Vultures and crows, and every bird of
In rapid flight. Who, as 'tis written, feast
On fall'n Captains, and those mighty men
That rang'd in fight against the King of Kings.
The faithful saw and silently ador'd!
Fresh wonders fill their minds. Behold, from heav'n,
An angel comes, with chains that can defy
The pow'r of fire eternal.-Satan calls,
And straight the fiend attends-for here, his pow'r
Is ended. To resist is vain :-he's bound,
And henceforth in his proper shape appears.
Till then, in any shape his fancy pleas'd
He came, and oft, in loveliest form, seduc'd
The human race. But now, the chosen few
Behold his frightful carcass as it stands ;-
Of dress and ornament, and all disguise
Bereft. Blotches, and boils, and running sores;
Pimples, and scurvy, scaly leprosy,
His face and body cover o'er, obtain'd
In Cyprian lusts, or Bacchanalian rites.
His sides and limbs are mark'd with many scars,
The consequence of wars unjustly rais'd,
Or else in private broils or murders gain'd,
That ooze out daily black and putrid gore;
And in his looks are rage and malice seen-
Ambition thwarted-and revenge deny❜d.
The angel straightway bears the fiend away,
And in his horrid prison binds him fast :-
Its mouth where late Rome stood, is sealed up,
Until th'Eternal Word Satan shall loose
Once more, as John foretels, to prove mankind.
And now, thro' all the skies, th'Almighty voice Proclaims 'tis done. The music of the spheres, With all the instruments of Heav'n, resound, Whilst thus Messiah sings, with lips divine:—
To thee, Omnipotent! Parent of all!
Whose arm, this day, the pow'r of Satan crush'd,
And thus hath bound in adamantine chains,
Be glory evermore. Thy name be prais’d—
Thy name alone ador'd. And may thy will
Henceforth be done on earth, as 'tis in heav'n.
This said, the new strung harp of David sounds The Great Creator's praise. And with it rise instruments
The swelling notes of all the
That man's invention forms.
Their voices raise, to laud their Maker's name :— Whilst, from on high, cherubs and seraphs join. Angels-archangels-sing their heav'nly songsAnd endless Halleluiahs fill the skies.
END OF THE SECOND BOOK.
TRANSFIGUR'D now, Messiah stands confess'd! And in his face his Father's glory shines. Th'elect he leads to Sion's lovely hill
Loaded with spoils of nations and their kings. Then straight the scatter'd Jews, with all their wealth, From every quarter seek the Holy Land.
Their hearts subdu'd, with humbl'd looks they come,
And, with contrition bend to him they slew:-
Sincere repentance purifies their souls.
With gratitude they own the wonders wrought
For Abraham's seed, and, in sincerity
And truth, they prostrate fall to Israel's God.
Hadst thou, for ever thus, Messiah cry'd, Thy heav'nly Father worshipp'd-num'rous ills Had Israel'scap'd. When, for mankind, my blood
Was shed-your crimes brought on your guilty heads
That blindly you should slay HIM who alone
Could Israel save. But let not this dismay.
Your penitence sincere is heard in heav'n,
And you
shall move no more. Quick then erect
Jerus❜lem's walls, in splendour yet unseen;
For here I raise my everlasting throne.(10)
The Jews rejoicing instantly obey ;-
And lo! her palaces and temples rise
Superb in grandeur. In polish'd marble,
Exquisitely wrought, are diff'rent orders
With justest taste dispos'd.-Her lofty spires
The streets adorn, and strictest symmetry
In all her buildings is display'd. Whate'er
Babylon, of old renown'd, or later Rome-
Paris, or London now can boast, is here
So far excell'd, as not to be compar'd.
Such is the future mistress of the world.
Thro' all Judea other cities rise:Delightful villas o'er her plains are spread, With trees and shrubs and fragrant flow'rs adorn'd. Her vines luxuriant bear the clustering grape, And ev'ry fruit tree yields delicious store. No weeds or noxious plants are seen to grow;
For, at Messiah's word, as once that tree,
(Which bare not figs was curs'd and doom'd to die)
So all are wither'd-thenceforth spring no more.
The fertile fields their fruitful crops display;
Or verdant pastures, stock'd with fleecy sheep,
And lowing herds, and gen'rous steeds, that raise
Their swelling crests, eager to bear the weight
Of gentle masters. Lovely birds are here,
Who all with tuneful notes now warble forth
Their Maker's praise. And in the place of owls,
Sweet philomel is heard thro' all the night.
And now Messiah to the Jews gives laws
So pure so free-that all approve. No more
Doth poverty afflict mankind. The rich
No more oppress. For henceforth every bliss
That earth affords, by Virtue is obtain❜d;
And equal justice is dispens'd to all.
Religion now, when truly understood,
Is found the surest path to bliss below.
No harsh restraint-no gloomy notions there:-
Nor creeds-nor forms-nor the proud orthodox,
Puff'd up with vain philosophy, disturb
Mankind. Christ's plain and simple truths, at length,
Are clear to all. To gain immortal life,
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