"Yet, by the storms and terrors of the air, 995 "And fiercely on the trembling host does fall. "At the same time their slaves and prisoners rise; "Nor does their much-wish'd liberty suffice, 1000 "Without revenge; the scatter'd arms they seize, "And their proud vengeance with the memory please "Of who so lately bore them. All about, "From rocks and caves, the Hebrews issue out "At the glad noise; joy'd that their foes had shown "A fear that drowns the scandal of their own. 1006 "Still did the Prince 'midst all this storm appear, "Still scatter'd death and terrors every-where ; "Still did he break, still blunt, his wearied swords; "Still slaughter new supplies t' his hand affords. 1010 "Where troops yet stood, there still he hotly flew, "And, till at last all fled, scorn'd to pursue. "All fled at last, but many in vain ; for still "Th' insatiate Conqueror was more swift to kill "Than they to save their lives. Till, lo! at last, 1015 "Nature, whose power he had so long surpass'd, "Would yield no more, but to him stronger foes, "Drought, faintness, and fierce hunger, did oppose. Reeking all o'er in dust, and blood, and sweat, "Burnt with the sun's and violent action's heat, 1020 "'Gainst an old oak his trembling limbs he staid, "For some short ease; Fate in the old oak had laid "Provisions up for his relief; and, lo! "The hollow trunk did with bright honey flow. "With timely food his decay'd spirits recruit, 1025 "Strong he returns, and fresh, to the pursuit ; "His strength and spirits the honey did restore; "But, oh! the bitter-sweet strange poison bore! "Behold, Sir, and mark well the treacherous fate, "That does so close on human glories wait! 1030 "Behold the strong, and yet fantastick net, "T' ensnare triumphant virtue darkly set! "Could it before (scarce can it since) be thought, "The Prince-who had alone that morning fought "A duel with an host, had th' host o'erthrown, 1035 "And threescore thousand hands disarm'd with one; "Wash'd-off his country's shame, and doubly dy'd "In blood and blushes the Philistian pride; “Had sav'd and fix'd his father's tottering crown, "And the bright gold new burnish'd with renown,— "Should be ere night, by 's King and Father's "breath, 1041 "Without a fault, vow'd and condemn'd to death? "Destin'd the bloody sacrifice to be "Of thanks, himself, for his own victory? "Alone, with various fate, like to become, "Fighting, an host; dying, an hecatomb? "Yet such, Sir, was his case; 1045 "For Saul, who fear'd lest the full plenty might "(In the abandon'd camp expos'd to sight) "His hungry men from the pursuit dissuade, 1050 "A rash, but solemn vow to Heaven had made"Curs'd be the wretch, thrice cursed let him be, "Who shall touch food this busy day, said he, "Whilst the blest sun does with his favouring light "Assist our vengeful swords against their flight: 1055 "Be he thrice curst! and, if his life we spare, "On us those curses fall that he should bear! "Such was the king's rash vow; who little thought "How near to him Fate th' application brought. "The two-edg'd oath wounds deep, perform'd or "broke; 1060 "Ev'n perjury its least and bluntest stroke. ""'T was his own son, whom God and mankind ❝lov'd, 1065 "His own victorious son, that he devov'd: "On whose bright head the baleful curses light: "But Providence, his helmet in the fight, "Forbids their entrance or their settling there; "They with brute sound dissolv'd into the air. "Him what religion, or what vow, could bind, "Unknown, unheard-of, till he his life did find "Entangled in 't? whilst wonders he did do, 1070 "Must he die now for not being prophet too? “ To all but him this oath was meant and said; "He, afar off, the ends for which 't was made "Was acting then, till, faint and out of breath, "He grew half-dead with toil of giving death. 1075 "What could his crime in this condition be, "Excus'd by ignorance and necessity? "Yet the remorseless king-who did disdain "That man should hear him swear or threat in vain, "Though 'gainst himself; or fate a way should see "By which attack'd and conquer'd he might be ; "Who thought compassion female weakness here, "And equity injustice, would appear "In his own cause; who falsely fear'd, beside, 1085 "Would like a gangrene o'er all Israel stray ;— "Prepar'd this god-like sacrifice to kill, "And his rash vow more rashly to fulfil. "What tongue can th' horror and amazement tell "Which on all Israel that sad moment fell! "Tamer had been their grief, fewer their tears, "Had the Philistian fate that day been theirs. "Not Saul's proud heart could master his swoln eye; "The Prince alone stood mild and patient by; 1095 "So bright his sufferings, so triumphant, show'd, "Less to the best than worst of fates he ow'd. "A victory now he o'er himself might boast; "He conquer'd now, that conqueror of an host. "It charm'd through tears the sad spectator's sight, "Did reverence, love, and gratitude, excite, 1101 And pious rage; with which inspir'd, they now "Oppose to Saul's a better publick vow. "They all consent all Israel ought to be "Accurs'd and kill'd themselves, rather than he. "Thus with kind force they the glad king withstood, "And sav'd their wondrous saviour's sacred blood!" Thus David spoke; and much did yet remain In that of Moab, was known there too well : 1110 |