david and his three captains bold

kept ambush once within a hold.

it was in adullam’s cave

nigh which no water they could have.

nor spring, nor running brook, was near

to quench the thirst that parch’d them there.

then david, king of israel,

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’ertheless, with heat oppress’d,

those three bold captains he address’d,

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.

35

those three brave men the ranks broke through

of armed foes, and water drew

for david, their beloved king,

at his own sweet native spring.

back through their enemies they haste,

with the hard-earn’d treasure graced.

what with such danger they had sought

with joy unto their king they brought.

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!”