"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. 66 ""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 “ 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, "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: 1101 1110 The boundless quarrel with curs'd Amalek's land; And practis'd on Saul's mercy, nor did e'er A DISCOURSE, BY WAY OF VISION, CONCERNING THE GOVERNMENT OF OLIVER CROMWELL *. *This is the best of our author's prose-works. The subject, which he had much at heart, raised his genius. There is something very noble, and almost poetical, in the plan of this Vision; and a warm vein of eloquence runs quite through it. HURD. VOL. III. |