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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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J > AVIT > AND JONATHAN . When , wasted by the cares of his kingdom and by grief for his children , the son of Jesse finally slept on his bed of death , loi in the dark valley of the shadow of death the friend of his youth , Jonathan , came towards him . " Our covenant is eternal , " said he to the form of the aged king : " but I cannot reach forth unto thee my hand , whilst thou art defiled with blood , with the blood of my father ' s house , burdened also with the groans of my
son . Follow me . " And David followed the heavenly youth . " Alas ! " said he to himself ; " a hard lot is the life of men ; and a yet harder the life of a king . O that I had fallen like thee , Jonathan , with an innocent heart , in the spring-time of my years ; or that I had remained a singing shepherd on the plains of Bethlehem ! A glorious life hast thou lived meanwhile in Paradise . Why died I not with thee ?"
" Murmur not , " said Jonathan , " against him who gave thee the crown of thy people , and made thee the Father of an everlasting kingdom . I beheld thy toils and griefs , and have awaited thee here . " Then he led him to a stream in Paradise . «« Drink , " said he , " out of this fountain , and all thy cares shall be forgotten . Bathe thyself in this stream , and thou shalt become young and fair as thou wert in those days when I took ihee to my heart , and we made with each other the covenant of fidelity . But dive deep in the flood ; it flows like silver , and must purify thee like fire . "
David drank out of the holy fountain , and bathed himself in the clear stream . The draught relieved him of all earthl y cares ; but the waters of purification sank deep into him . They glowed like fire within , till they left him spotless like his celestial friend . As he stood in renewed youth , Jonathan reached forth his harp to him ; and more sweetly than here below he sang under the tree of life ,
" David and Jonathan , loving in their lives , in their death are not divided . They are stronger than eagles ; swifter than the roe upon the hills . Daughters of Israel , weep for us no more ! We are clothed in the beauty of our youth . I rejoice for thee , my brother Jonathan ! I had delight in thee below : btU here thy love is to me more than the love of our youth . " They embraced one another , and , now inseparable , vowed once again the covenant of fidelity for ever .
SOLOMON IN YOUTH . A good king once said to his favourite , " Ask of me what thou wilt , and it shall be given to thee . " And the youth said to himself , " What shall I pray for , so that I may not hereafter repent of my wish ? Honour and authority I have already . Gold
and silver are the most insecure gifts in the world . I will ask the king ' s daughter ; because she loves me as I love her ; and in her I shall possess all things ; not only riches and honour , but also the heart of my benefactor ; because through this gift he becomes my father . " The favourite made his prayer , and it was granted * When God first appeared to the youth Solomon in a dream , he said to him , " Say what I shall give unto thee , and it shall be given . " And behold
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TRANSLATIONS FROM HERDER .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1831, page 387, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2598/page/27/
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