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"Who thought compassion female weakness here, "And equity injustice, would appear

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"In his own cause; who falsely fear'd, beside, "The solemn curse on Jonathan did abide, “‘And, the infected limb not cut away, "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 Behind, th' attentive prince to entertain;

Edom and Zoba's war

-for what befel

In that of Moab, was known there too well:

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The boundless quarrel with curs'd Amalek's land;
Where Heaven itself did cruelty command,
And practis'd on Saul's mercy, nor did e'er
More punish innocent blood, than pity there. 1115
But, lo! they' arriv'd now at th' appointed place;
Well-chosen and well-furnish'd for the chace,

ON THE

GOVERNMENT OF OLIVER CROMWELL.

IT was the funeral day of the late man who made himself to be called protector. And though I bore but little affection, either to the memory of him, or to the trouble and folly of all publick pageantry, yet I was forced by the importunity of my company to go along with them, and be a spectator of that solemnity, the expectation of which had been so great, that it was said to have brought some very curious persons (and no doubt singular virtuosos) as far as from the Mount in Cornwall, and from the Orcades. I found there had been much more cost bestowed than either the dead man, or indeed death itself, could deserve. There was a mighty train of black assistants, among which, too, divers princes in the persons of their ambassadors (being infinitely afflicted for the loss of their brother) were pleased to attend; the hearse was magnificent, the idol crowned, and (not to mention all other ceremonies which are practised at royal interments, and therefore by no means could be omitted here) the vast

multitude of spectators made up, as it uses to do, no small part of the spectacle itself. But yet, know not how, the whole was so managed, that, methought, it somewhat represented the life of him for whom it was made; much noise, much tumult, much expence, much magnificence, much vainglory; briefly, a great show, and yet, after all this, but an ill sight. At last (for it seemed long to me, and, like his short reign too, very tedious) the whole scene passed by; and I retired back to my chamber, weary, and I think more melancholy than any of the mourners; where I began to reflect on the whole life of this prodigious man: and sometimes I was filled with horror and detestation of his actions, and sometimes I inclined a little to reverence and admiration of his courage, conduct, and success; till, by these different motions and agitations of mind, rocked as it were asleep, I fell at last into this vision; or, if you please to call it but a dream, I shall not take it ill, because the father of poets tells us, even dreams, too, are from God.

But sure it was no dream; for I was suddenly transported afar off (whether in the body, or out of the body, like St. Paul, I know not), and found myself on the top of that famous hill in the island Mona, which has the prospect of three great, and not-long-since most happy, kingdoms. As soon as ever I looked on them, the "not-long-since" struck upon my memory, and called forth the sad representation of all the sins, and all the miseries, that

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