"At the fame inftant from glad Jabesh' town "Some few at first with vain refiftance fall, 610 "Smoke clouds the day, and flames make clear This bright fuccefs did Saul's firft action bring; "The oil, the lot, and crown, lefs crown'd him "king: "Which more than they th' engag'd fpectators" "felt; "In Ammon force, in Jonathan address 570 (Though both were great in both to an excefs) "To the well-judging eye did most appear; "Honour and anger in both equal were. *Two wounds our Prince receiv'd, and Ammon "three; Which, he enrag'd to feel, and 'fham'd to fee, Did his whole ftrength into one blow collect;And as a fpaniel, when we our aim direct 575 "To fhoot fome bird, impatiently stands by Shaking his tail, ready with joy to fly, Juft as it drops, upon the wounded prey; So waited Death itself to bear away "The threaten'd life; did glad and greedy stand At fight of mighty Ammon's lifted hand. 581 "Our watchful Prince by bending fav'd the "wound: "But Death in other coin his reckoning found; "Had almost borne the ftriker from his horse, "blade, "And opened wide thofe fecret veffels, where "than they. "As when two kings of neighbour hives (whom "rage "The Happy all men judge for empire fit, 620 "And none withstands where Fortune does "fubmit. "And thirst of empire in fierce wars engage, 595 "Whilft each lays claim to th' garden as his own, "And feeks t' ufurp the bordering flowers alone) "Their well-arm'd troops drawn boldly forth to 66 fight, "In th' air's wide plain dispute their doubtful 14 "Those who before did God's fair choice with. "ftand, 600 "Th' exceffive vulgar now to death demand; " right; If by fad chance of battle either king "Fall wounded down, ftrook with fome fatal "fting, "His army's hopes and courage with him die; "Which foreign blood in nobler purple dy'd. Again the crown th' affembled people give, "With greater joy than Saul could it receive; Again th' old Judge refigns his facred place 630 "(God glorify'd with wonders his disgrace); "With decent pride, fuch as did well befit "The name he kept, and that which he did quit: "The long-paft row of happy years he show'd "Which to his heavenly government they ow'd; "How the torn State his just and prudent reign "Reftor'd to order, plenty, power, again; "In war what conquering miracles he wrought;"God, then their King, was General when they fought; Gap'd, and breath'd feeble vapours up in vain, "Which strait were scatter'd, or devour'd by th' fun; "When, lo! ere fcarce the active speech was done, "A violent wind rofe from his fecret cave, 650 "And troops of frighted clouds before it drave: "Whilft with rude hafte the confus'd tempeft "crouds, "Swift, dreadful flames shot thro' th' encounter❝ing clouds, They From whofe torn womb th' imprison'd thunder “On th' other fides at once, with like fuccefs, "hear, "And, whatfoc'er it mean, long to be there; VOL. 11. "Were all let loofe; horror and fearful noise "About it forks, axes, and fcythes, and fpears, "Fill'd the black fcene; till the great prophet's" Whole magazines of death each chariot bears; "voice, "Swift as the wings of morn, reduc'd the day; 660 "Wind, thunder, rain, and clouds, fled all at 66 once away. "Fear not, faid he; God his fierce wrath removes, "And, tho' this State my fervice disapproves, "My prayers fhall ferve it conftantly: No more, "I hope, a pardon for paft fins t' implore; 665 "But just rewards from gracious Heaven to bring "On the good deeds of you, and of our king. "Behold him there! and as you fee, rejoice "In the kind care of God's impartial choice. "Behold his beauty, courage, ftrength, and wit! "The honour Heaven has cloath'd aim with, "fits fit 671 "And comely on him; fince you needs must be Rul'd by a King, you're happy that 'tis he. Obey him gladly; and let him too know "You were not made for him, but he for you, 675 "And both for God; "Whose genfleft yoke if once you caft away, "In vain fhall he command, and you obey; "To foreign tyrants both fhall flaves become, "Inftead of king and fubjects here at home. 680. "The crown thus feveral ways confirm'd to "Saul, "One way was wanting yet to crown them all; And that was force, which only can maintain "The power that fortune gives, or worth does gain. 685 "Three thousand guards of big bold men he took; "Tall, terrible, and guards ev'n with their look : "His facred perfon two, and throne, defend; "The third, on matchlefs Jonathan attend; "O'er whofe full thoughts Honour, and Youth"ful Heat, 690 "Sate brooding, to hatch actions good and great. "On Geba firft, where a Philiftian band Lies, and around torments the fetter'd land, He falls, and flaughters all; his noble rage "Mix'd with defign his nation to engage "In that just war, which from them long in "vain, "Where it breaks in, there a whole troop it mows, "And with lopp'd panting limbs the field be"ftrows: 715 720 "Alike, the valiant and the cowards die: "Neither can they refift, nor can these fly. "In this proud equipage, at Macmas they, "Saul in much different state at Gilgal, lay; "His forces feem'd no army but a crowd, "Heartless, unarm'd, disorderly, and loud. "The quick contagion, Fear, ran swift thro' all, "And into trembling fits th' infected fall. "Saul and his fon (for no fuch faint disease "Could on their ftrong-complexion'd valour " feize) "In vain all parts of virtuous conduct show'd,725 "And on deaf terror generous words beftow'd: "Thousands from thence fly scatter'd every day, "Thick as the leaves that shake and drop away, "When they th' approach of ftormy winter find; "The noble tree all bare expos'd to th' wind. 730 "Some to fad Jordan fly, and fwim 't for hafte, "And from his farther bank look back at latt: "Some into woods and caves their cattle drive; ' "There with their beasts on equal terms they "live, "Nor deferve better: fome in rocks on high, 731 "The old retreats of ftorks and ravens, lie; "And, were they wing'd like them, fcarce would they dare "To ftay, or trust their frighted fafety there. "As th' hoft with fear, fo Saul disturb'd with care, 740 "T'avert thefe ills by facrifice and prayer "And God's bleft will t' enquire, for Samuel "fends; "Whom he fix days with troubled haste attends; "But, ere the seventh unlucky day (the laft By Samuel fet for this great work) was paft, "Saul (alarm'd hourly from the neighbouring "foe; 745 "Impatient, ere God's time, God's mind to know; "Sham'd and enrag'd to fee his troops "decay; "Jealous of an affront in Samuel's ftay; "Scorning that any's prefence fhould appear 696" Needful befides, when he himself was there; 750 "And, with a pride tco natural, thinking Heaven "Had given him all, becaufe much power't had "Honour and freedom's voice had ftrove t' ob❝tain. "Th' accurs'd Philiftian, rouz'd with this bold "blow, "All the proud marks of enrag'd power does "fhow; "Raises a vaft, well-arm'd, and glittering host: "If human strength might authorize a boast, 700 "Their threats had reafon here; for ne'er did we "Ourfeives fo weak, or foe fo potent, fee. "Here we vaft bodies of their foot espy, "The rear out-reaches far th' extended eye; "Like fields of corn their arm'd squadrons stand; "As thick and numberlefs they hide the land. 706 "Here with sharp neighs the warlike horfes "found, "And with proud prancings beat the putrid "ground: "Here with worse noife three thousand chariots "pafs, With plates of iron bourd, or louder brafs; 710 "given) 755 "Himfelf the facrifice and offerings made; "Himself did th' high felected charge invade; "Himfelf enquir'd of God; who then pake "nought; "But Samuel strait his dreadful answer brought: "For ftrait he came, and with a virtue bold "As was Saul's fin, the fatal message told; "His foul ingratitude to Heaven he chid, "To pluck that fruit, which was alone forbid 760 "To kingly power, in all that plenteous land, "Where all things elfe fubmit to his command. "And, as fair Eden's violated tree "T'immortal man brought in mortality: "So fhall that crown, which God eternal meant. "Prom thee, faid he, and thy great houfe, be "rent; 760 775 To do it lefs) this fpeech we fadly find "Still extant, and ftill active in his mind; "But then a worse effect of it appear'd"Our army, which before modeftly fear'd; "Which did by stealth and by degrees decay; "Difbanded now, and fled in troops away. 780 "Bafe fear fo bold and impudent does grow, "When an excufe and colour it can fhow! Six hundred only (fcarce a princely train) "Of all his hoft with diftrefs'd Saul remain; "Of his whole hoft fix hundred; and even those "(So did wife Heaven for mighty ends difpofe ! Nor would that useless multitudes should share In that great gift it did for one prepare) * Arm'd not like foldiers marching in a war, But country-hinds alarmed from afar 790 * By wolves' loud hunger, when the well-è̟nown "found "Raises th' affrighted villages around. "Some goads, fails, plow-fhares, forks, or axes, "bore, "Made for life's use and better ends before; "Some knotted clubs, and darts, or arrows 795 "dry'd "I' th' fire, the first rude arts that malice try'd, *Ere man the fins of too much knowledge knew, And death by long experience witty grew. "Such were the numbers, fuch the arms, which O'er well-arm'd millions; nor will this appear Ufefal itfelf, when Jonathan was there. *Twas just the time when the new ebb of night "Did the moift world unvail to human fight; The Prince, who all that night the field had heat With a fmall party, and no enemy met "(So proud and fo fecure the enemy lay, 806 810 And drench'd in fleep th' exceffes of the day) With joy this good occafion did embrace, With better leifure, and at nearer space, "The strength and order of their camp to view : "Abdon alone his generous purpose knew; Abdon, a bold, a brave, and comely youth, Well-born, well-bred, with honour fill'd, and "truth; "They went, but facred fury, as they went, "Chang'd swiftly, and exalted his intent. "What may this be! (the Prince breaks forth); "I find "God, or fome powerful fpirit, invades my mind. "From aught but Heaven can never fure be "brought 825 "So high, fo glorious, and fo vaft a thought: "Nor would Ill-fate, that meant me to furprize, "Come cloath'd in fo unlikely a difguife. "Yon hoft, which its proud fishes fpreads fo wide "O'er the whole land, like fome fwoln river's "tide; 830 "Which terrible and numberless appears, "As the thick waves which their rough ocean "bears: "Which lies fo ftrongly 'encamp'd, that one "would fay "The hill might be remov'd as foon as they; "We two alone muft fight with and defeat; 835 "Thou'rt ftrook, and startest at a found fo great! "Yet we must do 't; God our weak hands has "chofe 845 "T'afhame the boasted numbers of our foes; "Which to his strength no more proportion be, "Than millions are of hours to his eternity. 840 "If, when their careless guards efpy us here, "With Sportful fcorn they call t' us to come near, "We'll boldly climb the hill, and charge them all; "Not they, but Ifrael's Angel, gives the call. "He spoke, and as he spoke, a light divine "Did from his eyes, and round his temples, fhine; "Louder his voice, larger his limbs, appear'd; "Lefs feem'd the numerous army to be fear'd. "This faw, and heard, with joy the brave Efquire, "As he with God's, fill'd with his master's fire: "Forbid it, Heaven! faid he, I should decline, 851 "Or wish, Sir, not to make your danger mine: "The great example which I daily fee "Of your high worth is not fo lost on me; "If wonder-ftrook I at your words appear, 855 "My wonder yet is innocent of fear: "Th' honour which does your princely breast "enflame, "Warms mine too, and joins there with duty's "Th' only' accefs on neighbouring Gabaa's fide, "An hard and narrow way, which did divide 870 "Two cliffy rocks, Bofes and Senes nam'd, "Much for themselves, and their big strangeness "fam'd; "More for their fortune, and this stranger day. "And lo! the Hebrews! proud Elcanor cry'd, "Thy' attempt, or thy fuccefs? thy fate or thou? "What breaft but thine capacious to receive 935 "Elcanor laugh'd to see them climb, and thought "His mighty words th' affrighted fuppliants" Durft have believ'd that thought to be divine? "brought; "Did new affronts to the great Hebrew Name, 891 "Rives the frail trunk of fome heaven-threaten- "The Prince's fword did his proud head divide; "Which Abdon fnatch'd, and dy'd it in the "Of an amazed wretch that next him ftood. "Wildly, at th' unintelligible alarm. "Thou follow'dft Heaven in the defign, and we "And fome the dire materials brought from new. "The voice of storms, and winged whirlwinds' "breath; 950 "The flames fhot forth from fighting dragons' "eyes; "The fmokes that from fcorch'd fevers' ovens "rife; "The reddeft fires with which fad comets grow; "Of finest fulphur; amongst which they put 955 « Noise, darkness, difmal lightnings, round them "Like the main channel of an high-fwoln flood, "In vain by dikes and broken works withstood; "So Jonathan, once climb'd th' opposing hill, 905 "Does all around with noise and ruin fill: "Like fome large arm of which, another way "Abdon o'erflows; him too no bank can stay. "With crics th' affrighted country flies before, "Behind the following waters loudly roar. 910 "Twenty, at least, flain on this out-guard lie, "To th' adjoin'd camp the rest distracted fly; "And ill-mix'd wonders tell, and into 't bear "Blind terror, deaf diforder, helpless fear. "The conquerors too prefs boldly in behind, 915 "The mountain felt it; the vaft mountain fhook. "Doubling the wild confufions which they find. "Through the wide air another Angelfiew 965 "Hamgar at first, the Prince of Afhdod town, "About their hoft, and thick amongst them threw "Chief 'mongit the five in riches and renown, "Difcord, defpair, confufion, fear, mistake, "And General then by courfe, oppos'd their way, "And all th' ingredients that fwift ruin make. “Till drown'd in death at jonathan's feet he lay," The fertile glebe requires no time to breed; "And curs'd the heaven for rage, and bit the "It quickens, and receives at once the feed. 970 ground; "One would have thought, this difnial day t' "His life, for ever fpilt, ftain'd all the grafs "around. .921 "His brother too, who virtuous hafte did make "have feen, "That Nature's felf in her death pangs had been. * To almoft certain prefent death they fly, 991 “And hear, the thickening tumult, as it grew They fled, no more than they themselves that "Yet, by the ftorms and terrors of the air, 995 Of who fo lately bore them. All about, "A fear that drowns the fcandal of their own. . "Behold, Sir, and mark well the treacherous "That does fo close on human glories wait! 10:0 "A duel with an hoft, had th' hoft o'erthrown. "In blood and blushes the Philiftian pride; 66 nown 1040 "Should be ere night, by's King and Father's "Without a fault, vow'd and condemn'd to death? "How near to him Fate th' application brought. "Ev'n perjury its least and bluntest stroke. "His own victorious fon, that he devov'd: 1020 Reeking all o'er in dust, and blood, and sweat, Barnt with the fun's and violent action's "heat, *Gainft an old oak his trembling limbs he staid, * Ea fome fhort cafe; Fate in the old oak had laid *Provifions up for his relief; and lo! The hollow track did with bright honey flow. "Entangled in't? whilft wonders he did do, 1070 |