"Long since by God from bondage drawn, I fear, "We build anew th' Egyptian brick-kiln here. "Cheat not yourselves with words; for, though a "King

"Be the mild name, a Tyrant is the thing.

"Let his power loose, and you shall quickly see 240 "How mild a thing unbounded man will be. "He'll lead you forth your hearts' cheap blood to "spill,

"Where'er his guideless passion leads his will: "Ambition, lust, or spleen, his wars will raise; "Your lives' best price his thirst of wealth or praise: "Your ablest sons for his proud guards he'll take, "And by such hands your yoke more grievous make: "Your daughters and dear wives he 'll force away; "His luxury some, and some his lust, t' obey:

"His idle friends your hungry toils shall eat, 250 "Drink your rich wines, mix'd with your blood and "sweat.

"Then you 'll all sigh: but sighs will treasons be; "And not your griefs themselves, or looks, be free: "Robb'd ev❜n of hopes, when you these ills sustain, "Your watery eyes you'll then turn back in vain 255 "On your old Judges, and perhaps on me, σε Nay, ev'n my sons, howe'er they' unhappy be "In your displeasure now; not that I'd clear "Their guilt, or mine own innocence indear: "Witness th' unutterable Name, there's nought 260 "Of private ends into this question brought. "But why this yoke on your own necks to draw?

Why man your God, and passion made your Law?

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"Methinks (thus Moab interrupts him here) "The good old seer 'gainst Kings was too severe. ""T is jest to tell a people that they're free; "Who, or How many, shall their masters be "Is the sole doubt; laws guide, but cannot reign; "And, though they bind not kings, yet they restrain. "I dare affirm (so much I trust their love) 270 "That no one Moabite would his speech approve. "But, pray go on.-T is true, Sir, he replies; "Yet men whom age and action render wise "So much great changes fear, that they believe "All evils will, which may, from them arrive. 275 "On men resolv'd these threats were spent in vain; "All that his power or eloquence could obtain "Was, to enquire God's will ere they proceed "T' a work that would so much his blessing need. "A solemn day for this great work is set, "And at th' anointed tent all Israel met

280

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"Expect th' event; below, fair bullocks fry "In hallow'd flames; above, there mount on high "The precious clouds of incense; and, at last, "The sprinkling, prayers, and all due honours, past, "Lo! we the sacred bells o' th' sudden hear, "And in mild pomp grave Samuel does appear. "His ephod, mitre, well-cut diadem, on; "Th'oraculous stones on his rich breast-plate shone. "Tow'rds the blue curtains of God's holiest place "(The temple's bright third heaven) he turn'd his face; "Thrice bow'd he, thrice the solemn musick play'd, "And at third rest thus the great prophet pray'd:

Almighty God, to whom all men that be "Owe all they have, yet none so much as we; 295 "Who, though thou fill'st the spacious world alone, "Thy too-small court, hast made this place thy "throne ;

"With humble knees, and humbler hearts, lo! here, "Blest Abraham's seed implores thy gracious ear: "Hear them, great God! and thy just will inspire; "From Thee, their long-known King, they' a King "desire.

"Some gracious signs of thy good pleasure send; "Which, lo! with souls resign'd, we humbly here

"attend.

"He spoke, and thrice he bow'd, and all about "Silence and reverend horror seiz'd the rout; 305 "The whole tent shakes, the flames on th' altar by "In thick dull rolls mount slow and heavily;

"The seven lamps wink; and, what does most dismay, "Th' oraculous gems shut-in their natural day: "The ruby's cheek grew pale; the emerald by 310 "Faded; a cloud o'ercast the sapphir's sky; "The diamond's eye look'd sleepy; and swift night "Of all those little suns eclips'd the light:

"Sad signs of God's dread anger for our sin :"But straight a wondrous brightness from within 315 "Strook through the curtains; for no earthly cloud "Could those strong beams of heavenly glory "shroud;

"The altar's fire burn'd pure, and every stone

"Their radiant parent the gay sun outshone;

"Beauty th' illustrious vision did impart "To every face, and joy to every heart;

320

"In glad effects God's presence thus appear'd, "And thus in wondrous sounds his voice was "heard:

"This stubborn land sins still, nor is it Thee, but Us "(Who 'ave been so long their King) they seek to cast off thus;

.

325

"Five hundred rolling years hath this stiff nation

"strove [love. "Texhaust the boundless stores of our unfathom'd "Be 't so then; yet once more are we resolv'd to try' "T" outweary them through all their sins' variety: "Assemble, ten days hence, the numerous people

« here,

[bear. "To draw the royal lot which our hid mark shall "Dismiss them now in peace; but their next crime "shall bring

"Ruin without redress on them, and on their king. "Th' Almighty spoke; th' astonish'd people part "With various stamps imprest on every heart: 335 "Some their demand repented, others prais'd; "Some had no thoughts at all, but star'd and gaz'd.

"There dwelt a man, nam'd Cis, in Gibeah town, "For wisdom much, and much for courage, known; "More for his son; his mighty son was Saul, 340 "Whom nature, ere the lots, t' a throne did call. "He was much prince, and when, or wheresoe'er, "His birth had been, then had he reign'd, and there. "Such beauty, as great strength thinks no disgrace, "Smil'd in the manly features of his face;

345

"His large, black eyes, fill'd with a spriteful light, "Shot forth such lively and illustrious night, "As the sun-beams, on jet reflecting, show; "His hair, as black, in long curl'd waves did flow; "His tall straight body amidst thousands stood, 350 "Like some fair pine o'erlooking all th' ignobler "wood.

"Of all our rural sports he was the pride;

"So swift, so strong, so dextrous, none besidę. "Rest was his toil, labours his lust and game; "No natural wants could his fierce diligence tame, "Not thirst nor hunger; he would journeys go 356 "Through raging heats, and take repose in snow. "His soul was ne'er unbent from weighty care; "But active as some mind that turns a sphere. "His way once chose, he forward thrust outright, "Nor stepp'd aside for dangers or delight. "Yet was he wise all dangers to foresee; "But born t' affright, and not to fear, was he. "His wit was strong, not fine; and on his tongue "An artless grace, above all eloquence, hung. 365 "These virtues too the rich unusual dress "Of modesty adorn'd, and humbleness; "Like a rich varnish o'er fair pictures laid,

361

"More fresh and lasting they the colours made. "Till power and violent fortune, which did find 370 "No stop or bound, o'erwhelm'd no less his mind, "Did, deluge-like, the natural forms deface, "And brought forth unknown monsters in their place. "Forbid it, God! my master's spots should be, "Were they not seen by all, disclos'd by me!,375