Prepare! your festal rites prepare

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General information

This is a poem by Hannah More, in Part V of drama David and Goliath, from her book, Sacred Dramas, published 1782.

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Text and translations

English.png English text

Sacred Dramas, 1782

1. Prepare! your festal rites prepare!
Let your triumphs rend the air!
Idol gods shall reign no more,
We the living Lord adore!
Let heathen hosts on human helps repose,
Since Israel’s God has routed Israel’s foes.

2. Let remotest nations know,
Proud Goliath’s overthrow:
Fallen, Philistia! is thy trust,
Dagon’s honor laid in dust!
Who fears the Lord of Glory, need not fear
The brazen armor, or the lifted spear.

3. See the routed squadrons fly!
Hark! their clamors rend the sky!
Blood and carnage stain the field!
See, the vanquished nations yield!
Dismay and terror fill the frightened land;
While conquering David routs the trembling band.

4. Lo! upon the tented field,
Royal Saul has thousands killed!
Lo ! upon the ensanguined plain,
David has ten thousands slain!
Let mighty Saul his vanquished thousands tell,
While tenfold triumphs David’s victories swell.

 

Supplement to the Kentucky Harmony, 1822

1. Now your festal rites prepare!
Let your triumphs rend the air.
Idle gods shall reign no more,
We the living Lord adore.
Let heathen hearts on human helps repose,
Since Israel's God has rented Israel's foes.

2. Let remotest nations know
Proud Goliath's overthrow;
Fallen Philistia is thy trust,
Digon's honor held in dust.
Who fears the Lord of glory need not fear
The brazen arrow, or the golden spear.

3. See the routed squadrons fly,
Hark, their clamors rend the sky;
Blood and carnage stain the field,
See the vanquished nations yield.
Dismay and terror full the affrighted land,
While conquering David routs the trembling band.

4. Lo, upon the tented field
Royal Saul has thousand killed!
Lo, upon the sanguine plain,
David has ten thousand slain.
Let mighty Saul his vanquished thousands tell,
While David's votaries tenfold triumphs swell.

 

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