
  Fair Salome, who did excel
  All in that land for dancing well. 
  The feastful monarch’s heart was fired,
  And whatsoe’er thing she desired,
  Though half his kingdom it should be,
  He in his pleasure swore that he
  Would give the graceful Salome. 
  The damsel was Herodias’ daughter: 
  She to the queen hastes, and besought her
  To teach her what great gift to name. 
  Instructed by Herodias, came
  The damsel back:  to Herod said,
  “Give me John the Baptist’s head;
  And in a charger let it be
  Hither straightway brought to me.” 
  Herod her suit would fain deny,
  But for his oath’s sake must comply.