.....

David and Jonathan under the long torches
Were silent then.  And David’s eyes were fixed
Long upon Jonathan, as eyes may sometimes look
On eyes, and see no face, looking beyond
Into unimaged life, into the brain
Moving behind the circumstance of flesh,
Eyes that to-morrow passing might hardly know
The mere face that to-night they gaze upon. 
And Jonathan having spoken, waited there
While David searched him slowly with still eyes. 
Then David rose, and drew the tent-fold back,
And looked upon the stars of Palestine
Long, and a mallow moon; and Jonathan waited. 
Then David came again, and spoke, “I too,
Standing this morning in your father’s tent,
Knew that a life unwonted was near me there. 
And now you have spoken, and the love you say,
I know, and as your will is so is mine. 
Something I am for you that none can be. 
Let it be so, but all is not then said. 
This morning when I smote the Philistine,
I was God’s purpose, that I must believe. 
But purpose only is not all of God,
Hearing you now, I know it is not all. 
When first I saw you I did not know it then—­
Only, facing the Philistine, something new
A moment marked me, and unnoted went,
No touch of it upon my will.  But now
I have heard you speak, and what it was I know. 
You loved me, Jonathan, seeing, as I stood,
That shadowy self of you of which you tell me
Suddenly living fearless in the sun. 
That is your reaping of my field, and I
Glory to give it you.  But were that all,
Proud to be loved, I should not love again. 
But now I know for me is too a reaping. 
Your shadow to my living purpose leaps,
And that is wonderful.  But as you spoke
Some David hidden from the man that slew
Goliath listened also, and is now
With us for ever.  And he that wrought this life
Is you, Jonathan of doubts and speculation,
The man who sits there plainly now, the mere
Jonathan when the shadow is forgotten. 
Now do I know my purpose magnified,
Sure as of old, but learning in its flight,
Of pity and the sad heart of man from you,
And how the jealous and unmerciful,
Being stricken down, are but poor sorrows too. 
So, Jonathan my brother, as you take,
So do you give, and in us now shall be
The perfect whole of purpose and compassion,
And resolution without pride of heart. 
Now therefore will I make the covenant,
Knowing that never more can you or I
Without this love be better than a tale
Of corrupting seed and fallow-lands unsown.”

.....

Now Jonathan rose and put the torches out,
And a grey beam of dawn was on those two. 
And Jonathan took his outer garment off,
Which was the king’s son’s, and robed David there,
And he took the sword that Saul had given him,
Belted in gold and cased in figured steel,
And it hung on David’s loins.  And Jonathan said,
“Who fails in this, that is the last betrayal,
The quenching of the holy spirit of God.” 
And David said, “So be it.”  And they embraced,
And kissed.  And David went into the dawn. 
And Jonathan watched until the day was full.