Ver. To rule fo rude an animal Incapable art thou; Prefum'ft thou then to rule the ball, Or teach me fo to do? SONG LXXXIX. Queft, 19. Concerning the Peacock and the Ostrich, 13 BY whofe skill was the peacock vain, With curious colours dy'd? Whence hath his fweeping tail and train Such beauteous plumes, and wings fo wide, So big, the other birds befide, A feather'd beast appears? 14 Her eggs expos'd fhe in the duft, Where laid, leaves to be warm'd; 15 Thoughtless how foon they may be crush'd; Or by wild roamers harm'd. 16 Her labour vain and fearless is, She's harden'd 'gainst her brood; 17 For God does from the common bliss Of wisdom her exclude. 18 Yet if in danger fhe but lift Her neck and wings on high, SONG XC. Queft. 20. Concerning the Horfe for Battle, 19 DIDS Job xxxix. 19,-25. IDST thou, O Job, for war or state, His confidence, his boldnefs great, His fpirit, and his force? 20 Haft thou with terror cloth'd his mane? Or cause him, like the little wren, Ver. With formidable native fire His fnorting noftirls glow; And fmoke and flame in furious ire, 21 Proud of his ftrength he paws the ground, 22 When he perceives, even from afar, He forward fprings to face the war, 23 Dauntless he runs on fword and spear, The weapons which the horfeman weilds, 24 In rage he beats and bites the ground, 25 Derides the trumpet, fcorns the fhock, SONG XCI. Queft. 21. About the Hawk and the Eagle, Job xxxix. 26,-30. 26 BESIDE the beasts that tread the ground, The birds that cleave the air; Seeft thou how they the fkill profound Ver. Is't by thy wit the hawk does fly, And fouthward flretch her wings? 27 Doft thou command the eagle's flight, Doft thou the royal bird direct 28 That with the ftrongeft forts to vye, In craggy clifts, immenfely high, 29 Thence down her haughty eyes the bends, And, like a thunderbolt, defcends 30 Then foon her crooked pounces bare I And to her young, fwift through the air, These creatures act by that inftinct SONG XCII. Queft. 22. About Contending with GoD: or, A bum- 1 SHALL God be taught? by whom? by one His measures juft be overthrown, Ver. 'Gainft God fhall a contender blind, To teach him how to change his mind, T' upbraid th' Almighty, what is this For he who God almighty is Since from his creatures never he 2 Shall God to man's inftruction bow? Who, of the whole created tribe, Shall filly mortal man prefcribe, He therefore must be catechiz'd, Let then th' accufer, that would fcan, And blame my ways profound, Solve at his peril, if he can, SONG XCIII. JOB's Humble fubmiffion: or, The murmuring Mouth Job xl. 3, 4, 5. 3,4 BEHOLD, O Lord, moft vile am I, For now thy heav'nly light Detects the great stupidity Ver. I finn'd in that I fought fo bold And judged that with thee I could Sham'd and confounded I refign, 5 Once have I fpoken, Lord; yea, twice; I fpake what I won't fpeak again, ୧ SONG XCIV. Quest. 23. Moe Challenges given to Joв for his further Humiliation. The vanity of vying with GOD for Justice, or of charging him with unrighteouf nefs. Job xl. 6, 7, 8. 6"TIS good for thee, O man, that thou Down to thy knees be thurst; 7 Yet better is the lower bow, That therefore thy affuming mind, Some farther questions are defign'd, Oft didft thou wifh to plead with me, If courage yet remain with thee |