is given heterogenously, to another. This has also been confidered among the firft excellencies of compofition: its beauty is manifested in Shakespear much, but in the Bible more. An inftance of this is before us. We never once lofe fight of the favage audacity of Goliah, from his first menace to his death-he speaks but little, but every word feems to fall from the lip of a giant. When David perfifts in his refolution to fight, he said, "Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, " and to the beafts of the field." The dependence of David was upon his God, and in fuch confidence he returned the threat of Goliah with additional fury. "This "day will the Lord deliver thee into my "hand, and I will fmite thee, and take "thine head from thee, that all the earth દ may know there is a God in Ifrael "all this affembly fhall know that the Lord "faveth not with the sword and spear; for "the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands." They engaged, and the prophesy of the young warrior was fulfilled.

and

fulfilled. The power of the Divine affiftance which can make all human ftrength more feeble than the finews of the newborn babe, is nobly illuftrated in the death. of Goliah, which, notwithstanding all appearances, was effected by a stone ejected by a very boy, from a fling. But the account itself is well worth reciting.

"And it came to pafs, when the Phi"listine arofe, and came and drew nigh

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to meet David, that David hasted, and "ran toward the army to meet the Philif"tine. And David put his hand in his

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bag, and took thence a stone and flang "it, and fmote the Philiftine in his forehead, that the ftone funk into his fore"head; and he fell upon his face unto "the earth.

"Then he ran and ftood upon the Phiપ liftine, and took the fword of Goliah, "and drew it out of the fheath, and flew "him and cut off his head therewith: and

"when the Philistines faw their champion was dead, they fled."

'

By fuch means was the victory completed, and thus fell that terror to the Ifraelitish bands, Goliah of Gath.

Having gone through the most important parts of this interefting duel, we have leisure for a few fupplimental reflections, in the way of literary criticism. This Goliah of Gath reminds one of Homer's Ajax; and, indeed, the process of the engagement between the giant and David, is, in many particulars, like the ceremony of the fingle combat of Telamon and Hector. The above description of Goliah's person, and warlike preparations, are more military and formidable than the hero of Homer. Let the foregoing character of the Giant of Gath be compared with what follows:

Now Ajax brac'd his dazzling armour on, Sheath'd in bright steel, the giant warrior fhone : He moves to combat with majestic pace;

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So ftalks in arms, the grizly god of Thrace.
Thus march'd the chief, tremendous as a god:
Grimly he fmil'd; earth trembled as he strode ;
His maffey javelin, quiv'ring in his hand,
He stood the bulwark of the Grecian band.
Thro' ev'ry Argive heart new transport ran;
All Troy flood trembling at the mighty man ;
Ev'n Hector paus'd; and with new doubt opprefs'd;
Felt his great heart fufpended in his breaft.

Scarce any part of this defcription, nor of its original, will bear bringing near that of the "giant warrior" of the fcripture. His moving with majestic pace to combat, is less terrific than Goliah's triumphant march in the full view of the aftonished Philiftines. There seems alfo lefs propriety in Hector's pause of fear, than in the inapprehenfive and intrepid conduct of David, who,, though not practifed like Hector,

From right to left the dextrous lance to wield,
And bear thick battle on his founding shield;

was, nevertheless, uniformly brave and heroic to the very heart, without ever finding that heroifm fufpended, even at the presence

of Goliah.

"All Troy" might, indeed,

be fuppofed to tremble at the mighty fon of Telamon, in the fame manner as Saul and the tribes of embattled Ifrael, trembled before the arrogant Philiftine: but for Hector's heart to fail him, though but for a moment, was, furely, fuch a falling off from the idea we wish to entertain of that celebrated hero, that one is almost angry with Homer for doing our favourite fo palpable an injury in the tendereft and bright eft part of his character. It may be urged, indeed, that David had confidence in his God, and that his bravery emanated from infpiration. An argument, very fimilar, may be brought in favour of the Trojan hero, who, as we are to believe, certainly trusted as much in the virtue of bis caufe, and the goodness of his god, as the other; nor did the poet ever fuffer him to go to the battle till thofe deities were first fupplicated. Witness the addrefs offered up, on the very occafion of the conteft with Ajax. Oh, Father of mankind, fuperior lord, "On lofty Ida's holy hill ador'd:

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