jjgft&SALEM* 
■ %> 
6(i by Adrichomlus,^ u flkns, et nudis fedibus, Beum: 
adoravit.” What a scene does the sublime, though simple, 
description given by the Prophet,! picture to the imagination 
of every one who has felt the influence of filial piety, but es¬ 
pecially of the traveller standing upon the very spot;}; where 
the aged monarch gave to Heaven the offering of his wound 
ed spirit* “And David went up by the asceut of Mount 
Olivet ;$ and wept as he went up, and had his head covered; 
find he went bare foot; and all the people that was with him 
covered every man his head; and they went up weeping/ 5 
Abstracted from every religious view, and considered solely 
as a subject for the most gifted genius in poetry or in painting, 
it is perhaps impossible to select a theme more worthy the 
exercise of exalted talents. Every thing that is sublime and 
alfeeting seems to be presented in the description!! of the pro¬ 
cession or march of David, in his passage across the Kedren; 
and particularly in the moment when the Ark of the Cove¬ 
nant is sent back, and the aged monarch, having in vain en¬ 
treated Ittai** to leave him, begins to ascend the mountain, 
preceded by the various people said to form the van of the 
procession. Every wonderful association of natural and of 
artificial features, of landscape and of architecture, of splendid 
and diversified costume, of sacred pomp, and of unequalled 
pathos, dignify the affecting scene; here a solemn train of 
mourners; there the seers,!! the guardians and companions of 
the ark ; men, women, children,^ warriors, statesmen,;citizens, 
priests, Levites, counsellors;—with all the circumstances of 
grandeur displayed by surrounding objects; by the waters of the 
torrent; by the sepulchres of the valley; by the lofty rocks 9f 
the towers, bulwarks, and palaces of Sion ; by the magnifi¬ 
cent perspective on every side; by the bold declivities and 
lofty summits of Mount Olivet: and, finally, by the concern 
(ration of all that is great and striking in the central group, 
* Theatrum Terr. Sanct. p 170. Colon. 1628. 
i 2 Sam. xv. 30. 
% “ And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the Mount, wher^' 
he worshipped God,” &c. 2 Samuel, xv. 32. 
J Ibid. v. 30. 
jj - See the whole of the fifteenth chapter of the second hook of Samuel. 
“ Then said the king to Ittai theGittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us 
Return to thy place, and abide with the king; for thou art a stranger, and also an ex¬ 
ile. Whereas thou earnest but yesterday, should I this day make thee wander in 
going up and clown-with-us V Seeing I go whither l may, return thou, and take back 
thy brethren : mercy and truth be with thee !” Ibid. v. 19, 20. 
tf “ The king said’also untoZadok the priest, Art not thou ajeer ? Return into the 
city in peace.” Ibid. v. 27. 
tt “And Ittai the Gittite passed over, aftd all his men, and all the little dnestfiat 
were with him.” Xbid. v. 22. 
